Assist Prof Dr . Matija Rijavec | Genetics | Best Researcher Award

Development and Research Associate , University Clinic Golnik , Slovenia.

Matija Rijavec is a Development and Research Associate, serving as an Assistant Professor at the University Clinic for Respiratory and Allergic Diseases Golnik and the Biotechnical Faculty at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. His expertise lies in the fields of immunology and genetics, particularly related to complex diseases such as hereditary angioedema, asthma, and cystic fibrosis. Throughout his career, Matija has led several research projects, contributed to clinical guidelines, and authored numerous scientific publications.

Profile

ORCiD

Education

🎓 Matija completed his B.Sc. in Microbiology in 2004 and Ph.D. in Biomedicine in 2010 at the Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana. His academic achievements were recognized with the Krka prize for his Ph.D. In 2015, Matija was promoted to Assistant Professor of Immunology at the Biotechnical Faculty, reflecting his commitment to academia and research.

Professional Experience

🧪 Over his career, Matija has been involved in five completed research projects (leading one) and four ongoing projects (also leading one). His collaborative work includes contributions to the Hereditary Angioedema Variant Curation Expert Panel (HAE VCEP), part of the Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen). In addition to research, he holds editorial roles in various esteemed journals, including Frontiers in Immunology and Human Gene.

Research Interests

🔍 Matija’s research focuses on the genetics and immunology of complex diseases such as allergy, hereditary angioedema, asthma, COPD, and cystic fibrosis. His work employs cutting-edge molecular biology techniques like DNA sequencing, PCR, and NGS, aiming to discover novel biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prediction.

Awards and Recognitions

🏅 Matija has earned several prestigious awards, including the Krka Prize for his Ph.D., three International Medis awards, and the ARIS award for Outstanding Scientific Achievements. He has also been recognized for his work at international conferences, receiving Best Poster awards at prominent events like the EAACI Workshop.

Publications

📚 Matija has published 78 scientific papers in high-impact journals, reflecting his significant contributions to immunology and genetics. Some of his notable publications include:

• Rijavec, M., et al. (2023) – “Genetic Markers in Hereditary Angioedema” Journal of Clinical Immunology – Cited by 58 articles.
• Rijavec, M., et al. (2022) – “Novel Biomarkers in Pulmonary Fibrosis” Respiratory Research – Cited by 45 articles.
• Rijavec, M., et al. (2021) – “Role of mRNA Profiles in Asthma” Frontiers in Immunology – Cited by 34 articles.

Conclusion

Matija Rijavec is an exceptionally qualified candidate for the Best Researcher Award based on his outstanding contributions to immunology, genetics, and molecular biology. His robust publication record, editorial appointments, leadership in research projects, and international recognition make him a strong contender. However, increasing his engagement in industry projects, patent filings, and book authorship could further solidify his candidacy.