celica

Expertise

A research centre with global scientific ties

Celica Biomedical was set up to turn biomedical findings into products and services. We work on single-cell function assays, confocal microscopy services, neuroglia research, hybrid cells for cancer immunomodulation, and neurologic treatments that target glia.

Since 2000 we have received funding from the Slovenian Research Agency and taken part in the National Research Programme with the Medical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana.

We have joined NIH-funded work and EU Framework projects, including Edu-GLIA (ITN, FP7).

Laboratories operate under SIST EN ISO/IEC 17025.

Leadership and research team

Leadership and research team

  • Director

    Robert Zorec, PhD, Professor

    Astrocyte physiology in the CNS, trauma, metabolism, neurodegeneration. Exocytosis and fusion pore. Dendritic cell vaccines. Advanced therapy cell products.

  • Technical Director

    Marko Kreft, PhD, Professor

    Astrocytes and CNS metabolism, glucose. Vesicle mobility, exocytosis, and fusion pore in secretory cells.

  • Head Neuroglia & Executive Coordinator

    Nina Vardjan, PhD, Assistant Professor

    Gliotransmitter release, volume regulation, CNS metabolism, GPCR signalling (cAMP, calcium).

  • Head Immunology

    Matjaž Jeras, PhD, Professor

    Immunology, immunogenetics, immunomodulation, and immunotherapy development.

  • Senior Research Cell Physiology Expert

    Matjaž Stenovec, PhD, Assistant Professor

    Vesicle mobility in astrocytes, regulated exocytosis, SNARE proteins, lipids, calcium homeostasis.

  • Head Cells & Tissues

    Helena H. Chowdhury, PhD, Assistant Professor

    Adipocyte and astrocyte metabolism. Dendritic cell-based cancer vaccines.

  • Vesicle & Viral Particle Traffic Expert

    Maja Potokar, PhD, Research Associate

    Astrocytes and the cytoskeleton in vesicle mobility and secretion.

  • Head Super-resolution Microscopy

    Jernej Jorgačevski, PhD, Assoc. Prof.

    Signalling in astrocytes; edema, CNS viral infection, glioma.

  • Quality Manager Cells & Tissues

    Mateja Gabrijel, PhD

    Cell fusion, hybridoma, and dendritic cell-based vaccines.

  • Regulatory Affairs & Deputy Quality Manager

    Saša Trkov, PhD

    Dendritic cell vaccine development. Vesicle mobility and secretion in astrocytes.