Metka Lenassi

PhD, is an Associate Professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and the head of the Laboratory for extracellular vesicle research, at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana

Her research work is focused on advancing the knowledge of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in cell-pathogen communication, using human-HIV interaction as a model system. Specifically, her group studies biogenesis, composition, targeting and functions of EVs released from cells expressing HIV protein Nef and their role in non-AIDS related conditions in HIV-infected individuals. Her group is also heavily involved in EV-biomarker studies and collaborate on this with several clinical partners. Their research focus is on optimizing biobanking of biological samples and methodology for EV isolation, and on evaluating EV- protein, RNA, and DNA components as disease state read-outs.
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Metka is also dedicated to promoting EVs among wider research and medical community, through her involvement in teaching activities and EV-training programs, and through her roles in local (president of the Slovenian Network for Extracellular Vesicles, SiN-EV) and international (serving as the Executive Chair of Science & Meetings Committee of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles, ISEV) EV societies.