Damir Sapunar
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| Damir Sapunar | |
|---|---|
| File:Damir Sapunar.jpgDamir_Sapunar.jpg | |
| Born | May 27, 1962 Split, Croatia |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Croatian |
| 💼 Occupation | |
Damir Sapunar (born 27 May 1962 in Split) is a Croatian scientist and full professor at the University of Split School of Medicine.
Biography
He was born in Split in 1962, the son of Croatian poet Ante Sapunar. He graduated from the University of Zagreb School of Medicine in 1989 and received his PhD at the same faculty in 1996. Since 1991 he has been employed at the Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology of the University of Split School of Medicine. He received research training at the University of Leicester Medical School (UK) and the Medical College of Wisconsin (USA).
From 1998 to 2013 he served as head of the Department of Histology and Embryology, and from 2000 to 2001 as vice-dean for education. From 1995 to 2011 he was editor-in-chief of the electronic edition of the Croatian Medical Journal. Between 2006 and 2009 he was chair of the Governing Board of the National and University Library in Zagreb.
He is the founder and head of the Laboratory for Pain Research at the University of Split, as well as initiator and director of the postgraduate program Translational Research in Biomedicine (TRIBE). He is a member of the governing board of ORPHEUS (Organisation for PhD Education in Biomedicine and Health Sciences in the European System).[1]
Scientific work
Sapunar’s research focuses on peripheral mechanisms of neuropathic pain. His key contributions include the identification of neuronal populations responsible for ectopic activity in dorsal root ganglia, considered one of the causes of neuropathic pain,[2] and the development of experimental techniques for targeted drug delivery into dorsal root ganglia for the treatment of neuropathic pain.[3] He has published more than 120 scientific articles in international journals. As of 2025 he is listed among the top 2% of most cited scientists worldwide according to the career-long citation database maintained by John Ioannidis and colleagues at Stanford University.[4]
Professional work
Sapunar co-authored the founding documents of the University of Split School of Medicine[5][6] and contributed to the establishment of the University of Mostar School of Medicine.
In 2013 he initiated and edited the founding documents for the new medical faculty at the Catholic University of Croatia. The aim was to develop an innovative system of medical education based on humanistic aspects of medicine, patient-centered care, and social responsibility. He left the project in 2021, shortly before the school opened, due to disagreements over deviations from its original innovative concept.
Social engagement
In 2023, within the TRIBE program, Sapunar launched the initiative Giving Voice [7] aimed at supporting Ukrainian scientists in writing and publishing articles about the consequences of the Russo-Ukrainian War, particularly those whose voices are often underrepresented in scientific publishing – students, refugees, vulnerable and marginalized groups, and others affected by the war. The initiative received a gold medal for excellence in promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility from the Society for Scholarly Publishing.[8]
External links
References
- ↑ ORPHEUS – Organisation for PhD Education in Biomedicine and Health Sciences in the European System
- ↑ Sapunar, D; Ljubković, M; Lirk, P; McCallum, JB; Hogan, QH (2005). "Distinct membrane effects of spinal nerve ligation on injured and adjacent dorsal root ganglion neurons in rats". Anesthesiology. 103 (2): 360–376. doi:10.1097/00000542-200508000-00020. PMID 16052119.
- ↑ Sapunar, D; Kostić, S; Banožić, A; Puljak, L (2012). "Dorsal root ganglion – a potential new therapeutic target for neuropathic pain". Journal of Pain Research. 5: 31–38. doi:10.2147/JPR.S26603. PMC 3287412. PMID 22375099.
- ↑ August 2024 data-update for "Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators", accessed 22 September 2024.
- ↑ Marušić, M; Sapunar, D (1996). "Razlozi za osnivanje Medicinskog fakulteta u Splitu [Reasons for founding a University of Split Medical School]". Liječnički vjesnik (in hrvatski). 118 (5–6): 133–138. PMID 8924937.
- ↑ Sapunar, D; Marušić, M (1999). "Nastavni plan Medicinskog fakulteta u Splitu – suvremeni koncept za novu školu [The curriculum plan for the Split University Medical School – a modern concept for a new school]". Liječnički vjesnik. 121 (4): 208–212. doi:10.2147/JPR.S26603.
- ↑ Sapunar, D; Puljak, L (2023). "Giving Voice project – helping authors publish reports about the consequences of the War in Ukraine". St-Open. 4: e2023.2319.10. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
- ↑ August 2024 data-update for "Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators", accessed 22 September 2024.
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