Born in Mostar, educated in Sarajevo and Italy, and today a scientist in Germany – Dr. Emina Merdan is pushing the boundaries of modern medicine through her research on DNA repair mechanisms. In an interview, she reveals details about her discovery that could contribute to the development of precise, less toxic therapies for treating cancer and other serious diseases.
“I actually discovered how our cells, that is, the cells in human organisms, repair the most dangerous damage to our DNA molecule, the so-called double-strand breaks in the DNA structure, which, when they occur in genes, can lead to mutations, damage, and rearrangements within our genome and thereby lead to the development of cancer and various other diseases. My doctorate actually investigates how our cells repair these breaks and ensure that our organism remains functional, vital, and that we preserve our health.”
Foundation for precise therapies
Emina emphasizes that her discovery opens up possibilities for the development of targeted therapies:
“Every discovery that points to differences between the mechanism of healthy cells and cancer cells or any other diseases is very important because it allows us, first, to understand the development of cancer, and second, to create or design therapies that are more effective and less toxic and that actually target only the cancer cells, sparing the healthy cells of our body.”
Focus on leukemia and other diseases
A special focus of her research is placed on the mechanism of “non-homologous end joining,” which is key in the fight against leukemia.
“That mechanism is very often deteriorated during leukemia, that is, it doesn’t function properly, so it is very important, not just for cancer, but specifically for leukemia and other diseases, that we know how it functions and what exactly we need to do to repair that damage.”
Experiences from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Italy, and Germany
Emina studied in BiH, Italy, and today works in Germany. In the interview, she also reflected on the differences in educational systems.
“In BiH, we have so much of that theoretical knowledge and we really learn a lot, but in BiH, we lack practice. In Italy, much more attention is paid to that, and in Germany, I see that students have much more laboratory knowledge than I had upon finishing my studies in BiH. In biology, practice is everything.”
Young people can succeed – even outside BiH
Asked about returning to BiH and her message to young people, Emina said:
“No one would be happier than me to return home. If I were given the opportunity to achieve the same in BiH as I can in Germany – I would return immediately.”
“My message to young people in BiH: the sky is the limit. Everything you imagine, you can achieve, it only matters how strongly you want it. Outside, no one will reject you just because you’re from BiH. They value us because they know how much we know and how hardworking we are.”
At the end of the conversation, Emina thanked everyone for the support she received after being recognized for her work:
“I thank everyone for the congratulations and support. It means a lot to me and gives me a lot of encouragement for the coming period.”
