1st VRC Cardiovascular Research Mini-Conference

Virtual Research Centre, Alliance4Life_BRIDGE

Department for Cardiovascular Research

1^st VRC Cardiovascular Research Mini-Conference

Wednesday, 18 February 2026

ONLINE

Link: https://zoom.us/j/98250424313?pwd=r3dabctKOAdvGoveha3raaxqpH2aEY.1

or Zoom:

Meeting ID: 98250424313

Passcode: 114503

Please register by sending an email with your name and affiliation to Petra Bakovic (bakovicpetra@gmail.com)

Programme (by Central European Time)

12:00-12:15	Welcome to participants and opening remarks Filip Sedlić, (Head of the Department for Cardiovascular Research, Alliance4Life Virtual Research Centre; University of Zagreb School of Medicine; Zagreb HR) Davor Miličić (Vice President of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts; Head of the Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, University Hospital centre Zagreb; University of Zagreb School of Medicine; Zagreb, HR)
	Session 1
12:15-12:30	The path towards ERC Starting Grant on electroporation of cardiac cells Lea Rems (Ljubljana; SI)
12:30-12:50	Common methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism MTHFR 677C>T (rs1801133), plasma homocysteine, and non-valvular atrial fibrillation in overweight/obese patients Martina Lovrić Benčić (Zagreb, HR)
12:50-13:10	The significance of the presence of coronary collaterals in patients with coronary syndromes. Imaging - biomarkers correlation Alexandru Scafa Udrieste (Bucharest, RO)
13:10-13:30	Discussion
13:30-13:50	Break
	Session 2
13:50-14:10	Mitochondrial subpopulations in cardiomyocytes Filip Sedlić (Zagreb, HR)
14:10-14:30	Pregnancy complicated by new-onset hypertension: Molecular background and future perspectives in preeclampsia prevention and treatment Agata Sakowicz (Lodz, PL):
14:30-14:50	Teaching LLMs to speak the heart language Douglas Teodoro (Geneva, CH)
14:50-15:10	Circular RNAs: Mechanistic insights and clinical implications Tadeja Režen (Ljubljana, SI)
15:10-15:30	Discussion
15:30-15:50	Break
	Session 3
15:50-16:50	Gut microbiome in heart failure Petra Mamić (Stanford, CA)
16:50-17:10	Inside the ERC project: developing gene electrotransfer platforms for cardiac cells Jernej Jurič (Ljubljana; SI)
17:10-17:30	Biochemistry of cardiac troponins Tomo Svaguša (Zagreb, HR)
17:30-17:50	Effects of hyperglycemia on mitochondrial unfolded protein response in heart failure Vid Mirošević (Zagreb, HR)
17:50-18:10	Discussion and closing remarks

Speakers

Filip Sedlić	University of Zagreb, School of Medicine Zagreb, HR
Davor Miličić	University of Zagreb, School of Medicine University Hospital Centre Zagreb Zagreb, HR
Lea Rems	University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering Ljubljana, SL
Martina Lovrić Benčić	University of Zagreb, School of Medicine University Hospital Centre Zagreb Zagreb, HR
Alexandru Scafa Udrieste	"Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, RO
Agata Sakowicz	Medical University of Lodz Lodz, PL
Douglas Teodoro	University of Geneva Geneva, CH
Tadeja Režen	University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine Ljubljana, SI
Petra Mamić	Stanford University Stanford, CA
Jernej Jurič	University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering Ljubljana, SL
Tomo Svaguša	Dubrava University Hospital Zagreb, HR
Vid Mirošević	Zagreb, HR

Organizers: Filip Sedlić, Petra Baković

Scientific Committee: Filip Sedlić, Davor Miličić, Lea Rems, Martina Lovrić Benčić, Alexandru Scafa Udrieste, Agata Sakowicz, Douglas Teodoro, Tadeja Režen, Petra Mamić, Jernej Jurič, Tomo Svaguša, and Vid Mirošević.