Institute for Anthropological Research

CENTER FOR APPLIED BIOANTHROPOLOGY

The Institute for Anthropological Research is a public science institute that deals with educational activity in the field of anthropology as a medicinal, natural, social and biotechnological science. The modus operandi of the Institute for Anthropological Research is the study of various interactive processes via holistic approach, and which had—through biological and sociocultural history—influenced the shaping of human populations in the environment (as a specific ecological niche) and time (regarding the genetic generations and the transmission of the genetic material). By basing the science and research strategy of the Institute on rich experience of both domestic and international projects, the scientific and research activities at the Institute covers the following fields: medical anthropology, biological anthropology, human ecology, population genetics, chemical analytics, anthropological biometry, physiological anthropology, anthropological anatomy, dental anthropology, psychodynamic anthropology, ethnology and cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, anthropogeographic and historic anthropology, mathematical modelling and biostatistics, applied anthropology, ergonomics, biomechanics, occupational medicine, epidemiology, preventive medicine, social medicine, forensics, archaeology, and general ecology.

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scientific papers in CROSBI database

CENTER FOR APPLIED BIOANTHROPOLOGY (BIOANT)

In May 2018, Institute for Anthropological Research signed the grant award for the project “Centre for Applied Bioanthropology“ which was approved under the Call “Investments in Organizational Reform and Infrastructure of the Research, Development and Innovation Sector“ and funded by the European Fund for Regional Development. The project involves the construction of four new laboratories (Laboratory for Molecular Anthropology, Laboratory for Evolutionary Anthropology and Bioarchaeology, Laboratory for Chemical Analytics, and Laboratory for Microbial Ecology) in the existing premises of the Institute. This project will enable the implementation of high quality scientific research, further enhance the collaboration with international institutions and submissions of significant international projects, all with the aim of securing the competitiveness in the European Research Area.

Within this project, four new laboratories will be established:

The Laboratory for Molecular Anthropology

The Laboratory for Molecular Anthropology will be specialized in various types of molecular-anthropological analyses, including population-genetic analyses, analyses of migration processes at regional and global levels, as well as applied molecular-anthropological analyses within the forensic science and genetic analyses in the field of sport and nutrition.

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The Laboratory for Evolutionary Anthropology and Bioarchaeology

The Laboratory for Evolutionary Anthropology and Bioarchaeology will be specialized in the implementation of various types of bioarchaeological analyses, including taxonomic and phylogenetic, and various evolutionary aspects, as well as the preparation of human bone material for various types of analyses (e.g. sampling for ancient DNA analysis etc.). The preparation involves the cleaning, drying and inventorying of bone samples from the archaeological context, while standard analysis includes the determination of taphonomic characteristics, sex and age at the time of death, minimum number of individuals in case of mass burials, paleopathological and dental analyses, determination of metric and non-metric characteristics and height reconstruction. Also, the Laboratory will take samples to be sent abroad for further analyses (C14, aDNA).

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The Laboratory for Chemical Analytics

The Laboratory for Chemical Analytics will be a regional center for analytical chemistry in anthropology, including the multielemental analysis of archaeological bone samples, the implementation of complete toxicological analyses from biological samples (blood, urine, bone, hair, nails etc.). The analytical chemistry in anthropology is one of the most propulsive areas of anthropological and forensic sciences and almost every disease or condition of a human organism is related to the influence of particular chemicals. This is particularly associated with complex diseases, including obesity, and one of the main pathways of the intake of chemicals into the human body is nutrition.

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The Laboratory for Microbial Ecology

The Laboratory for Microbial Ecology will deal with the determination the role of microorganisms in the quality of life in different populations, to explore the mechanisms of interaction of intestinal microbiome and human organism and the role of microbiome in the emergence of complex diseases. The Laboratory will also explore the role of microorganisms in the impact on the environment, exploring nutritional habits of populations of the past and microbiological factors that affect the quality of the archaeological sites. Research will contribute to the knowledge of the interaction of the ecological system consisting of human and environment and the improvement of the health status of individuals. The analyses to be carried out within this Laboratory include classical microbiological analyses and the application of new methods such as (meta-)genome analysis, (meta-)transcriptome analysis, massive parallel sequencing and sequencing of individual cells, metabolomics and cell physiology testing in real systems.

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Duration: 1 June 2018 – 1 December 2019
Total worth of the project: 26.472.966,86 HRK
Eu co-financing: 22.502.021,83 HRK

LATEST NEWS

COST Action Integrating Neandertal Legacy: From Past to Present – iNEAL granted

Lucija Dodigovic2020-11-16T13:17:12+00:00

New paper in Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change

Lucija Dodigovic2020-11-12T09:44:24+00:00

Published work based on CRIBS project

Lucija Dodigovic2020-11-11T12:14:14+00:00

Dr.sc. Mario Novak published a new article in Science: ‘Origins and genetic legacy of prehistoric dogs’

Lucija Dodigovic2020-11-12T09:45:06+00:00

ISGA conference 27.3 – 31.3. 2020 – Call for papers

Tonko Caric2020-02-11T14:20:16+00:00

IUAES2020: Call for panels extended!

Tonko Caric2020-02-07T11:09:36+00:00

HR EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH

Institute for Anthropological Research in March 2012 received the acknowledgment of European Commission for implementing the European Charter for Researchers and the European Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researcher. By assigning the right to use the logo “HR Excellence in Research”, the European Commission honored the Institute for the successful preparation of Strategy for Human Resources for Researchers. Award will enable the Institute to join the European research area and to ensure better working conditions and career development of researchers and the free flow of knowledge and open labor market.

To get the acknowledgment, the Institute had to carry out an extensive analysis of the internal regulations and identify gaps and obstacles in the management of human resources and respect the rights of researchers. Based on the analysis, the action plans in compliance with the regulatory principles of the Charter and the Code have been prepared in order to meet the standards set forth in this important European documents.