By Marta Vržina
The SEA-EU alliance represents a network of European universities focused on strengthening international cooperation in education, research, and innovation, with a special emphasis on student and researcher mobility. University of Split, as alliance’s active member, keeps participating in projects that promote interdisciplinarity and international knowledge exchange. Such initiatives enable students to gain research experience in international environments and contribute to developing new scientific partnerships.
In the summer of 2023, a successful collaboration within the SEA-EU alliance was realized between University of Split (UNIST)’s School of Medicine and University of Brest (UBO). Glenn Goasdoué, medical student from University of Brest, spent a month at University of Split School of Medicine’s Evidence-Based Medicine Centre. His stay was realized in the framework of SEA-EU cooperation and took place under the mentorship of Prof. Ana Marušić PhD. He had the opportunity to familiarize himself with Centre’s work and meet young scientists working there. During his research stay, the student participated in research led by Marija Franke Žuljević, MD, PhD. from Department of Medical Humanities, also operating in the Centre.
Dr. Žuljević, as part of her doctoral research, studied public and expert attitudes towards using psychedelics for medical purposes and is currently continuing research in psychedelics with surveys and methodological studies. The research which includes this exchange examined consistency of protocol reporting and adverse effects in clinical trials of two psychedelics currently being studied as potential psychiatric treatments - psilocybin and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Results of this research were published in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, one of leading international journals in field of clinical research methodology.
Student participation in this research represents an important example of including young researchers in international scientific projects even during their studies. Such experiences enable students to develop critical thinking, research skills, and understanding of scientific methodology, which are crucial foundations for future careers in academia or clinical practice.
Photo: Private album
