Anela Hujdurovic
Anela Zorlak graduated in genetics from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Sarajevo and completed her master’s degree under the mentorship of the Genetic Center of the Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo. During her master’s studies, she gained experience working in the Laboratory for Human Genetics at the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo.
After completing her master’s studies and her work at the Laboratory for Human Genetics at the Clinical Center, she continued her career in the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at the Eurofarm Polyclinic. Following her studies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, she had the opportunity to further her education at Harvard Medical School through a professional program focusing on genetic testing and human genome sequencing. Upon completion of the program and passing the required exams, she earned a certificate, focusing her knowledge on genetic testing for diagnostic purposes.
She gained additional experience working at a clinic for rare disease diagnostics in Rostock, Germany. Upon returning to Bosnia and Herzegovina, she founded the first genetic counseling center in the country (Genetic Counseling Center Genetika), where she collaborates with colleagues from the United States, Germany, Turkey, Croatia, and Serbia. Over the past 3.5 years, she also served as the Medical Director of the biotechnology firm Premium Genetics Group. She is currently focused on her work at the Genetic Counseling Center GENETIKA, serves as an external geneticist collaborator at the Mehmedbašić Institute for Gynecology, Perinatology, and Infertility, and is simultaneously working on developing and launching a new product.
In April 2024, she visited the U.S., specifically New York City, to develop the first platform for online genetic counseling for the Balkan market in collaboration with colleagues from the New York Genetic Center (Guide Genetics). During this time, she also spent time at the Levine Cancer Institute (Atrium Health) in Charlotte, where she worked daily with genetic counselors providing consultations for oncology patients.
She is a member of the Genetic Center’s advisory team in New York (Guide Genetics) and part of the team that developed the first guidelines for early breast cancer diagnosis in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She has participated in numerous scientific conferences and congresses and has also organized several such events.
Anela Zorlak is a recipient of the Večernjakov Pečat award in the category of Scientist of the Year.