Milica M. Popovic

Milica M. Popovic serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Belgrade's Faculty of Chemistry, where she has maintained continuous academic service since 2008, progressing from Teaching Assistant through multiple ranks to her current position. Her institutional leadership spans research project direction, course instruction in specialized biochemical disciplines, and membership on the Faculty's Self-Evaluation Commission since 2023.

Her academic foundation includes:

• Undergraduate studies in Chemical Sciences (2001-2007) at University of Belgrade, Faculty of Chemistry
• Doctorate in Chemical Sciences (2007-2012) at same institution

Dr. Popovic's research program centers on extracellular vesicles as diagnostic and therapeutic vehicles, with emphasis on heterologous protein production systems and recombinant antibody applications for pathological conditions. Her work bridges cancer diagnostics development and food allergen characterization, particularly regarding kiwifruit and banana sources. This interdisciplinary approach integrates biochemical engineering with clinical translation efforts.

Publication analysis reveals dominant themes in extracellular vesicle isolation techniques and diagnostic applications, with significant contributions to plant allergen immunology and stress biomarker identification in forestry. Her recent work demonstrates increasing focus on scalable vesicle purification methods and therapeutic carrier development within personalized medicine frameworks.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• FEBS Collaborative Experimental Fellowship for Central and Eastern Europe (2010)
• Poster Presentation Award at the 30th Congress of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Istanbul (2011)
• FEBS Collaborative Experimental Fellowship for Central and Eastern Europe (2012)
• Postdoctoral Scholarship from Serbia's Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development (2014)

Research funding leadership encompasses current projects RESCALE-EV (2023-2026, Science Fund of Serbia) improving vesicle purification scalability, and Horizon Europe's EXPAND-EV (2025-2028) advancing vesicles in personalized medicine. Past projects include COST Actions on glycosystems and allergy risk assessment, plus national initiatives on recombinant nanobodies for exosome targeting. Her teaching portfolio features advanced courses including Extracellular Vesicle Methodologies and Protein Therapeutics with Bioinformatics.

She maintains active scientific engagement through membership in the Biochemical Society of Serbia (since 2011), Serbian Society of Cancer Researchers (since 2018), and Serbian Society for Extracellular Vesicles (since 2021), contributing to national research communities while directing institutional quality assurance processes.