The Kick-off conference of the project „Targeted delivery of antitumor drugs employing biodegradable carriers – ABIDERS“

The Kick-off conference of the project „Targeted delivery of antitumor drugs employing biodegradable carriers – ABIDERS“, financed within  the Interreg VI-A IPA programme Croatia-Serbia 2021-2027 took  place on 16 September 2024 at the Faculty of Medicine Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek (Croatia). The project initiative falls under the programme priority axis “Cooperating for a Smarter Programme Area”,” which focuses on strengthening research and innovation capacities and the introduction of advanced technologies.

The project, which runs from 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2025, has a total budget of EUR 286,702.54. The Faculty of Medicine of Osijek, Croatia, is the lead partner and collaborates with the Institute of Food Technology in Novi Sad, Serbia, as a project partner. The project partners are also joined by the Faculty of Technology in Novi Sad, which further strengthens the interdisciplinary approach of the project.

Opening speeches were given by the State Secretary at the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, Domagoj Mikulić, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine in Osijek, prof. dr.sc. Ivica Mihaljević, representatives of the project partners, scientific advisor Aleksandra Torbica from the Institute of Food Technology in Novi Sad, Serbia.

The project leader, Assistant Professor Katarina Mišković Špoljarić from the Faculty of Medicine Osijek, presented the project activities, output and results.

ABIDERS project will significantly contribute to the scientific understanding of hydrogels for biomedical applications and carrier manufacturing technologies while project results will provide new insights into the use of inulin and dextran as biodegradable carriers for the targeted delivery of antitumor drugs.

This project will foster links between two research institutions from neighboring countries, promote inter-institutional collaboration and lead to future project applications, which will ultimately strengthen innovation in the technological field and relationships with the pharmaceutical industry.