On the fourth day of the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Faculty of Medicine in Niš the seminar titled „RECENT ADVANCES AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN MEDICINE“ was held, moderated by prof. dr Borislav Kamenov. Eight lectures were given by the renown experts and scientists, professors of the European universities from Switzerland, Germany, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Italy, Russia, Sweden, and Macedonia, as well as three lectures by our graduates at their doctoral studies in Europe.

A wide range of topics, integrative approach in the consideration of basic, clinical aspects and treatment of most severe diseases, is the fundamental characteristic of the lectures of the renown professors from Europe, Russia and neighbouring countries. Top results were presented, advancing the boundaries of knowledge in all medical fields. Genetic background of disease, epigenetic regulation of gene expression, therapeutic perspectives in malignant diseases, achievements in the fields of vascular, plastic, microsurgery, polytraumas, and treatment of hemophilia are the topics presented. The lectures constitute a challenge for researchers, clinicians, and those primarily engaged in disease prevention. The impact upon the audience was maximal.

The seminar was opened by prof. dr Mario Lachat from the Clinic of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, with the lecture titled „Treatment options for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurism repair: update and outlook“. The following lecture, „Epigenetics in renal diseases“ was held by prof. dr Gerhardt Mueller from the Medical Center Goettingen, Dept. Nephrology and Rheumatology, Georg-August University in Goettingen, Germany. Prof. dr Draga Toncheva from the Dept. of Medical Genetics, Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria, gave the lecture titled „Association study of major psychiatric disorders“. Prof. dr Charles Coombes from the Dept. of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College, London, Great Britain, gave the lecture titled „Mechanisms of Resistence to Endocrine Therapy“.

Prof. dr Jordan Saveski, University Clinic of Traumatology, Skopje, Macedonia, held the lecture „Monitoring of polytraumas“. „Platelet growth factor and stem cells from adipocytes in plastic surgery“ was the lecture by prof. dr Stefano Verardi, Dept. of Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. Prof. dr Ivan Krainik from the Faculty of Medicine, State University of St. Petersburg, Russia, gave the lecture „Microsurgery today“. „Is it possible to use global homeostatic methods for treatment individualization in patients with hemophilia A?“ was the lecture by prof. dr Jovan Antović, Karolinska University Hospital & Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

In the second part of the seminar, our graduates engaged in PhD studies in European universities presented their papers in the presence of their mentors. Scientific competence, excellent command of English, creativity, were demonstrated in the best way by young researchers Ivana Pesic MD, Aleksandra Filipovic MD and Milena Milovanovic MD, not to mention their human qualities as well. A student of doctoral academic studies Ivana Pešić MD, trained at the Clinical Proteomics Labs, Nephrology and Rheumatology, Georg-August University, Goettingen, Germany, gave the lecture „Proteomics in renal disease“. The following lecture, titled „Gamma secretase and Nicastrin as emerging therapeutic targets in breast cancer“ was held by Aleksandra Filipović MD, at her doctoral studies at the Dept. of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College, London, Great Britain. „Molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of immunoglobulin E production by vitamin D” was the closing lecture of the seminar, held by Milena Milovanović MD, a doctoral candidate at the Clinic of Dermatovenerology and Allergology, Medical University Charite, Berlin, Germany.