Violeta Stojanovska

Dr. Violeta Stojanovska serves as a Scientist and Working Group Leader of Placenta while also coordinating Cell Culture Models at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ in Leipzig, Germany. Her research bridges environmental science, immunology, and reproductive health within the Department of Environmental Immunology.

Her primary research focuses on developing complex 3D co-culturing models of human placenta to investigate how environmental factors (particularly long-lasting chemicals and viruses) impact placental functionality and contribute to pregnancy-associated disorders. She explores the placenta's critical role in developmental programming of chronic disorders, with particular attention to chemical exposures like PFAS and endocrine disruptors.

Dr. Stojanovska's publication record demonstrates consistent focus on placental biology, with recent work examining SARS-CoV-2 interactions with trophoblast cells, PFAS mixture toxicity, and rubella placental infection. Her research employs advanced 3D placental spheroid models to investigate environmental chemical impacts on pregnancy outcomes.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Nomination to the 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (2023)
• Election to the DFG-Young Scientist Academy FertilAg (2023)
• First place in the Bio-techne European organoid research grant competition (2022)
• Helmholtz Imaging Contest Participants Choice Award (3rd place, 2022)

Dr. Stojanovska leads her own third-party funded project 'Elucidating the effects of advanced maternal age on placenta with trophoblast organoids' (DFG, STO 1479/1-1) and contributes to major collaborative projects including ENDOMIX, which investigates how chemical mixtures impact human health by targeting the immune system. Her work integrates laboratory research with population studies to establish connections between environmental exposures and reproductive health outcomes.