معرفی
Dr. Tvrtko Smital is an Assistant Professor and Head of the Laboratory for Molecular Ecotoxicology at the Ruđer Bošković Institute (Division for Marine and Environmental Research). He holds a PhD in Biology-Ecotoxicology from the University of Zagreb and teaches courses including Ecotoxicology at the University of Osijek and Biological Effects of Pollutants at the University of Zagreb.
His research focuses on molecular ecotoxicology, particularly the role of transport proteins (e.g., ABC transporters, OATPs) in detoxification mechanisms of aquatic organisms. Key interests include:
- Multixenobiotic resistance in fish and invertebrates
- Interactions of environmental contaminants (pharmaceuticals, microplastics, cyanotoxins) with cellular transporters
- Biomarker development for environmental risk assessment
His recent publications (2018–2024) predominantly explore zebrafish models to investigate detoxification pathways, pollutant biodegradation, and transporter inhibition mechanisms. Trends include advanced molecular characterization of solute carriers (SLCs), ecotoxicological profiling of emerging contaminants, and novel methods for toxicity screening.
He leads significant projects, including an EU-funded initiative on Ecotoxicological Characterization of Marine Environment Samples (2017–2021) and a Croatian Science Foundation project on SLC/MATE Transporters in Zebrafish (2020–2023). His laboratory utilizes cell lines (PLHC-1), molecular tools, and in vivo models to study contaminant impacts.
