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79

REPORTS AND REVIEWS/POROČILA IN OCENE, 73–80

RESEARCH EXCHANGE AT ONE OF THE TOP AMERICAN 
INSTITUTIONS − UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Uroš Marušič, Ph.D. employed at the Science and Research Centre Koper and Alma 
Mater Europaea-European Center, Maribor, visited the Functional Neuroimaging, Cog-
nition and Mobility Laboratory at one of the most prestigious and biggest higher edu-
cation institutions in the USA, the University of Michigan (http://pdresearch.rad.med.
umich.edu/). The exchange was carried out within the framework of the operation “Mo-
bility of Higher Education Teachers AMEU-ECM 2018-2021” funded by the Ministry 
of Education, Science and Sport, between September 2018 and February 2019. Ac-
cording to Shanghai ranking score, the University of Michigan ranks the 20th among all 
universities in the world (http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2019.html).

Marušič was actively involved in the laboratory work of Nicolaas Bohnen, MD, 
Ph.D., and Martin Muller, Ph.D., who are proactive in the research area of postural 
instability and mobility difficulties of Parkinson’s disease patients. Their studies suc-
cessfully combine behavior with neuroimaging data, especially with positron emis-
sion tomography (PET) and cholinergic receptors. In the framework of this exchange, 
researchers have recently published the common research manuscript: Müller, M. L., 
Marusic, U., van Emde Boas, M., Weiss, D., & Bohnen, N. I. (2019). Treatment op-
tions for postural instability and gait difficulties in Parkinson’s disease. Expert review 
of neurotherapeutics, 19(12), 1229-1251. https://doi.org/10.1080/14737175.2019.165
6067.

During the exchange at the University of Michigan, Marušič also dived into the 
field of neuroergonomics, where he successfully completed the study with elderly pa-
tients with type 2 diabetes.

Parallel with his intensive research work, Marušič delivered numerous lectures at 
the University of Michigan Medical School for undergraduate, doctoral and postdoc-
toral students.

The exchange in the USA has brought many positive effects for both institutions. 
Namely, in the period between April and October 2019, a joint neuroergonomic study 
KOGIS (Cognitive and Motor Benefits of Standing) was conducted at the Mediterrane-
an Health Centre (ZRS Koper), where researchers examined new possibilities for ergo-
nomic arrangement of office workers and consequently the effects of newly developed 
ergonomic worktables on musculoskeletal discomfort, brain electrocortical activity, 
cognitive ability and work efficiency.

Uroš Marušič

http://pdresearch.rad.med.umich.edu/
http://pdresearch.rad.med.umich.edu/
http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2019.html
https://doi.org/10.1080/14737175.2019.1656067
https://doi.org/10.1080/14737175.2019.1656067
https://www.zrs-kp.si/index.php/en/institutes-units/mhc/
https://www.zrs-kp.si/index.php/en/institutes-units/mhc/


80

REPORTS AND REVIEWS/POROČILA IN OCENE, 73–80

ANNALES KINESIOLOGIAE • 10 • 2019 • 1

IZMENJAVA NA ENI VODILNIH AMERIŠKIH UNIVERZ - 
UNIVERZA V MICHIGAN-u

Raziskovalec Znanstveno-raziskovalnega središča Koper in Alma Mater Europaea-e, 
se je v sklopu razpisa »Mobilnost slovenskih visokošolskih učiteljev 2018-2021« Mi-
nistrstva za izobraževanje, znanost in šport, med septembrom 2018 in februarjem 2019 
mudil na eni največjih in najprestižnejših ameriških visokošolskih institucij, Univerzi v 
Michigan-u (Ann Arbor, Michigan, ZDA), natančneje v Laboratoriju za funkcionalno 
možgansko slikanje, kognicijo in mobilnost (http://pdresearch.rad.med.umich.edu/). 
Na Shanghaiski lestvici najboljših 500 univerz na svetu, je  Univerza v Michiganu 
uvrščena na prestižno 20. mesto (http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2019.html).

Dr. Marušič je raziskoval v laboratoriju prof. dr. Nicolaas-a Bohnen-a in dr. Martina 
Müller-ja, ki delujeta predvsem na področjih posturalne nestabilnosti in težav mobil-
nosti pri Parkinsonovih bolnikih ter v svojih raziskavah uspešno primerjata vedenjske 
vzorce z rezultati možganskih slik, predvsem pozitronske emisijske tomografije (PET) 
in holinergičnih receptorjev. V sklopu izmenjave so raziskovalci objavili skupni pregle-
dni članek: Müller, M. L., Marusic, U., van Emde Boas, M., Weiss, D., & Bohnen, 
N. I. (2019). Treatment options for postural instability and gait difficulties in Parkin-
son’s disease. Expert review of neurotherapeutics, 19(12), 1229-1251. https://doi.org/1
0.1080/14737175.2019.1656067.

Dr. Marušič se je med izmenjavo na Univerzi v Michiganu poglobil tudi v področje 
nevroergonomije, kjer je uspešno zaključil študijo na pacientih s sladkorno boleznijo 
tipa 2.

Vzporedno z intenzivnim raziskovalnim delom je dr. Marušič izvedel številna pre-
davanja za dodiplomske, doktorske in podoktorske študente v sklopu Medicinske fa-
kultete Univerze v Michiganu.

Izmenjava v ZDA je prinesla številne pozitivne učinke za obe inštituciji. Tako je 
že v obdobju od aprila do oktobra 2019 potekala skupna nevroergonomska raziskava 
KOGIS (Kognitivne in gibalne prednosti stoječega delovnega mesta) v Mediteranskem 
centru zdravja ZRS Koper, v okviru katere smo preverjali nove možnosti ergonom-
ske ureditve delovnih mest pisarniških delavcev in posledične učinke novo razvite 
ergonomske delovne mize na skeletno-mišično neugodje, možgansko elektrokortikalno 
aktivnost, kognitivne sposobnosti in delovno učinkovitost. 

Uroš Marušič

http://pdresearch.rad.med.umich.edu/
http://www.shanghairanking.com/ARWU2019.html
https://doi.org/10.1080/14737175.2019.1656067
https://doi.org/10.1080/14737175.2019.1656067
https://www.zrs-kp.si/index.php/research-2/mcz/
https://www.zrs-kp.si/index.php/research-2/mcz/

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