Academy Members

Kostović Ivica, F.C.A.

Academic titles:

• Fellow of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts
• Professor emeritus
• Doctor of Science

Institutions:

• professor emeritus – University of Zagreb (24.04.2014. – …)
• Honorary Director – Croatian Institute for Brain Research (2013. – …)
• full professor of neuroscience and anatomy in a permanent position – Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb
• head – Croatian Institute for Brain Research (2000. – 2013.)
• vicepresident – Croatian Parliament (2001. – 2003.)
• head – Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia (1998. – 1999.)
• Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Minister of Science and Technology  (1995. – 1998.)
• Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs  (1993. – 1995.)
• dean – Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb (1992. – 1993.)
• acting dean – Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb (1991. – 1992.)
• vice dean for science – Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb (1990. – 1991.)

Functions in Academy:

• member – Statutes Committee (01/30/2013 – …)
• chair – Committee for Cooperation with Croatian Universities and Scientific Institutes (2008. – 2019.)

Membership in Academy:

• full member – Department of Medical Sciences (05/18/2006 – …)

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Biography

EDUCATION

• 1962-1967     School of Medicine, University of Zagreb (MD)
• 1968-1971     Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Zagreb (MSc, Neurobiology)
• 1972               School of Medicine, University of Zagreb (DSc, Neuroanatomy)
• 1972-1974     The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, U.S.A. (Postdoctoral Fellow)

RESEARCH INTEREST

Human developmental neurobiology and neuroanatomy, Development of cortical circuitry: synaptogenesis, axonal pathways, dendrites; Transient patterns of cortical organisation, Life-long development of human cortex, Correlation between cortical histogenesis and MR imaging, Perinatal brain lesions

SPECIALIZATION & TRAINING

• 1972-1974     Fogarty and Fullbright Fellowship, The Johns Hopkins University, USA
• 1976               Department of Neuroscience, Harvard University School of Medicine, USA
• 1979-1990     Regular study visits (consultant for Human Neuroanatomy), Yale University School of Medicine, USA
• 1990-1991     Spinoza Visiting Professor, The Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

• 1968             Assistant in Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb
• 1972-1974     Postdoctoral fellowship in Neuroanatomy and Neurology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA (Fogarty International Fellow & Fullbright Fellow) with drs Hendrik Van der Loos and Mark E. Molliver.
• 1975             Assistant Professor of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb
• 1976             Visiting Assistant Professor of Neuropathology, Department of Neuroscience, Harvard University School of Medicine, Boston, USA (with drs Pasko Rakic and Richard Sidman)
• 1978              Associate Professor of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb
• 1980              Professor of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb
• 1987              Head, Section of Neuroanatomy, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb
• 1990              Chairman, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb
• 1990-1991      Vice-Dean for Science, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb
• 1992-1993     Dean, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb
• 1991-1997     Chief Coordinator, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb
• 1991               Spinoza Professor, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• 1998-2013     Professor of Neuroscience & Anatomy (re-elected), Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb
• 2000-2013     Director, Croatian Institute for Brain Research
• 2013-present  Honorary Director, Croatian Institute for Brain Research
• 2014-present  Professor Emeritus, University of Zagreb (elected by University Senate)

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR ON THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS

• 1982-1985     U.S. Joint Board Project 02-091-N «Histogenesis and differentiation of the cerebral cortex in the human fetus» (P.I. Dr. I. Kostović; U.S. Collaborator Dr. Pasko Rakic)
• 1986-1989     U.S. Joint Board Project PN 698 «Perinatal development of the human frontal lobe» (P.I. Dr. I. Kostović; U.S. Collaborator Dr. Pasko Rakic)
• 1990-1992    «Developmental neurobiology of schizophrenia» – the joint project of the Section of Neuroanatomy (School of Medicine Zagreb – I. Kostović) and Section of Neurobiology (Yale University School of Medicine – Dr. Patricia S. Goldman-Rakic)
• 1990-present    «Perinatal reorganization of the cortical circuitry during formation of cerebral convolutions in the human frontal lobe» – collaborative project with The Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Amsterdam (P.I. Dr. I. Kostović, Dutch collaborators Dr. H.B.M. Uylings and Dr. D.F. Swaab)
• 1997-present        Research program of the Croatian Institute for Brain Research “Neurobiology of cognitive development and cognitive disorders”, continued since 2006 as NEUROKOD program “Neurodevelopmental Basis of Cognitive, Mental and Neurological Disorders“ joining 27 projects
• 2007- 2010           Head coordinator of project „Neuroimaging, neurogenomics and pharmacogenomics of the frontal lobe connectivity: normal development and abnormalities in developmental and cognitive disorders“(Research Co-operability Program – Crossing border project, Unity through Knowledge Fund)
• 2015-present        Principal Investigator, project funded by National Science Foundation “Subplate zone of       the human brain: unsolved problems”
• 2015-present        Scientific Coordinator and Group Leader in Centre of Excellence “Croatian Institute for Brain Research – Centre for basic, clinical and translational neuroscience”

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

More than 30 years of teaching experience in the field of Human Anatomy, Human Developmental Neuroanatomy, and Developmental Neuroscience. The founder of the first interdisciplinary course «Fundamentals of Neuroscience» at the School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, and principal teacher on several postgraduate neuroscience courses. Invited lecturer on several leading universities (Yale University, Harvard University, The Johns Hopkins University, University of Amsterdam, Karolinska Institute). The founder of PhD Program in Neuroscience at School of Medicine, University of Zagreb.

HONOURS AND AWARDS

• Medical Academy of Croatia (Vice-President in two terms)
• Highest Award for Science in Republic of Croatia – Rugjer Boskovic Award (1990)
• Spinoza Professor, University of Amsterdam (1991)
• Medal of European Union for Humanitarian Work
• The Flag of the United States of America (July 7, 1994)
• Castang Lecture (2007)
• National Science Award for Biomedicine and Health – Award for Lifetime Achievement (Croatia) 2009
• Academia Europaea, Member
• Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences, Member

HONORARY DEGREES

• Doctor Honoris Causa, University of Osijek

PUBLIC SERVICE

• 1993-1995     Deputy Prime Minister for Public Services, Republic of Croatia
• 1995-1998     Minister of Science & Technology, Republic of Croatia
• 2000 – 2003   Elected Representative and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Croatian Parliament
• 2010-2013     National Science Foundation, President of the Board
• 2014-             present  National Council for Science, Higher Education and Technological Development, Member

MEMBERSHIP

Society for Neuroscience; Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS); International Brain Research Organization (IBRO); Croatian Society for Neuroscience (CSFN) – President; Academia Europaea, European Dana Alliance for the Brain (EDAB), Cajal Club

EDITORIAL BOARDS

• Cerebral Cortex
• Translational Neuroscience

ADVISORY ACTIVITIES

• US National Committee for IBRO
• NeuroDevNet (Canada), Board Member
• European Research Council (Panel Member for LS5, Neurosciences and Neural
• Disorders)
• School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Dean’s Advisor for Science

GRADUATE STUDENTS AND POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS WHO DEVELOPED INTERNATIONAL CAREER OR BECAME HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

• Ladislav Mrzljak, MD, PhD; Neuropharmacology, Translational Biology, CHDI Management, Inc. Director
• Miloš Judaš- MD, PhD, Professor of Neuroscience & Anatomy , Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Director; National Center of Excellence in Basic, Clinical & Translational Neuroscience , Director; University of Zagreb, Vice-Rector for Science & International Relations
• Ivana Dellale, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Boston University School of Medicine, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
• Neven Henigsberg,. MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Head of the Institute for Psychiatric Research, Department of General and Forensic Psychiatry Clinical Psychophysiology the Psychiatric hospital, Zagreb
• Zdravko Petanjek, MD, PhD, Professor of Neuroscience & Anatomy, Head of Institute of Anatomy Drago Perović, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb
• Goran Šimić, MD, PhD, Professor of Neuroscience & Anatomy, Head of Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb
• Nataša Jovanov Milošević, DVM, PhD, Associate Professor, Associate Provost for Animal Research and Resources and Chair of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb
• Željka Krsnik, MS, PhD, Assistant professor, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb- Director Assistant for Management and PR
• Mario Vukšić, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Neuroscience & Anatomy – Coordinator of PhD Programme in Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb
• Marija Heffer, MD, PhD, Professor; Head of Department of Medical Biology and Genetics; Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek
• Darko Chudy, MD, PhD – Assistant Professor; Head of Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb
• Marko Radoš, MD, PhD, Associate professor, Head of Clinical Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb
• Vesna Benjak, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Neonatology and Intensive Care, Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb
• Nenad Bogdanović, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oslo
• Mladen Roko Rašin, MD, PhD; Assistant Professor; Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers Robert wood Johnson Medical School, New Jersey
• Krešimir Letinić, MD, PhD,  Board Director and Chief Business Officer in Medikly, a Board director in Wildflower Health

ORGANISER OF INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUMS AND COURSES

• 3rd International Symposium on Normal and Abnormal Development of the Human Fetal Brain, Croatian Society for Neuroscience, Zagreb, Croatia, 2003
• 1st IBRO/FENS Summer School «Development and Plasticity of the Human Cerebral Cortex», Croatian Society for Neuroscience, Dubrovnik – Zagreb, 2004
• 2nd IBRO/FENS Summer School «Development and Plasticity of the Human Cerebral Cortex», Croatian Society for Neuroscience, Zadar – Zagreb, 2005
• 5 Congresses of Croatian Society for Neuroscience

SELECTED INVITED LECTURES

• Symposium “The acting brain”, SISSA, Trst, 21-22 Sep 2000
• 1st International Symposium on Normal and Abnormal Development of the Human Fetal Brain, Hong-Kong, 18-21. 03. 2001.
• International Conference “Neurobiology in Eastern and Western Europe”, SISSA, Trieste, 01-03 Dec 2001
• 2nd Symposium on Normal and Abnormal Development of the Human Fetal Brain, Rostock, 24-25 May 2002
• 3rd International Symposium on Normal and Abnormal Development of the Human Fetal Brain, Croatian Society for Neuroscience, Zagreb, June 13-15, 2003
• 4th Graz Symposium on Developmental Neurology”, Graz, 22- 24 May 2003
• Research Course Series in Human Neuroanatomy and Neurodegeneration, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, 12-15 Apr 2004
• Fetal MRI Course, Vienna, 12-16 May 2004
• 1st IBRO/FENS Summer School «Development and Plasticity of the Human Cerebral Cortex», Croatian Society for Neuroscience, Dubrovnik-Zagreb, 24 Sep – 4 Oct 2003.
• 1st International Symposium on Fetal Behaviour”, World Association of Perinatal Medicine  Barcelona , 18- 19  Feb 2005
• Research Course Series in Human Neuroanatomy and Neurodegeneration, Karolinska institute, Stockholm, 06- 10 Mar 2005.
• May Symposium Helsinki – “Development of cerebral cortex”, Helsinki, 24- 29 May 2005
• NATO Workshop – «NOVEL APPROACHES TO THE DIAGNOSIS OF PTSD», Dubrovnik, 13- 16 Jun 2005
• 7th World Congress of Perinatal Medicine”, Zagreb, 21- 24 Sep 2005.
• 2nd IBRO/FENS Summer School «Development and Plasticity of the Human Cerebral Cortex», Croatian Society for Neuroscience, Zadar – Zagreb 24 Sep -1 Oct 2005
• Sinapsa – Neuroscience Symposium 2005, Ljubljana, 19- 21 Nov 2005
• Int. Professional Meeting and Workshop for Diagnostic Imaging by Ultrasound – “Early Brain Lesion”, Maribor, 09- 11 Dec 2005
• Castang lecture, EACD’s 19th Annual Meeting, Groningen, 12-13 Jun 2007
• Symposium Mark Molliver, Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, 22 Jun 2007
• 7th International Congress on Early Brain Damage, Bled, 23-26 Apr 2008
• 2. Fetal MRI Congress, Vienna, 16-17 May 2008
• Summer Institute in Cognitive Neuroscience, Lake Tahoe, California, 23-24 Jun 2008
• Symposium „Molecular view of a synapse and its surroundings in physiological and pathological neuronal plasticity”, Wierzba (Poland), 01-05 Sep 2009
• Cajal Club/Italian Neuroscience Society, Pavia/ Milano, 29 Sep -02 Oct 2009
• Ipokrates Seminar, Athens, 23-27 Nov 2009
• Symposium „Development of the Human Cortex“ (Winter meeting of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland), Oxfordu, 05- 07 Jan 2010.
• 3. Fetal MRI Congress, Vienna, 13– 15 May 2010
• Ipokrates Seminar,  Madrid, 03- 04 Jun 2010
• Human Brain Mapping, Barcelona, 05 – 07 Jun 2010
• State-of the –art lecture – 9th Congress of European Pediatric Neurology Society, Cavtat, 11 May 2011
• FENS/SINAPSA, Ljubljana, 22-25 Sep 2011
• From Ruđer Bošković to today: Contribution of Croatian Scientists to the World Scientific Heritage, Dubrovnik, 29 May-02 Jun 2011.
• 17th Annual Meeting of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Quebec City, 26-30 Jun 2011
• Prospects in Brain Development: from Cell to Environment, Amsterdam, 28. Oct 2011
• Seminar in Hôpital des Enfants des HUG, Geneva, 26 Mar 2012
• Congress of European Society of Magnetic Resonance in Neuropediatrics, Vienna, 4-8 Jun 2013
• SINAPSA, Neuroscience Conference, Ljubljana, 27-29 Sep 2013
• 10th International Congress „New developments in the assessment of early brain damage – 30 years later“, Bled, 25 Sep 2014
• XII. AINR (Italian Association of Neuroradiology) Meeting of Pediatric Neuroradiology, Milano, 02 Oct 2014

The major contributions of Professor Ivica Kostović to the developmental neuroscience can be summarized as follows:

1. The discovery of early presence of synapses in the human neocortex at 8th postconceptional week at the transition from embryonic to fetal period. This finding of bilaminar (above and below cortical plate) distribution of earliest synapses in the human neocortex marks an important period when there is “beginning of human life as cortical being”.
2. The first description of early synaptogenesis in the entorhinal cortex and hippocampal formation – it was demonstrated that these cortical structures, crucial for cognitive functions, learning and memory, develop functional contacts already during the third month of gestation, significantly before the first interaction of developing cortex with the external environment.
3. The discovery of the transient fetal subplate zone in humans as a key compartment for the development of cerebral cortical pathways (“waiting compartment”) and cortical circuitry. Subsequent research has demonstrated a crucial role of the subplate zone in the topographically proper and sequential in-growth of cortical afferents, the establishment of cortical maps and its modular organization, and in the plasticity and recovery of cortical function after the perinatal lesion, especially in prematurely born infants.
4. The discovery of anatomical substrate of connection of sensory thalamus and cortex (pioneering studies of thalamocortical projection to visual auditory, somatosensory and frontal cortex) which is established in the human foetus around the 24th post-ovulatory week. This fact, that there is connection between sensory periphery and cerebral cortex in the human fetus, has been used by the U.S.A. Supreme Court as supporting evidence for the law forbidding the abortion after the 6th month of gestation. It is also used by anaesthesiologists, who (knowing this) do not any more perform surgery on prematurely born babies without the anaesthesia, because preterm babies do feel the pain! Recently the anatomical substrate of thalamocortical connectivity became very important for interpretation of preconscious state, resting MR functional activity and interpretation of functional events in the human preterm brain.
5. The demonstration that the overproduction of cortical dendritic spines and synapses reaches its peak during the third year of postnatal life (at the onset of cognitive functions) and returns to normal adult values during the third decade. In addition, cortical pyramidal neurons display a very protracted histochemical and morphological maturation extending up to 26 years of postnatal life. The extensive documentation of these two developmental phenomena is significant for explaining the protracted period of human cortical plasticity and reorganization during the first two decades of socialization, education and cognitive development and maturation.
6. Salient new findings about origin, developmental expansion, reorganisation, postnatal fate and diagnostic significance of the enigmatic subplate zone. Based on experimental monkey material from Dr. Rakic and human material from Zagreb Neuroembryological Collection, a novel explanation of secondary expansion in primate brain was presented. Combination of histological and MR study, revealed new data on perinatal reorganisation of subplate and postnatal persistence related to cortical associative pathways. The normative data on development of cortical connections and transient layers were translated in long-term study of perinatal brain lesions resulting in a new interpretation of structural substrate of cognitive, sensory and motor disorders. This correlated MR-histological data help in diagnostic work, planning of protective measurements and habilitation treatment for preterm babies and perinatally damaged babies.
7. Contribution to the progress of brain research in Europe: Foundation of Croatian Institute for Brain Research (CIBR), which became Centre of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience and contributed to the development of neuroscience in Croatia as a European country. Long-term research program of CIBR focused on development of human brain and translational neuroscience started in 1990, even before official declaration of Decade of The Brain in Europe. The development of CIBR was associated with intensive cooperation with Clinical neuroscience and development of PhD Neuroscience program. CIBR became a central place of activity of Croatian Society for Neuroscience, a member of FENS and IBRO, and also central place for organisation of international symposiums. The most important scientific database of CIBR is Zagreb Neuroembryological Collection, which is the life achievement of Dr. Kostovic. It is internationally recognised, resulted in numerous publications in high ranking journals, and recently available on-line Zagreb Brain Collection  .

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