Special hospital for medical rehabilitation of heart, lung and rheumatic diseases
Ul. Maršala Tita 188,
51410, Opatija, Hrvatska
Research and projects
Current research, university and European projects, and clinical studies.
The institution's research and projects are closely connected with clinical work in cardiac rehabilitation, cardiometabolism, diabetes and inflammatory diseases.
Ongoing research
Clinical and physical-activity predictors of response to high-frequency inpatient cardiac rehabilitation (CR500)
This prospective study by the Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation follows 500 patients during a three-week inpatient cardiac rehabilitation programme after myocardial infarction, cardiac procedures or worsening heart failure. It aims to determine improvements in physical endurance, body composition and quality of life, and whether these depend on the amount of physical activity completed. The study also examines lipoprotein(a), an inherited risk factor for heart disease.
Ongoing projects
| Project | Lead researcher | Funding | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coreplay - a digital platform for amateur sports management; the Faculty of Medicine in Rijeka is a partner institution | Prof. Viktor Peršić, MD, PhD (on behalf of the Faculty) | European Union, IRI S3 programme of the Ministry of Economy | from 1 March 2026 |
| OPERA - Discovery of an immunogenomic predisposition to resistance to antidiabetic therapy (uniri-iz-25-197) | Assoc. Prof. Tamara Turk Wensveen, MD, PhD | University of Rijeka | 1 October 2025 - 30 March 2029 |
| COSPA - Comorbidities of spondyloarthritis (uniri-iz-25-192) | Prof. Gordana Laškarin, MD, PhD | University of Rijeka | 1 October 2025 - 30 March 2029 |
Completed projects
| Project | Lead researcher | Funding | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impact of GLP mimetics on inflammageing in patients with type 2 diabetes (uniri-iskusni-biomed-23-172) | Assoc. Prof. Tamara Turk Wensveen, MD, PhD | University of Rijeka | 2024-2025 |
| Impact of type 2 diabetes and medicines used to treat type 2 diabetes on lymphocyte function (IP-2020-02-7928) | Assoc. Prof. Tamara Turk Wensveen, MD, PhD | Croatian Science Foundation | 2021-2025 |
Clinical studies
Our physicians participate in international clinical studies in diabetes and cardiovascular disease, contributing to the development of new therapeutic options and contemporary approaches to treatment.
