Research Program: Prevention & Etiology
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics

ognja001@umn.edu
612-626-7635 — office
612-624-0462 — lab
Preferred method of contact: e-mail

Dr. Ognjanovic received her Ph.D. in biomedical sciences in 2002 from the University of Hawaii. She completed post-doctoral training in molecular endocrinology and a National Cancer Institute-funded fellowship in molecular cancer epidemiology under Dr. Loic Le Marchand at the University of Hawaii Cancer Research Center. She joined the University of Minnesota faculty in 2004 as an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics' Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research. Dr. Ognjanovic is a member of Children's Oncology Group and an ad hoc reviewer for several journals, including Acta Pediatrica, Digestive Diseases and Sciences Review, and Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.

Research Interests

Dr. Ognjanovic's research is focused on inflammatory cytokines and adipokines and their role in hepatocellular carcinoma, pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma, as well as other pediatric diseases. Her laboratory specializes in inflammatory biomarkers.

Selected Publications

Spector LG, Hecht SS, Ognjanovic S, Carmella SG, Ross JA. Detection of cotinine in newborn dried blood spots. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16:1902-5

Nowell MA, Richards PJ, Fielding CA, Ognjanovic S, Topley N, Williams AS, Bryant-Greenwood G, Jones SA. Regulation of pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor by STAT-3-dependent interleukin-6 trans-signaling: implications in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 2006; 54(7):2084-2095

Ognjanovic S, Yamamoto J, Maskarinec G and Le Marchand L.NAT2, meat consumption and colorectal cancer incidence: a study among 27 countries. Cancer Causes Control 2006:17;1175-82.

Ognjanovic S, Ku TL, Bryant-Greenwood GD. Pre-B-Cell Colony Enhancing Factor (PBEF) is a secreted cytokine-like protein from the human amniotic epithelium. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2005:193;273-282.

Ognjanovic S, Tashima LS and Bryant-Greenwood GD. Pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF): a missing link in parturition. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003:189;1187-1195.

Ognjanovic S. and Bryant-Greenwood GD. Pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF) induces growth of the human fetal membranes via upregulation of a cyclin-dependant kinase and AP-1. J. Soc. Gynecol. Invest. 2003:10(2);339A.

Ognjanovic S. and Bryant-Greenwood GD. Pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF): a key player in the initiation of labor. J. Soc. Gynecol. Invest. 2003: 10(2);202A-203A.

Ognjanovic S. and Bryant-Greenwood GD. Pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF), a novel cytokine of the human fetal membranes. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 2002: 187;1051-1058.

Ognjanovic S. Pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor, a novel cytokine of the human fetal membranes. 2002. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Hawaii.

Ognjanovic S and Bryant-Greenwood GD. Pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF) and interleukin-8 relationships in the human fetal membranes. J. Soc. Gynecol. Invest. 2002: 9(Supplement);228A.

Ognjanovic S and Bryant-Greenwood GD. PBEF. J Leukoc Biol, Supplement 2001;14.

Ognjanovic S, Bao S, Yamamoto SY, Garibay-Tupas J, Samal B and Bryant-Greenwood GD. Genomic organization of the gene coding for human pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF) and expression in the human fetal membranes. J. Mol. Endocrinol. 2001: 26:107-117.