Dr. Milena Čavić, Principal Research Fellow at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, presented a lecture on profiling of prognostic and predictive biomarkers in solid tumors at the Institute for Medical Research - University of Belgrade Scientific Seminar on July 9, 2026. The lecture explored how modern omics technologies, integrated with clinical data, can inform more precise treatment decisions and more individualized care, with a focus on locally advanced rec

As part of the Science Day at the Botanical Garden, Belgrade, we welcomed children, families, students, and many curious visitors to explore the fascinating world of extracellular vesicles (EVs). Through interactive activities, younger participants created EV models and learned how cells communicate by exchanging molecular messages, while older visitors discovered how EVs can be isolated and analyzed for future applications in liquid biopsy and precision medicine. The worksho

During a one-month secondment at GENOS, dr Jelena Milovanović received hands-on training in high-throughput glycomics, including glycan extraction and sample preparation for UHPLC, capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE), and mass spectrometry analyses. The knowledge and skills acquired will support the glycomic profiling of extracellular vesicles from liquid biopsy samples of patients with lung, breast, and liver cancer in the upcoming project work packages. In addition, the sec

Welcome to the third issue of the EXPAND-EV Newsletter! In this edition, readers can explore: Recent secondments and knowledge exchange activities across partner institutions; Dissemination and outreach activities promoting the objectives of EXPAND-EV; Interviews with Marija Tursunović and Vanja Stevanović, who share their experiences, research activities, and perspectives on participating in the project. All editions of the EXPAND-EV newsletter are available in the Media sec

Miodrag Vuković from IORS gave a PhD progress lecture as a part of IORS scientific seminar series held on June 18, 2026. Miodrag presented the topic: "The use of pleural effusion as a source of extracellular vesicles in patients with lung cancer - first results of the EXPAND-EV project" followed by a constructive discussion with IORS researchers and clinicians. Miodrag's PhD thesis forms a crucial project part dedicated to exploring the significance of liquid-biopsy derived

Dr. Ana Damjanović and Dr. Snezana Bjelogrlić performed their secondments at GENOS in Zagreb, Croatia, in May/June 2026, hosted by Dr. Maja Pučić Baković. During their stay, Ana and Snezana were trained on laboratory methods for glycomic studies, with particular focus on glycan extraction from biological samples and their preparation for mass spectrometry analysis. Special attention was given to development of glycome analysis SOPs for extracellular vesicles (EV) derived from

Project members Dr. Ana Đurić and Dr. Milena Čavić from IORS participated at the "ctDNA International Symposium 2026 Circulating Tumor DNA in Cancer: From Biology to Clinical Practice and Beyond" held on May 21 – 22, 2026 in Aarhus, Denmark, organized by Lars Dyrskjøt and Claus Lindbjerg Andersen from the Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University. During these 2 days, latest advances in the field of liquid biopsy — from technological innovations and biological insigh

Dr. Milena Čavić performed the first part of her split-secondment at GENOS, Zagreb, Croatia in the period May 30-June 6, 2026. During her stay, Dr. Čavić was hosted by Helena Deris, MSc, and Dr. Maja Pucic Bakovic. Dr Čavić was involved in study design, analytics, and data interpretation of high-throughput glycomics, with an emphasis on application on the EV glycome content derived from pleural effusion of patients with lung cancer. Exchange of know-how was performed within W

Marija Tursunović from the University of Belgrade – Faculty of Chemistry (UBFC) spent two months at the University of Nova Gorica (UNG). Her secondment was focused on the selection of nanobodies targeting cancer-associated extracellular vesicles (EVs) using phage display technology. During her stay, she gained hands-on experience in phage display panning using liver cancer cell models, followed by screening and characterization of candidate binders through ELISA and flow cyto

Prof. Dr. Milica Popović, Coordinator of the EXPAND-EV project, was featured as a guest on the RTS Science Portal programme, broadcast by Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), the national public broadcasting service of the Republic of Serbia. During the interview, Prof. Popović discussed current advances in extracellular vesicle research and their potential applications in cancer diagnosis and treatment. She highlighted the importance of developing innovative, clinically applica

Niki Vassilaki from HPI revisited RWTH University as part of the EXPAND-EV Staff Exchanges project, where she isolated EVs from carrot and marigold (Calendula officinalis) root suspension cultures, using optimized EV purification and pellet resuspension protocols. The isolated EVs will be analyzed using Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis at HPI and will be used as target substrates in panning experiments at UNG University.

As part of the EXPAND-EV project, Evangelia Christou from the Hellenic Pasteur Institute completed a research secondment at the University of Nova Gorica from April 17 to May 22, 2026. Her stay focused on cell-based panning and screening of phage-displayed nanobody libraries against liver cancer-associated targets, alongside recombinant H1 protein production and purification. During this period, she performed cell-based panning experiments using IHH cells as negative controls

As part of the EXPAND-EV project, Andrej Milivojac from the University of Belgrade-Faculty of Chemistry (UBFC) spent a month at the GENOS lab in Zagreb, Croatia. During the first period of his split secondment at the Genos laboratory in Zagreb, Andrej worked on the glycomic characterization of nano-antibodies specific for cancer-related human extracellular vesicles (EVs). The training will continue during the Fall of 2026, the second period of Andrej’s split secondment.

Teodora Cato from the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia (IORS) spent the month of April 2026 at Vall d‘Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), in Bercelona, Spain. During her secondment, Teodora focused on the functional characterization of various HCC1806 breast cancer cell line variants, including those transduced with AlfaTag-mClover lentiviral constructs, utilizing colony formation (CFA), spheroid formation (SFA), and invasion assays monitored via confocal microscop

Dr. Milena Čavić from the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia participated as a speaker at two national events in April 2026 in Belgrade and Nis, elaborating on strategies and projects dedicated to cancer prevention, early detection and timely interventions. The seminar - panel discussions "Precise public health and innovative approaches in the prevention and early detection of oncological diseases: importance for public health policy" were organized by professor B

Nikol Mraz from partner GENOS spent a month at UNG , as part of the EXPAND-EV project. During the secondment, Nikol participated in laboratory activities focused on acquiring both fundamental and more advanced techniques in molecular biology and biochemistry, with a particular emphasis on methods relevant to extracellular vesicle (EV) research. Nikol became familiar with cell culture procedures and took part in the preparation and maintenance of experimental systems that for

Miodrag Vukovic from IORS performed his secondment at partner GENOS , as part of the EXPAND-EV project. During his visit to Genos laboratory in Zagreb, Miodrag gained hands-on insight into experimental workflows for glycan preparation and analysis using mass spectrometry. He participated in the optimization of protocol for glycomic profiling of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from breast and pancreatic cancer cell lines. This experience strengthened his understanding of

Luka from partner IORS performed his secondment at GENOS , in the context of the EXPAND-EV project. During his stay at the Genos laboratory in Zagreb, Luka had the opportunity to engage in glycan analysis workflow. He obtained experience in preparation of biological samples for subsequent glycomic analysis, as well as in the glycomic analysis itself, done on mass spectrometry. This experience expanded his understanding on the workflow of glycan analysis, which can be used fo

On March 19, 2026. Dr Milena Čavić participated as an invited lecturer at the 3rd Annual Conference of the Alliance for Global Implementation of Lung and Cardiac Early Disease Detection and Treatment (AGILEDxRx) organized by the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP) in in Gdańsk, Poland. Dr. Čavić presented results of several lung cancer research projects and initiatives from Serbia, highlighting EXPAND-EV 's efforts of profiling new clinically significan

During her research secondment under the EXPAND-EV project, Evangelia Christou from the Hellenic Pasteur Institute (HPI) joined the Innovative Centre of the Faculty of Chemistry (ICFC) from January 30 to March 25, 2026. Her work focused on isolating and characterizing extracellular vesicles (EVs) and preparing nanobody-based tools for EV targeting. During this period, she performed mammalian cell culture and processed conditioned media from several human cell lines for EV iso