1. Prof. Dinko Mitrecic, MD, PhD Laboratory for Stem Cells, Croatian Institute for Brain Research University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Croatia
Expertise in:
Isolation, manipulation and stereotaxic/intravascular transplantation of stem cells (mouse neural and mesenchymal; human oral mucosa stem cells)
Mouse models of: stroke (MCAO), modulated neuroinflammation and cell differentiation (Tlr2 KO and Tlr2 luc, nestin luc, Thy1 YFP, Gap43 KO and Gap43 luc)
Cell visualization and tracing: electron microscopy, flourescent and confocal microscopy (Zeiss, Leica systems), live cell imaging (EVOS ThermoFisher), bioluminescence (Ivis Spectrum Perkin Elmer), magnet resonance (Bruker Biospec 7T)
Mouse and human brain neuroanatomy (we posses the 3rd largest human brain collection in the world)
Established platform for testing interactions of nanoparticles and stem cells (uptake, localization, biocompatibility, etc)

2. Expected benefits and activities during participation in BIONECA:
Share experience with groups who use stem cells for brain diseases (e.g. cell transfection, improved tracing protocols, modulation of synaptogenesis, etc)
Share experience and compare protocols, benefits, obstacles and strategies to progress with groups who use stem cells for heart diseases (especially in the modulation of inflammation, improvement of cell integration and tracing)
Would like to learn from groups who are experienced in image analyses and post-processing
Would like to share experience in new imaging modalities
Would like to learn about and propose design of new biomaterials for combined application with stem cells for brain diseases
Would like to benefit from modeling to adjust protocols for manipulation with stem cells
Would like to gather innovative combination of partners for new projects` applications
Foreseen maximum contribution: in WG4