Croatian Scientists Earn EMBO Support

January the 24th, 2025 – Croatian scientists from the respected Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb (IRB) have earned the support of no less than the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO).

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Josipa Ban writes, two Croatian scientists from Zagreb’s IRB have received prestigious grants from the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) out of a total of 10 in all of Europe. With annual grants of 50,000 euros, Dr. Damir Baranašić and Dr. Jelena Bujan will now try to get answers to important topics in the field of bioinformatics and ecology.

Baranšić and his team will study how single-celled organisms evolved into complex, multicellular life forms like human beings. Although it was long believed that evolutionary progress was the result of the appearance of new genes, modern research shows that changes in the way existing genes are turned on and off played a key role.

To understand this complex biological enigma, Dr. Baranašić and his team will combine laboratory experiments with artificial intelligence (AI) to identify the “switches” in DNA that enabled this evolutionary transformation. This research is important because a better understanding of gene regulatory mechanisms contributes to research in regenerative medicine and biotechnology.

The latter of the two Croatian scientists, Dr. Jelena Bujan,will study the resilience of insects to extreme heat waves caused by climate change. These tiny organisms are crucial to global ecosystems because they pollinate plants, recycle nutrients and serve as food for many other animals. However, extreme heat waves, which are becoming more frequent, could seriously threaten their survival.

Dr. Bujan will use an interdisciplinary approach in her research to answer the key question: Will insects manage to survive increasingly frequent and intense heat extremes?

These two Croatian scientists will be able to establish new research groups owing to European Molecular Biology Organisation support. They’ll also be able to employ young researchers and acquire highly sophisticated equipment. This is fantastic recognition and praise for the work of young Croatian scientists, as well as the IRB as a whole.

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