Jernej Kovač

Dr. Jernej Kovač is biochemist and genomic scientist with a dedication to advancing the understanding of genetic influences on health. He is a Senior Analyst in Genomics at the Clinical Institute of Special Laboratory Diagnostics, Division of Paediatrics, University Medical Centre Ljubljana (CISLD) and he also serves as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana. At the CISLD, he focuses on the genetic diagnostics of rare diseases in children, with a particular interest in pediatric obesity. He utilizes Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology to identify genetic drivers of rare diseases and perform second-tier confirmatory testing for the Slovenian newborn screening program. He actively contributes to the Slovenian Reference Genome Project (SRGP), the universal newborn screening program, and the screening program for hypercholesterolemia. Dr. Kovač is also the Principal Investigator of the national research project, Genomic Screening of Newborn Children, where he leads research into the integration of genomic technologies into newborn disease prevention and early intervention strategies. In his role as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, Dr. Kovač engages in teaching and mentoring the next generation of medical professionals, imparting knowledge on the latest advancements in genomics and pediatric diagnostics. He earned his PhD in Genomics from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, where he defended his dissertation on the genomics of oxidative stress regulation in autism spectrum disorder. He also holds a BSc in Biochemistry from the same institution. He plays an instrumental role in the Slovenian Reference Genome Project, contributing to the understanding and application of genomics in personalized medicine. He enhances the universal newborn screening program through the application of advanced genomic technologies for early detection and intervention. Additionally, he contributes to the development and implementation of screening protocols to identify and manage hypercholesterolemia in the population. He possesses expertise in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies, proficiency in genomic data analysis and interpretation, a strong background in biochemistry and molecular biology, experience in clinical laboratory diagnostics, and leadership in research project management.