Doctoral and post-doctoral research - a priority of the Romanian postgraduate education system.

Abstract

November 12th 2014: the opening conference for the project “Doctoral and post-doctoral research – a priority of the Romanian postgraduate education system (Doc-Postdoc)” took place in Bucharest, Romania. The project aims to support doctoral and post-doctoral research in Romania, and is cofinanced by the European Social Fund through the Sectoral Operational Programme for Human Resources Development 2007-2013; priority axis 1. “Education and training in support for growth and development of a knowledge based society“; key area of intervention: 1.5. “Doctoral and post-doctoral programs in support of research”; contract code: POSDRU/159/1.5/S/137390. The Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest is the project beneficiary, partnering with two other major universities in Romania: The University “Politehnica” of Bucharest, and the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Târgu Mures. The conference presented the aims and objectives of the project, but it was also packed with scientific sessions where young PhD candidates and post-doctoral researchers had the opportunity to present the studies they are conducting within this project. The topics discussed spanned through the interdisciplinary fields of biomedicine and bioengineering. Of particular interest to the readers of the Journal GERMS, Dr. Catalin Tiliscan presented data on adipocyte dysfunction in HIV-positive patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy, his study showing that almost half of patients had hyporesistinemia, and resistin was correlated with the inflammatory profile. Also, an unfavorable immune status appeared to be inversely proportional to the values of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 MCP-1, while leptin values were not correlated with CD4 cell count or virologic status, but rather with HDL-cholesterol and waist circumference. Dr. Ramona Popescu presented an interdisciplinary study protocol for determining the incidence of intercurrent and opportunistic infections in rheumatologic patients undergoing treatment with biologic agents. Dr. Oana Sandulescu presented the preliminary results of a study aimed to determine the capacity of staphylococcal species to adhere to and internalize in eukaryotic cells. By comparing two different types of bacterial strains, collected from patients with clinically-relevant infections and from asymptomatic nasal carriage, the study showed that despite a similar rate of internalization, staphylococci from the two groups displayed statistically significant differences regarding intracellular growth after internalization. Dr. Daniela Talapan presented significant data on the emergence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, with Klebsiella spp. ranking first among bacteria with resistance to carbapenems, followed by E. coli, E. cloacae, and E. aerogenes, leaving a considerably low number of active antibiotics in play, namely colistin, tigecycline and fosfomycin. Based on the preliminary data presented at the conference, the research conducted within this project is bound to generate information with a significant clinical impact, leading to a better understanding of medical issues currently understudied, with the potential to reshape clinical practice.