About Mission

Center for human genetics and pharmacogenomics was founded in 2005 at Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor. The major goal of the center is to achieve scientific excellence in human genome research and to foster the translation of new technologies and discoveries in the field of human genome research into clinical practice. The specific aim is to enhance interdisciplinary approach combining molecular biology, molecular genetics, population genetics, genomics, pharmacogenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and bioinformatics with clinical and epidemiological studies. Our research focus on identification of genetic risk factors for common complex diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and other immune-mediated diseases as well as various types of cancer. The focus of pharmacogenomic studies is identification of correlation between genomic data and treatment outcome in order to develop genetic biomarker prediction models for more efficient and personalized therapy with lowest possible risk for side effects.
Center for human genetics and pharmacogenomics conducts several courses for undergraduate and postgraduate students at Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor. Center for human genetics and pharmacogenomics provides the infrastructure to design experiments such as genetic, molecular biology and cell culture studies. The center also provides mentorship support for PhD thesis, mostly for PhD studies of the Biomedical technology program of Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor. Many PhD students are clinicians who are cooperating with the center to design and perform experiments in the fields of genomics and molecular biology relevant to their PhD thesis and ongoing center research projects.
Center for human genetics and pharmacogenomics collaborates and cooperates with many national, EU- and USA-based academic, research and clinical institutions as part of large consortiums or focused experimental efforts.

Official address:

University of Maribor
Faculty of Medicine
Center for human genetics and pharmacogenomics
Taborska ulica 8
2000 Maribor
Slovenia, EU
Fax: +386 (2) 2345 820
Phone: +386 (2) 3455 854
E-mail: uros.potocnik@um.si