The international expert commission of the “International Medis Awards for Medical Research” competition, which for the eleventh year rewards the greatest research achievements of doctors and pharmacists from Central and Eastern European countries, has selected 18 finalists, and among them are as many as seven researchers from Serbia.
An independent international jury made up of experts from eight countries in Central and Southeastern Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, North Macedonia, Slovenia and Serbia), considered 251 scientific papers and selected 18 finalists from nine narrower scientific fields (pharmacy, gastroenterology, gynecology, intensive medicine and anesthesiology, neurology, dermatology, ophthalmology, pediatrics, pulmonology and, allergology and rheumatology).
The finalists from Serbia are researchers in the fields of dermatology Dr. Mirjana Popadić, gynecology Dr. Marija Rovčanin, pharmacy Mag. pharm. Aleksandra Stolić Jovanović, pulmonology and allergology Dr. Filip Marković and Doc. Dr. Aleksandra Plavšić, as well as rheumatology Prof. Dr. Ana Banko and Prof. Dr. Mirjana Zlatković-Švenda, whose papers were published in prestigious world scientific journals.
The Medis Awards, also known in public as the “Medical Oscar”, represent recognition to doctors and pharmacists who, in addition to their professional work, also engage in scientific research, with the aim of promoting doctors and pharmacists in public and encouraging their colleagues to scientific research work. The award was established in 2014 and is awarded once a year, and the awarded expert receives a bronze statue of the Future, a diploma and a suitable financial award.
“Clinical and academic work is often a dynamic and continuous series of obligations, with a constant focus on the next challenge. Being a finalist in this international competition is not only an honor but also an opportunity to stop, look back on what has been achieved and be grateful that our efforts have been recognized in the wider medical community. Our work concerns immunotherapy, which has brought revolutionary advances in the treatment of lung cancer,” says finalist Dr. Filip Marković, a specialist in internal medicine at the Clinic for Lung Diseases of the University Clinical Center of Serbia.
However, its application in everyday practice, especially in environments with limited resources, is still not sufficiently researched.
“Our results indicate that patients who develop certain immune-mediated reactions during immunotherapy often have better treatment outcomes, which can help doctors make better decisions in their daily work with this group of patients,” explains Dr. Marković.
Prim. Mr. sc. med. Dr. Mirjana Popadić, dermatovenerologist-oncologist, is nominated for an award in the field of dermatology on the topic “Vertical ex vivo dermoscopy in the assessment of malignant skin lesions”.
“Being a finalist of the International Medis Awards, being at the very top in the field of dermatology is a real privilege, an exceptional honor and great satisfaction for me and my research team, because it proves that it is worth working hard to achieve one’s goals. Our work in the field of dermatology for the first time in the literature describes, defines and evaluates the diagnostic significance of dermoscopic structures seen on a vertical tissue section in the diagnosis and differentiation of skin malignancies, as well as the assessment of tumor margins,” says Dr. Popadić.
Vertical ex vivo dermoscopy is a fast and accessible method that enables an initial assessment of the type and margins of tumors, improving the accuracy of diagnosis.
“By enabling the visualization of tumor margins, this technique could reduce recurrence rates in patients with skin malignancies. In the future, the application of this method to fresh tissue would further help surgeons by providing faster assessments of resection margins, which resembles a provisional dermoscopic version of Mohs’ technique. This research, conducted in two University centers, could be a step forward in making the diagnosis of skin malignancies more efficient and effective in everyday clinical conditions,” said finalist Dr. Popadić.
Doctors and pharmacists who published their scientific research papers in reputable scientific publications with an impact factor higher than 1,500 could apply for participation in the 11th International Medis Awards. The credibility of the entire competition was ensured by an international expert jury composed of ten members from seven countries from which candidates were nominated. One of them is Prof. Dr. Jelena Drulović, acting director of the University Clinical Center of Serbia.
“I have the honor to be a member of the jury in the field of neurology as a representative of Serbia. This international competition has attracted a large number of researchers with their current scientific papers. The criterion for awarding this award is that the research is conducted in the country from which the researcher comes and that it has no commercial content. In previous years, awards in the field of neurology were received by doctors from Serbia. In 2023, it was Dr. Ivo Božović, and a year earlier Dr. Aleksandra Tomić,” says Prof. Dr. Drulović.
This year, 32 papers were submitted from neurology. During the competition, the quality of the papers is carefully and thoroughly considered, and there are precisely defined criteria.
“Special emphasis is placed on the innovative approach and applicability of the results in clinical practice. Two papers stood out this year in terms of quality in the field of neurology. The rule of this competition is that evaluators propose two papers, one of which will be selected and awarded. Both papers that I proposed meet all the criteria of excellence. The winner will be announced on March 13, 2025 at the awards ceremony in Ljubljana,” explains Prof. Dr. Drulović.
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Source: Nova.rs, Foto: Nova.rs