TRACE - One Health Perspective

20/08/2025

🧬 Junior Research Assistant Ivana Perić, candidate at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, presented her research at FEMS MICRO 2025 in Milan with the poster:

"Raw milk as a Reservoir of Carbapenem-Resistant and ESBL-Producing Bacteria: Insights from a Serbian Farm Study."

🌱 The results she presented form an integral part of the TRACE project, funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia (Grant No. 7042) — traceproject.rs, and represent an essential part of her ongoing doctoral research.

We are very pleased that the work of our team was highlighted at such a major international scientific gathering, providing visibility to ongoing efforts in addressing antimicrobial resistance.

16/06/2025

🔬 At the 15th Serbian Diaspora Medical Conference, our research team had the pleasure of presenting our work on: "Healthcare-Associated Infections: Major Bacterial Pathogens and Circulating Clones."
🦠 We shared findings from the TRACE project, funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia (Grant No. 7042) — traceproject.rs — and research project supported by Pfizer.
Many thanks to the organizers for an exceptionally well-organized and impactful event. It was a privilege to take part and engage in discussions on such a crucial healthcare issue.

04/06/2025

Members of the TRACE project team, Ina Gajic, Zoran Todorovic, Miloš Jovićević, Dusan Kekic presented key findings at the National Congress with International Participation – “Novelties in Immunization and Antimicrobial Resistance”, held in Belgrade on May 16–17, 2025.

They shared preliminary results from ongoing TRACE research addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through a multidisciplinary One Health approach. The presentation highlighted efforts to strengthen AMR surveillance, integrate microbiological and epidemiological data, and support more coordinated responses to resistance threats.

We’re grateful to the Serbian Medical Society, the organizers, and all participants for the opportunity to contribute and engage in meaningful discussions on advancing AMR control in Serbia.

📘 Abstract book available here: www.sldmikro.rs

This Project is supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia (GRANT No. 7042).

04/06/2025

🎙️ Prof. dr Nataša Vučković-Opavski, predsednica Mikrobiološke sekcije Srpskog lekarskog društva i redovna profesorka Medicinskog fakulteta Univerziteta u Beogradu, gostovala je u emisiji Magazin na Prvom na Radio Beogradu, gde je govorila o značaju imunizacije u savremenoj medicini, ali i o jednom od ključnih izazova današnjice – antimikrobnoj rezistenciji.

Tom prilikom predstavila je i svoj angažman kao članica projektnog tima TRACE, koji se bavi problemom antimikrobne rezistencije kroz pristup One Health. Projekat okuplja stručnjake sa Medicinskog fakulteta UB, Fakulteta veterinarske medicine UB, Poljoprivrednog fakulteta UB, Instituta za molekularnu genetiku i genetičko inženjerstvo (IMGGI) i Tehnološkog fakulteta UNS, s ciljem boljeg razumevanja, praćenja i zajedničkog delovanja protiv širenja rezistencije u različitim sredinama.

📎 Više o emisiji: https://www.rts.rs/lat/radio/radio-beograd-1/
🔬 Ovaj projekat je podržan od strane Fonda za nauku Republike Srbije (br. 7042).

01/06/2025

📅 U utorak, 27. maja 2025. godine, predstavnica tima projekta TRACE, dr Olja Šovljanski, posetila je JKP "Vodovod i kanalizacija" Novi Sad, u okviru projekta koji se realizuje uz podršku Fonda za nauku Republike Srbije.

🔬 Ova poseta simbolizuje snažnu povezanost naučnih istraživanja i rada javnih komunalnih sistema. JKP „ViK Novi Sad“ pružio je značajnu podršku istraživačkom timu još u fazi prijave projekta, čime je postao jedan od ključnih partnera u sprovođenju koncepta Jednog zdravlja u praksi.

🤝 Tokom sastanka sumirani su rezultati i iskustva iz prve godine realizacije projekta, a prisustvovali su i:

🔹 koordinatori i stručni saradnici svih odeljenja uključenih u prikupljanje uzoraka površinskih i otpadnih voda
🔹 timovi zaduženi za mikrobiološke, biološke i fizičko-hemijske analize
🔹 kao i istraživački podmladak Tehnološkog fakulteta Novi Sad – studenti doktorskih studija koji su na ovaj način aktivno uključeni u projektne aktivnosti i terenski rad.

📣 Ovaj susret predstavlja važan korak u uspostavljanju otvorene i dvosmerne komunikacije sa projektnim partnerima, što dodatno doprinosi kvalitetu saradnje i otvara prostor za nova interdisciplinarna povezivanja naučne zajednice, javnog sektora i šire društvene zajednice.

🙏 Zahvaljujemo se JKP „ViK Novi Sad“ na podršci, saradnji i razumevanju značaja teme antimikrobne rezistencije, kao i na doprinosu očuvanju zdravlja ljudi, životinja i životne sredine. 🌍💧

08/04/2025

🔬 TRACE Project Update – Team Meeting Recap 🔬

Great discussions in our early team meeting! We reviewed our latest results:
✅ Sampling
✅ Bacterial ID
✅ Antimicrobial susceptibility testing

With these key steps completed and milestones achieved, we’re wrapping up the first year of the project.
Next up: Further analysis, DNA extraction, and preparations for the next phase. Exciting challenges ahead, and the team is ready to tackle them!
🔗 https://traceproject.rs/

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This Project is supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia (GRANT No. 7042).

17/12/2024

🚨 Exciting Update from the Trace Project Team! 🚨
Members of the Trace project team, Prof. dr Ina Gajic, Prof. dr Milica Mirkovic, and Prof. dr Nedja Karabasil, participated in the 15th Congress of Nutrition, titled "Food, Nutrition, and Health within the Framework of Sustainable Development," held at Hotel M in Belgrade, Serbia from November 20-22, 2024.
During the event, they presented the preliminary results of their ongoing research on multidrug-resistant bacteria in food and its potential dangers to public health. Their presentation emphasized the growing concern over antibiotic resistance in the food supply and its implications for public health, contributing valuable insights to the broader discussion on food safety and sustainability.

This Project is supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia (GRANT No. 7042).
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16/12/2024

💡 Would you like to learn more about Antimicrobial Resistance and how the TRACE Project addresses this global challenge?

📺 Tune in to the RTS show "Naučni kompas", where prof. dr Milica Mirković and Nikola Bajčetić discuss the growing issue of antibiotic resistance, its impact on the modern world, and the TRACE Project's innovative approaches and goals.

💊 The program highlights the critical importance of understanding and combating antimicrobial resistance through a multidisciplinary framework, focusing on public health, environmental factors, and the One Health approach. 🌊 🏥 🐄

This Project is supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia (GRANT No. 7042).

Label and copyright: Radio televizija Srbije Zabranjeno svako kopiranje video i/ili audio snimaka i postavljanje na druge kanale!

25/11/2024

**🌍🔬 AMR Awareness Week: A Call to Action for Global Health 🔬🌍

This week, from November 18–24, 2024, we observe AMR Awareness Week, a crucial opportunity to raise global awareness about the growing threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). As the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted, AMR is one of the most significant challenges facing global public health today.
💡 Why AMR Matters:
· Global Health Threat: AMR threatens to complicate treatments, such as surgeries, cancer therapies, and the treatment of common infections.
· Economic Burden: The rise of resistant infections leads to longer hospital stays, more intensive treatments, and higher healthcare costs.
· Affecting Everyone: The impact of AMR stretches beyond the clinic—it affects agriculture, water systems, and ecosystems.
🔬 The TRACE Project: Tackling AMR through the One Health Approach
One promising initiative in the fight against AMR is the Trace Project, currently underway in Serbia, which studies multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria circulating across human, animal, and environmental sectors. This will allow scientists to identify and track the genetic diversity and spread of resistance genes, assess transmission routes, and identify potential hotspots for resistance development.
🛑 What Can We Do?
· Use antibiotics responsibly
· Prevent Infections: Vaccination, hand hygiene, and proper infection control.
· Support AMR Research: Projects like TRACE demonstrate the importance of collaborative, cross-sector research in understanding AMR.
As we mark AMR Awareness Week, let's unite to act against AMR.

Check our website for more: https://traceproject.rs/
This Project is supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia (GRANT No. 7042)
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22/11/2024

🌟 We are pleased to share that members of the TRACE project Ina Gajic, Natasa Opavski, and Zoran Todorovic recently participated in the Antimicrobial Therapy – What Does the Future Hold? symposium, organized by the Serbian Pharmacological Society, at the Mona Plaza Hotel in Belgrade on November 15-16, 2024.
🔬 During the event, they presented the latest findings from the TRACE Project, which focuses on combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) using a One Health approach. By integrating human, animal, and environmental health, TRACE aims to address the multifaceted challenge of AMR. Their presentations focused on innovative solutions for tackling AMR and emphasized the critical importance of a collaborative, multi-sector approach in addressing this challenge.
Website: https://traceproject.rs/
This Project is supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia (GRANT No. 7042)
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30/10/2024

Nikola Bajčetić, a member of the TRACE project and a teaching assistant at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, was a guest at the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering (IMGGE) in Belgrade, at the invitation of Aleksandra Nikolić, a full research professor at IMGGE. On this occasion, he gave a lecture on the TRACE project to high school students enrolled in the Biology and Chemistry program.

👥 The lecture was attended by 20 students, who actively participated in the discussion by asking questions about the project and the issues it addresses.

🔑 Key topics covered during the lecture included:
👉 The concept of antibiotic resistance
👉 The history of the discovery of the first antibiotic
👉 MDR bacteria (multidrug-resistant bacteria)
👉 Significant multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens (critical, high, and medium priority groups)
👉 TRACE (concept, methodology, and ambitions)

We extend our gratitude to Aleksandra Nikolić for the invitation and look forward to future collaborations.

This Project is supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia (GRANT No. 7042)

24/10/2024

The Institute of Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina (IPDV) hosted a successful Continuous Medical Education focusing on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

The program featured insightful lectures from our hosts, Mirjana Hadnadjev, Anika Trudić, Prof. Jovan Matijašević, and Prof. Jelena Đekić, along with contributions from distinguished lecturers from
Belgrade, including Ina Gajić, Nataša Opavski, Zoran Todorović, Katarina Paunović, Dušan Kekić, and Miloš Jovićević.
The meeting gathered over 70 healthcare professionals, creating a vibrant platform for sharing knowledge and experiences. Lecturers and participants emphasized the importance of integrating stringent infection control measures with enhanced hospital information systems to ensure better monitoring, reporting, and infection prevention.
Key takeaways from the event included:
👉 Ongoing education and training on infection prevention protocols.
👉 The critical role of technology in improving infection control practices.
👉 Collaborative strategies to strengthen multidisciplinary approaches in managing HAIs.

We thank the management of the IPDV and all participants for their contributions and look forward to future collaborations aimed at enhancing our healthcare practices.