Ivana Vucenik
Associate Professor
University of Maryland School of Medicine
USA
Biography
Dr. Ivana Vucenik is Associate Professor of Medical & Research Technology and Pathology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD. She received her PhD in Immunology and Hematology from the University of Zagreb, Croatia and joined the University of Maryland in 1990. Since then, she has been studying bioactive properties of dietary compounds, particularly the anticancer function of inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) and inositol in vivo and in vitro. She has been investigating the effect of IP6 on cancer cell growth, differentiation, and its interaction with intracellular signal transduction pathways to understand the molecular mechanism(s) underlying this antineoplastic action. Dr. Vucenik has also been studying the antiplatelet and natural killer (NK)-cell enhancing functions of IP6. Another research project in her laboratory focuses on platelet function testing and the phenomenon of aspirin resistance in humans. As recognized nutrition researcher and educator, she has made numerous presentations at national and international meetings. Her research has been supported by grants from the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the American Institute for Cancer Research, the University of Maryland Designated Research Initiative Fund, and the University of Maryland Women Health Research Foundation.
Research Interest
Diet, Nutrition