BrainMap

Iris Maria Tusa

PhD

Researcher - INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU STIINTE BIOLOGICE

Researcher

Dr. Iris Maria Tușa is an interdisciplinary researcher specializing in extreme ecosystems, human adaptability, and microbial biodiversity. As Scientific Secretary and Head of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Department at INCDSB, she leads pioneering projects, including the upcoming ROICE 2026 expedition, where she will serve as expedition leader. With over a decade of experience, she has contributed to numerous national and international projects and initiatives, including the ESFRI DANUBIUS-RI project. Dr. Tușa is also a Liaison Officer for ICGEB and a passionate promoter for science education, regularly engaging with students through programs like "Green Week." Her innovative research and public outreach blend science with storytelling, aiming to inspire curiosity and drive solutions for global challenges.

Curriculum Vitae (23/01/2025)

Expertise & keywords

DEVELOPMENT OF INSTRUMENTS AND STRATEGIES FOR HIGHER VALORIZATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR IMPROVING THEIR SUSTAINABLE EXPLOITATION IN BIO-INDUSTRIES AND CONSERVATION OF ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS Call name:
PN-III-1927 2019 - 2022

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU STIINTE BIOLOGICE

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU STIINTE BIOLOGICE ()

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU STIINTE BIOLOGICE ()

Project website: http://www.incdsb.ro/en/proiecte/proiect-nucleu/

Abstract:

Obiectiv 1: CARACTERIZAREA SUBSTANTELOR SI PROCESELOR DE BAZA ALE SISTEMELOR BIOLOGICE SI A INTERELATIILOR LA NIVEL MOLECULAR SI/SAU CELULAR SI VALORIFICARII ACESTORA

19270101: Solutii integrate-versatile pentru concentrarea, caracterizarea si valorificarea fitocompusilor proveniti din (bio)resurse autohtone cu asigurarea principiilor dezvoltarii durabile (acronim BIO-AUP):

Extractia, caracterizarea si valorificarea unor fitoproduse cu valoare farmaceutica si cosmetica din clasa saponinelor prin procedee inovative.

Sistem bioanalitic multiparametru pentru determinarea compusilor cu structura fenolica cu activitate antioxidanta/antiinflamatorie si discriminarea celor cu activitate estrogenica/ antiestrogenica.

19270102: Tehnologii avansate de obtinere a unor noi biomateriale polimerice 3D pentru regenerarea tisulara, prin valorificarea subproduselor de origine animala si vegetala (acronim 3D-BIOMAT):

Obtinerea si caracterizarea fizico-chimica si biologica a unor biomateriale compozite si selectarea variantelor optime biomimetice matricei extracelulare dermice.

Caracterizarea biologica in vitro a biomaterialelor polimerice compozite prin teste pe celule specifice tesutului dermic.

19270103: Impactul schimbarilor climatice asupra microorganismelor si asupra organismului uman – Delta Dunarii in corelatie cu medii extreme: abordari practice si teoretice (ISC-MUD):

Analiza culturilor de microorganisme din habitatele studiate; analiza seturilor de probe de sânge prin citometrie în flux; studiul algoritmic al evoluţiei genomului ȋn relaţie cu aspecte cu diferite masuri.

Modeling, Designing and Analysis of Synthetic Self-assembled Systems Call name:
POC-A1-A1.1.4-E-2015 2016 - 2020

Role in this project: Partner team leader

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU STIINTE BIOLOGICE

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU STIINTE BIOLOGICE (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU STIINTE BIOLOGICE (RO)

Project website: http://www.incdsb.ro/p/MODASYS/index.html

Abstract:

MULTIFUNCTIONAL AND INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS FOR SAFE AND BIOENHANCED FUNCTIONAL FOOD FROM NEWLY CULTIVATED PLANTS IN ROMANIA Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-0995 2014 - 2017

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti

Project partners: Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Chimie si Petrochimie - ICECHIM Bucuresti (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU STIINTE BIOLOGICE (RO); HOFIGAL EXPORT IMPORT SA (RO); CHEMI CERAMIC F SRL (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU STIINTE BIOLOGICE (RO)

Project website: http://produse.multifunctionale.icechim.ro

Abstract:

Thematic area of the project proposal is in the field of functional foods destinated to maintain human health in concordance with research theme 5.1.6. Functional foods to maintain human health and prevent diseases, Domain 5. Agriculture, food safety and security.

The general project objective is to develop multifunctional and innovative products for protection of nutraceutical plants newly introduced in Romania (Momordica charantia and Passiflora incarnata) and to stimulate concomitantly formation of biologically-active compounds in these plants, at stable levels and with reproducible biological effects. The specific innovative project objectives are: 1. development of multifunctional for treatments of soil and in vegetation, based on: (a) consortia of Trichoderma strains; (b) porous ceramics with high bioavailability of silica; (c) essential oils included in mesoporous silica; 2. Testing products, developing methods of application and integrating them with the sustainable cultural technology of nutraceutical plants; 3. characterization of functional foods through in vitro alternative tests on human cell cultures and highlighting the biological role of silica forms accumulated in treated plants in animal cells; 4. results exploitation by protection of intellectual innovative solutions after techno-economical analysis and opportunities of results exploitation.

Products based on consortia of Trichoderma strains and essential oils have multiple actions as: plant protection agents towards biotic stresses (phytopathogens, pests), elicitors of plant defence response, limiting agents for the negative effects of ethylene on roots and growth promotor of plant nutrition, mainly with nitrogen.

Porous ceramics containing silicaxerogel, applied as soil treatment, work as a matrix for controlled release of nutrients with high bioavailability and have role to compensate losses of plant metabolic energy due to the synthesis of secondary metabolites and to supply orthosilicates with high bioavailability.

Silicon with high bioavailability supplies also mesoporous silica as a carrying for controlled release of essential oils. The silicon’s role as an important element for plants is to activate and balance - concomitantly and non-antagonistically – the different ways of plant defence system and of stress hormones biosynthesis (salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and ethylene/abscisic acid) in plant pathosystems.

This project proposes for the first time to study interaction of silicon, Trichoderma and essential oils treatments, protection agents with multiple roles, which activates simultaneously plant defence response. It is the first proposal aiming the development of some products with applicability directly into practice, in which silicon is controlled released from supports, having concomitantly the functional role as a matrix, from which nutrients and volatile oils are smart-delivered, in this why pointing out the possibility of practical use of silicon in order to balance the main signalling pathways in plant defence response, integrated with elicitors for obtaining high productions with raised phytonutrients level.

The highlight of silicon’s role in animal and plant organisms (having into account the unity in diversity of the life world), the (meso)porous silica forms as a support for controlled release of some active ingredients and of bioavailable silicon, compatibility of the Trichoderma consortia with the other products for the directed activation of plant resistance, will be the coagulation axis of this trans-disciplinary approach, revealing - also - the existence of synergies between partners in the frame of MAIA Project.

Tree level forest planning using remote sensing data Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA-2011 call, Type 2
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2011-3.2-1710 2012 - 2016

Role in this project: Partner team leader

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NAŢIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE ÎN SILVICULTURĂ "MARIN DRĂCEA"

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NAŢIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE ÎN SILVICULTURĂ "MARIN DRĂCEA" (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU STIINTE BIOLOGICE (RO); UNIVERSITATEA "ŞTEFAN CEL MARE" DIN SUCEAVA (RO); OCOLUL SILVIC CODRII BEIUSULUI RA (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU STIINTE BIOLOGICE (RO)

Project website: http://www.roifn.ro

Abstract:

The strategic forest planning process aims at optimization of a series of objectives that are subject to a set of constraints. The incorporation of market dynamics in the optimization increases the complexity of the strategic planning formulation by requiring the inclusion of detailed tree level products (such as sawlogs, pulpwood, or chip ‘n saw) in the planning process. Furthermore, constant adjustment of planning objectives to short-term market changes requires fast and accurate identification of the products that can be supplied by the forest estate subject to strategic planning. The advent of remote sensing techniques, especially LIDAR, reduces the time to acquire accurate information required for products allocation. The present research aims at identification of products allocation based on LIDAR information that would supply the optimal solution to the strategic planning objectives. LIDAR data will be used to determine a series of tree attributes (e.g., total height, crown width, crown length and crown asymmetry) that will be used to delineate possible products to be obtained from a tree. Models describing each tree in terms of products allocation will be developed by adjusting taper equations to the attributes estimated using LIDAR. The optimal products allocation would be determined at the forest estate level using several planning algorithms, including linear programming, simulated annealing, and first fit decreasing algorithm constrained to fulfill the perfect bin-packing theorem. The research will provide the information needed by Romanian forest operators to adjust their strategic and tactical planning to market conditions.

SIMULATING SIGNALLING CASCADES WITH DISCRETE STOCHASTIC METHODS Call name: Projects for Young Research Teams - TE-2010 call
PN-II-RU-TE-2010-0092 2010 - 2013

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU STIINTE BIOLOGICE DIN BUCURESTI

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU STIINTE BIOLOGICE DIN BUCURESTI (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU STIINTE BIOLOGICE DIN BUCURESTI (RO)

Project website: http://www.bioinformatica.dbioro.eu/TE92.html

Abstract:

THE PROJECT IS ENVISIONED AS A CONTINUATION OF THE RP-13/2007 PROJECT THROUGH WHICH THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR RETURNED TO ROMANIA AS A YOUNG RESEARCHER. THE PROJECT MENTIONED ABOVE FOCUSSED ON TWO DIRECTIONS: CELLULAR SIMULATION AND FINITE AUTOMATA FOR DNA PROCESSING. FOR THIS PROJECT WE WILL FOCUS ONLY ON THE CELLULAR SIMULATION AND EXPAND THE RESULTS OBTAINED SO FAR (PUBLISHED IN MORE THAN 5 ISI PAPERS).

THE MAIN IDEA OF THE PROJECT IS TO EXTEND THE MEMORY NWA ALGORITHM WITH LIMITED STOCHASTICITY. THE TEAM WILL IMPLEMENT THE SIMULATION TECHNIQUE IN A MAJOR SIMULATION PACKAGE (SUCH AS COPASI) SO THAT THE DISSEMINATION WILL LEAD TO WIDER USAGE THAN THE JAVA ROUTE THAT WAS FOLLOWED PREVIOUSLY. WE ARE ALSO PLANNING TO WORK ON MODELING PATHWAYS RELATED TO THE CANCER RESEARCH THAT HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED RECENTLY

Medical plant network for enhancement of the comparative advantage of Calarasi – Silistra cross-border area for sustainable development Call name:
MIS-ETC Code 656 2008 - 2011

Role in this project: Partner team leader

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE CHIMICO - FARMACEUTICA - I.C.C.F. BUCURESTI

Project partners: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE CHIMICO - FARMACEUTICA - I.C.C.F. BUCURESTI (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE - DEZVOLTARE CHIMICO - FARMACEUTICA - I.C.C.F. BUCURESTI (RO)

Project website:

Abstract:

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects