Keynote speakers
Ákos Koller (HU)
Ákos Koller is a distinguished professor and leading expert in microvascular physiology, with an MD from Semmelweis University (1975) and a Ph.D. from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (1992). His groundbreaking research has significantly advanced the understanding of wall shear stress-induced vascular responses, endothelial function, and cerebral blood flow autoregulation, shaping the field of microcirculation. With around 200 publications, he has mentored numerous researchers and fostered international collaborations across Europe, the U.S., and Asia. His exceptional contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Gabor Kaley Award (2015), Malpighi Award (2019), Albert Szent-Györgyi Award (2021), Eugen M. Landis Award (2023), and Carl J. Wiggers Award (2025).
Michela Matteoli (IT)
Michela Matteoli is Full Professor of Pharmacology at Humanitas University and Director of the Neuroscience program at Humanitas Research Hospital, Milano. She is a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), of the Academia Europaea and of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, the oldest European academy. Her research activity focuses on the role of the immune system and inflammation in the formation and function of brain circuits. Michela serves/served in several international scientific committees, including the European Research Council (ERC), the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), and the Harvard-Armenise Foundation. She has received various prizes and in 2022 has been awarded with an ERC Advanced Grant.
Viacheslav O. Nikolaev (DE)
Viacheslav O. Nikolaev is a leading expert in experimental cardiovascular research and a Full Professor at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, where he heads the Department of Experimental Cardiovascular Research. His groundbreaking work on cyclic nucleotide signaling in heart function is advancing new therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular diseases and has earned him two patents, the Albert-Fraenkel Prize, the Scientific Prize of Lower Saxony, and other prestigious awards. A dedicated mentor, he has supervised over 40 BSc, MSc, PhD, MD students, and postdocs. He serves on the editorial board of Circulation Research and has held key roles in various international research committees.
Lydie Plecitá (CZ)
Lydie Plecitá is the Head of the Laboratory of Pancreatic Islet Research at the Institute of Physiology in Prague. Her research focuses on mitochondrial function and redox signaling in diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cancer. She earned her PhD in Microbiology from Charles University and the Institute of Microbiology in Prague, where her work on oxidative stress and aging in yeast was highly recognized. Her pioneering research utilizes advanced microscopy techniques to study mitochondrial morphology and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Awarded the Otto Wichterle Medal and the L’Oréal Prize for Women in Science, she has published 87 high-impact papers and mentored several PhD students.
Thomas McWilliams (FI)
Tom McWilliams is Associate Professor of Mitochondrial Medicine at the University of Helsinki, Finland. He studied biochemistry in Ireland before moving to the UK to complete the Wellcome Trust Four-Year PhD Programme in neuroscience with Alun M. Davies FMedSci FRS and Stephen B. Dunnett FMedSci. Subsequently, he was recruited to the MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, where he made groundbreaking advances in the study of physiological mitophagy and Parkinson’s disease with Ian Ganley FRSE and Miratul Muqit FMedSci. In 2021, he was elected a Scholar of the FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence. His team has been generously funded by numerous sources, including the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, and the Research Council of Finland. A major focus of the lab is on understanding tissue-specific autophagy mechanisms, metabolic signalling, and neurodegeneration, with particular interest in identifying early inflection points and mechanisms that drive disease progression.
Programme
Pre-Conference Educational Workshop
Chairs: Anemari Horvat, Urška Černe, Andraž Stožer
Registration Desk Open
Welcome and Opening
Keynote Lecture 1
S01: Innovations in Cardiovascular Physiology: From Mechanisms to Therapeutics
S02: Bed Rest Studies as a Model for Disuse and Microgravity
Refreshment Break & Poster Viewing
Poster Blitz 1
S03: Neurophysiology in Health and Disease & Andrej O. Župančič Symposium
Welcome Reception & 70 years of Slovenian Physiological Society
Registration Desk Open
S04: Cerebrovascular Impairment in Aging and Disease
S05: Organelle Dynamics and Metabolism in Health and Disease
Poster Blitz 2
Refreshment Break with Poster Session 1
Keynote Lecture 2
Lunch
S06: Impact of Nutrients and Lifestyle on Microvascular Function
S07: Insect Neurobiology and Neuroethology
Refreshment Break with Poster Session 2
S08: New Frontiers in Cardiovascular Research
S09: Endocrine Physiology: From Mechanisms to Phenotypes
Keynote Lecture 3
Networking Event with Boat Tour and Social Dinner at Livada
Registration Desk Open
Keynote Lecture 4 *
S10: Workshop on Structural Biology and Physiology *
Refreshment Break & Poster Viewing
S11: Pathways in Physiology: From Wellness to Illness
S12: Cellular Strategies in Cancer and Neural Pathologies
Keynote Lecture 5
Oral/Poster Awards and Closing
Lunch
# Slovenian language
* In collaboration with Instruct-ERIC Consortium
Keynote speakers
Ákos Koller (HU)
Ákos Koller is a distinguished professor and leading expert in microvascular physiology, with an MD from Semmelweis University (1975) and a Ph.D. from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (1992). His groundbreaking research has significantly advanced the understanding of wall shear stress-induced vascular responses, endothelial function, and cerebral blood flow autoregulation, shaping the field of microcirculation. With around 200 publications, he has mentored numerous researchers and fostered international collaborations across Europe, the U.S., and Asia. His exceptional contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Gabor Kaley Award (2015), Malpighi Award (2019), Albert Szent-Györgyi Award (2021), Eugen M. Landis Award (2023), and Carl J. Wiggers Award (2025).
Michela Matteoli (IT)
Michela Matteoli is Full Professor of Pharmacology at Humanitas University and Director of the Neuroscience program at Humanitas Research Hospital, Milano. She is a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), of the Academia Europaea and of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, the oldest European academy. Her research activity focuses on the role of the immune system and inflammation in the formation and function of brain circuits. Michela serves/served in several international scientific committees, including the European Research Council (ERC), the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), and the Harvard-Armenise Foundation. She has received various prizes and in 2022 has been awarded with an ERC Advanced Grant.
Viacheslav O. Nikolaev (DE)
Viacheslav O. Nikolaev is a leading expert in experimental cardiovascular research and a Full Professor at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, where he heads the Department of Experimental Cardiovascular Research. His groundbreaking work on cyclic nucleotide signaling in heart function is advancing new therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular diseases and has earned him two patents, the Albert-Fraenkel Prize, the Scientific Prize of Lower Saxony, and other prestigious awards. A dedicated mentor, he has supervised over 40 BSc, MSc, PhD, MD students, and postdocs. He serves on the editorial board of Circulation Research and has held key roles in various international research committees.
Lydie Plecitá (CZ)
Lydie Plecitá is the Head of the Laboratory of Pancreatic Islet Research at the Institute of Physiology in Prague. Her research focuses on mitochondrial function and redox signaling in diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cancer. She earned her PhD in Microbiology from Charles University and the Institute of Microbiology in Prague, where her work on oxidative stress and aging in yeast was highly recognized. Her pioneering research utilizes advanced microscopy techniques to study mitochondrial morphology and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Awarded the Otto Wichterle Medal and the L’Oréal Prize for Women in Science, she has published 87 high-impact papers and mentored several PhD students.
Tom McWilliams (FI)
Tom McWilliams is Associate Professor of Mitochondrial Medicine at the University of Helsinki, Finland. He studied biochemistry in Ireland before moving to the UK to complete the Wellcome Trust Four-Year PhD Programme in neuroscience with Alun M. Davies FMedSci FRS and Stephen B. Dunnett FMedSci. Subsequently, he was recruited to the MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, where he made groundbreaking advances in the study of physiological mitophagy and Parkinson’s disease with Ian Ganley FRSE and Miratul Muqit FMedSci. In 2021, he was elected a Scholar of the FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence. His team has been generously funded by numerous sources, including the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, and the Research Council of Finland. A major focus of the lab is on understanding tissue-specific autophagy mechanisms, metabolic signalling, and neurodegeneration, with particular interest in identifying early inflection points and mechanisms that drive disease progression.
Programme
| Wednesday, September 24 | |
|---|---|
| 09:00–13:00 | Pre-Conference Educational Workshop Fiziologija brez meja: Delovanje organizmov v ekstremnih okoljih (Lecture Room 2)# Chairs: Anemari Horvat, Urška Černe, Andraž Stožer • Rok Kostanjšek: Prilagoditve človeške ribice na podzemno okolje • Damjana Rozman: Fiziološki izzivi pomanjkanja teme • Leja Dolenc Grošelj: Spanje v ekstremnih okoljih • Odmor • Lidija Križančić Bombek: Prilagoditve telesa na višjo nadmorsko višino • Boštjan Rituper: (Pato)fiziološke prilagoditve delovanja kardiovaskularnega sistema na bivanje v mikrogravitaciji |
| 13:00–19:00 | Registration Desk Open (Hall) |
| 14:00–14:15 | Welcome and Opening (Lecture Room 1) |
| 14:15–15:00 | Keynote Lecture 1 (Lecture Room 1) Chair: Robert Zorec (SI) Michela Matteoli (IT): Microglial and TREM2 Dialogues in the Developing Brain |
| 15:00–16:30 | S01: Innovations in Cardiovascular Physiology: From Mechanisms to Therapeutics (Lecture Room 1) Chairs: Francesco Moccia (IT), Marta Cvijić (SI) • Francesco Moccia (IT): The Role of Endothelial Ca2+ Signalling in Ca2+-Dependent Nitric Oxide Production at the Neurovascular Unit • Francesco Lodola (IT): Light-Controlled Modulation of Cardiac Excitable Cell Activity via a Membrane-Targeted Photoswitch • Carmine Rocca (IT): Key Implications of the FcγRIIA Receptor in Fc Region-Dependent Cardiotoxicity of Trastuzumab • Marta Cvijić (SI): RV Hemodynamics and Understanding RV-PA (un)Coupling in Clinical Practice |
| 15:00–16:30 | S02: Bed Rest Studies as a Model for Disuse and Microgravity (Lecture Room 2) Chairs: Bruno Grassi (IT), Marco Narici (IT) • Bruno Grassi (IT): Oxidative Metabolism and Mitochondria in Disuse and Microgravity: Functional Impairments, Bottlenecks, Basic Science, Consequences on Health • Igor Mekjavić (SI): The Slovene Bedrest Research Programme: Past, Present and Future • Rado Pišot (SI): The Effects of Prolonged Bed Rest: Influence of Age, Duration and Countermeasures – Experience of Bedrest Center Koper • Marco Narici (IT): Neuromuscular Impairment with Chronic Inactivity |
| 16:30–17:00 | Refreshment Break & Poster Viewing (Hall) |
| 17:00–17:15 | Poster Blitz 1 (Lecture Room 1) Chairs: Justina Mihaljević (CR), Anemari Horvat (SI) |
| 17:15–19:15 | S03: Neurophysiology in Health and Disease & Andrej O. Župančič Symposium (Lecture Room 1) Chairs: Robert Zorec (SI), Evelin Szabó (HU) • Giampiero Leanza (IT): Acetylcholine, Noradrenaline and their Peculiar Involvement in Alzheimer’s Disease • Akinori Nishi (JP): p11 in Cholinergic Interneurons in the NAc is Essential for Dopamine Response to Rewards: Insight into the Dentate Gyrus-NAc Circuit • Mitsuhiro Morita (JP): AQP4-Dependent ATP/Adenosine Release and Psychiatric Disorders • Bayram Yilmaz (TU): Neuronal Circuits of the Arcuate Nucleus in Obesity: Classical and Novel Perspectives • Evelin Szabó (HU): The Effect of Prolactin-releasing Peptide (PrRP) on Depression-like Behaviour in Rats |
| 19:15–22:00 | Welcome Reception & 70 years of Slovenian Physiological Society (Lecture Room 1/Hall) |
| Thursday, September 25 | |
| 08:00–12:00 | Registration Desk Open (Hall) |
| 09:00–10:30 | S04: Cerebrovascular Impairment in Aging and Disease (Lecture Room 1) Chairs: Eszter Farkas (HU), Anna Csiszár (HU) • Éva Pál (HU): Disruption of Vitamin D Signalling Impairs Cerebrovascular Adaptation to Carotid Artery Occlusion • Eszter Farkas (HU): Impaired Neurovascular Coupling after Acute Ischemic Stroke in the APP/PS1 Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease • Anna Csiszár (US/HU): Age-related Vascular Cognitive Impairment: Role of Neurovascular Senescence • László Hricisák (HU): Roles of NOS Isoforms in the Adaptation of the Cerebrocortical Circulation to Unilateral Carotid Artery Occlusion |
| 09:00–10:30 | S05: Organelle Dynamics and Metabolism in Health and Disease (Lecture Room 2) Chairs: Toni Petan (SI), Eva Jarc Jovičić (SI) • Tomaž Martini (SI/CH): A Sexually Dimorphic Hepatic Cycle of Periportal VLDL Generation and Subsequent Pericentral VLDLR-mediated Re-uptake • Marko Šestan (CR): Neuro-endocrino-immune Regulation of Metabolic Homeostasis • Eva Jarc Jovičić (SI): Lipid Droplets Control Membrane Integrity and Mitochondrial Homeostasis in Starvation and Ferroptosis • Short Talk: Ivo Kosmačin (SI): Chronic 5-HT₂A Receptor Activation Differentially Affects Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Stress Tolerance in Neonatal and Adult Rat Cortical Astrocytes • Short Talk: Lara Batičić (CR): Dynamic Changes of Interleukin-18 Concentration in Peripheral and Coronary Circulation Following Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery |
| 10:30–10:45 | Poster Blitz 2 (Lecture Room 1) Chairs: Simona D’Aprile (IT), Jurij Dolenšek (SI) |
| 10:45–12:00 | Refreshment Break with Poster Session 1 (Hall) |
| 12:00–12:45 | Keynote Lecture 2 (Lecture Room 1) Chair: Andraž Stožer (SI) Lydie Plecita-Hlavata (CZ): Redox Signalling in Pancreatic β-Cells: Balancing Health and Dysfunction |
| 12:45–13:45 | Lunch (Hall) |
| 13:45–15:15 | S06: Impact of Nutrients and Lifestyle on Microvascular Function (Lecture Room 1) Chairs: Helena Lenasi (SI), Ines Drenjančević (CR) • Ines Drenjančević (CR): High Salt Diet Affects the Microvascular Reactivity – is there a Salvage Way? – Comparative Studies in Animals and Humans • Lana Kralj (SI): Time-dependent Microvascular and Autonomic Nervous System Alterations after Oral Glucose Loading in Young Healthy Individuals • Eszter Mária Horváth (HU): Ivabradine Induced Vasorelaxation in a Hyperandrogenic Rat Model of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation • Henrique Silva (PT): The Impact of Acute Mental Stress on Microvascular Reactivity • Martin Hultman (SE): Towards a Standardized Framework for Microvascular Flowmotion Analysis |
| 13:45–15:15 | S07: Insect Neurobiology and Neuroethology (Lecture Room 2) Chairs: Gregor Belušič (SI), Anemari Horvat (SI) • Nataša Stritih Peljhan (SI): Beyond Spectral Overlap: an Integrative Study Reveals a Novel Mechanism of Vibrational Masking in Insects • Monika Kos (SI): Connectome of the Early Visual Pathway of a Butterfly Elucidates the Neural Toolkit for the Green-red Colour Opponent Axis • Domen Lazar (IT): The Role of Vision and Visual Cues in Host Plant Location by the Meadow Spittlebug Philaenus Spumarius • Anemari Horvat (SI): Age-Related Dysregulation of Octopaminergic Ca2+ Signalling and Metabolism in Drosophila Brain |
| 15:15–16:30 | Refreshment Break with Poster Session 2 (Hall) |
| 16:30–18:00 | S08: New Frontiers in Cardiovascular Research (Lecture Room 1) Chairs: Simon Sedej (AT), Nina Kaludercic (IT) • Nina Kaludercic (IT): Mitochondrial ROS Formation in Cardiac Disease • Zoltán Varga (HU): Immune Checkpoint Signalling and Heart Failure • Natasa Djalinac (IT): Human Microtissue Models for Studying Cardiolaminopathies • Senka Holzer (AT): Calcium Signalling in Early and Late Hypertensive Cardiac Remodelling |
| 16:30–18:00 | S09: Endocrine Physiology: From Mechanisms to Phenotypes (Lecture Room 2) Chairs: Andraž Stožer (SI), Viktoria Venglovecz (HU) • Viktoria Venglovecz (HU): Endocrine-Exocrine Interactions in the Pancreas: Impact of Diabetes on Ductal Function • Morten Gram Pedersen (IT): Dynamical Time-to-event Analysis Provides Insight into the Role of Syntaxin in Docking of Insulin Granules • Nadine Ortner (AT): Preclinical Models for a Rare Cav1.3 Channelopathy: Insights into the Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Option • Short Talk: Nastja Murko (AT/SI): Effects of Arginine Vasopressin on Pancreatic α and β Cells: Glucose-Dependent Modulation and Receptor-Specific Responses • Short Talk: Marko Gosak (SI): Integrating Imaging and Network Science to Decode Capillary Architecture in Health and Disease |
| 18:00–18:45 | Keynote Lecture 3 (Lecture Room 1) Chairs: Eva Jarc Jovičić (SI), Toni Petan (SI) Thomas McWilliams (FN): Physiological Mitophagy Dynamics in Healthy Brain Aging |
| 19:00–22:00 | Networking Event with Boat Tour and Social Dinner at Livada (meet in Hall at 19:00 for boat tour or 19:30 at Livada, Hladnikova cesta 15) |
| Friday, September 26 | |
| 08:30–11:30 | Registration Desk Open (Hall) |
| 09:00–09:45 | Keynote Lecture 4* (Lecture Room 1) Chair: Nina Vardjan (SI) Viacheslav O. Nikolaev (DE): Illuminating Cardiac cAMP Microdomains for Better Heart Failure Therapies |
| 09:45–10:55 | S10: Workshop on Structural Biology and Physiology* (Lecture Room 1) Chairs: Nina Vardjan (SI), Robert Zorec (SI) • Dušan Turk (SI): All Roads Lead to Cathepsins • Nataša Lindič (SI): Engineering Endogenous Cathepsin Inhibitor for Subcellular Targeting and Antiviral Intervention • Robert Zorec (SI): Searching for a New Lactate Receptor Mediating Metabolic Excitability in Astrocytes |
| 10:55–11:30 | Refreshment Break & Poster Viewing (Hall) |
| 11:30–13:00 | S11: Pathways in Physiology: From Wellness to Illness (Lecture Room 1) Chairs: Aleksanda Dugandžić (CR), Lana Ružić Švegl (CR) • Aleksanda Dugandžić (CR): The Role of Uroguanylin in Genetic Predisposition and the Development of Severe Forms of Diabetes Type 2 • Dora Višnjić (CR): The Physiology of Differentiation under Stress: Insights from Nucleotide Metabolism • Hrvoje Lalić (CR): Monocyte-Driven Pathways in Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease • Lana Ružić Švegl (CR): Are Widespread Hypoxic Chambers Undermining the Use of Hypobaric Altitude Training and Its Associated Adaptations? |
| 11:30–13:00 | S12: Cellular Strategies in Cancer and Neural Pathologies (Lecture Room 2) Chairs: Jernej Jorgačevski (SI), Maja Potokar (SI) • Helena H. Chowdhury (SI): Autologous Immunohybridoma Therapy: A Platform for Solid Tumour Treatment • Maja Potokar (SI): Insights into Plectin’s Potential as a Glioblastoma Biomarker • Nunzio Vicario (IT): Connexin 43-based Intercellular Communication and Its Role in Neuropathic Pain • Short Talk: Luka Lapajne (SI): Neuropsin, TRPV4 and Intracellular Calcium Mediate Intrinsic Photosensitivity in Corneal Epithelial Cells |
| 13:00–13:45 | Keynote Lecture 5 (Lecture Room 1) Chair: Zoltan Benyo (HU) Akos Koller (HU): The Brain Flow: Regulation of Fluids in and out of the Brain to Maintain Intracranial Pressure |
| 13:45–14:00 | Poster Awards and Closing (Lecture Room 1) |
| 14:00–15:00 | Lunch (Hall) |
# Slovenian language
* In collaboration with Instruct-ERIC Consortium
