Dzenita Muratovic

Dr Dzenita Muratovic

Grant-Funded Researcher (A)

Adelaide Medical School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences


Dr. Dzenita Muratovic is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Orthopaedic and Trauma Research (CORT), Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. In 2018 Dr. Muratovic was awarded her Ph.D. at The University of Adelaide with Dean’s commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence. In her PhD project, she pioneered a multi-modal approach to investigate the tissue changes in the subchondral bone in human osteoarthritis (OA), specifically bone marrow lesions (BML). This research led her to become intrigued by the role of subchondral bone in the development and progression of OA and to further explore combinations of underlying factors (molecular, cellular, biomechanics, systemic) that potentially may lead to a different degree of degeneration of osteochondral unit and subsequently to the progression of osteoarthritis.
Dr. Muratovic subsequently undertook postdoctoral research training. Here, Dr. Muratovic investigated active TGFβ1 as a critical factor associated with degenerative changes of osteochondral tissue in human osteoarthritis. In return, this work opened up an entirely new therapeutic paradigm, namely that targeting subchondral bone as a novel OA treatment strategy. In recognition of her research excellence and commitment to translating research findings into improved clinical outcomes, Dr Muratovic was awarded the Arthritis Australia 2021 Fellowship to explore bone tissue further as a specific target for osteoarthritis management. Also, Dr Muratovic was a successful grant awardee for a Project Grant by Arthritis Australia, Bone Health Foundation, Swiss Light Source (SLS) and the Paul Scherrer Institute and ISAP (International Synchrotron Access Program) project grant.
Her research work has been published in high-quality and high-impact factor journals, with several more manuscripts being submitted for publication. Dr Muratovic's work has been exceptionally well received by her peers, as shown by more than 20 awards she has won when presenting at national and international scientific meetings.
Dr Muratovic's future research interests are to use her expertise to investigate further pathomechanism that potentially leads to the progression of osteoarthritis. Dr Muratovic's ultimate research aim is to change the lives of those suffering from Osteoarthritis.

In addition, prior to and during academic research engagement (since 2004), Dr Muratovic has been employed at the Royal Adelaide Hospital Anatomical Pathology and Histopathology Laboratory/Mortuary and SA Tissue Bank, Adelaide, Australia. Dr Muratovic is technically accomplished across numerous complex analyses of human tissue histopathology and histomorphometry, immunocytochemistry and gene expression, Dr Muratovic’s specialist knowledge of translational human pathology and osteoarthritis research and unique skill set are essential to lead, guide and support the diverse and demanding research projects and studies.

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2022 - ongoing Postdoctoral Researcher University of Adelaide
    2021 - 2022 Arthritis Australia Fellow University of Adelaide
    2018 - 2021 Postdoctoral Researcher University of Adelaide, Adelaide
    2004 - ongoing Medical Scientist SA Pathology
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2021 Fellowship Arthritis Australia Fellowship Arthritis Australia Australia -
    2021 Achievement New Investigator Recognition Award (NIRA) finalist Orthopaedic Research Society 2021 Annual Meeting. United States -
    2021 Award 2021 ECTS New Investigator Award European Calcified Tissue Society Belgium -
    2021 Award The Best Basic Science Poster for 2021 Australian Rheumatology Association Australia -
    2021 Achievement Early Career Researcher award (Finalist) Australian & New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society (ANZORS) Australia -
    2020 Award The Best Bone Biology Image International Society of Bone Morphometry Belgium -
    2020 Award Emerging Scientist Showcase Award Bone Health Foundation Australia -
    2020 Achievement Best Guest Nation Poster Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS) United States -
    2019 Award Finalist, Orthopaedic Innovation Award category, 25nd Annual Australian & New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society (ANZORS) Conference, Canberra, Australia, October 04-06, 2019 Australian & New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society (ANZORS) Australia -
    2019 Achievement Finalist in the Early Career Researcher award category, 25nd Annual Australian & New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society (ANZORS) Conference, Canberra, Australia, October 04-06, 2019 Australian & New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society (ANZORS) Australia -
    2019 Award IFMRS Travel Grant International Federation of Musculoskeletal Research Societies (IFMRS) United Kingdom $500
    2019 Award The ANZBMS International Travel Award ANZBMS Australia 1000$
    2019 Research Award The ISAP Research Travel Grant Australian Synchrotron Australia 3300
    2018 Distinction Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence University of Adelaide Australia -
    2016 Achievement • Travel grant to attend 22nd Annual ANZORS Conference, Melbourne ANZORS Australia 400$
    2016 Award Young investigator award at 9th International Workshop on Osteoarthritis Imaging, Oulu, Finland, 2016 International Workshop on Osteoarthritis Imaging, Oulu, Finland Finland 300 €
    2016 Nomination Ross Wishart Memorial Award 2016 ASMR Australia -
    2016 Award Young Investigator Award at AAOS/ORS Research Symposium AAOS/ORS United States -
    2016 Award School of Medicine Travel Award University of Adelaide Australia 2500
    2016 Award New Investigator Travel Award AAOS/ORS United States 3000
    2015 Award Christopher & Margie Nordin Young Investigator Poster Award ANZBMS Australia 500 $
    2015 Award Best Clinical Science Free Paper for 2015 The Australian Rheumatology Association (ARA) Australia 3000$
    2015 Award ANZBMS Travel Award ANZBMS Australia 300
    2014 Award School of Medicine Prize University of Adelaide Australia 200
    2014 Award Florey Medical Research Foundation Prize The University of Adelaide Australia 700$
  • Language Competencies

    Language Competency
    Bosnian Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    2013 - 2018 University of Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy
    2009 - 2012 The University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor Degree in Health Science (First Class Honours)
    2001 - 2004 University of Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina Bachelor Degree in Medical Laboratory
  • Postgraduate Training

    Date Title Institution Country
    2013 - 2018 PhD Candidate The University of Adelaide Australia
  • Research Interests

  • Other Supervision Activities

    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2021 - 2021 Principal Supervisor Compromised Osteocyte Metabolic and Functional State: A Key Contributor to the Pathogenesis of Human Hip Osteoarthritis The University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Micaela Jocelyn Quinn
    2019 - ongoing Co-Supervisor TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR (TGF)-β AS A CRITICAL FACTOR IN HUMAN OSTEOARTHRITIS The University of Adelaide, CORT Medicine Honours Full Time Halimatul Masrini Binti Haji Masri
    2019 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Bone Marrow Lesions and Subchondral Cysts in Association with Severity of Structural Degeneration in Hip Osteoarthritis The University of Adelaide, CORT - Honours Part Time Bright Nkrumah
  • Position: Grant-Funded Researcher (A)
  • Phone: 83132858
  • Email: dzenita.muratovic@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences, floor 7
  • Org Unit: Surgical Specialities

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