photographer: julia powalacz© | make-up artist: miriam zinhagel from art of colors agency
katarina madunić
co-founder at glycodiagnostics / postdoctoral researcher at lumc
about
ever since my studies in croatia, i have been fascinated by glycoscience – a world of complex sugars that only became accessible through technologies like mass spectrometry. over the years, i have investigated their structures and roles in various diseases. i’m currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at leiden university medical center, focused on developing glycan-based biomarkers to enable early diagnosis of liver fibrosis and improve patient outcomes. my goal is to translate this knowledge into healthcare by founding a spin-off company, glycodiagnostics, and bring this innovation to patients who need it most.
what are the most important qualities for success?
i believe one of the most essential qualities for success is the willingness to take initiative- to step outside your comfort zone and take risks, even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. success often begins with that leap of faith- putting yourself in unfamiliar situations because you’re driven by a clear purpose and a desire to grow. next to that, resilience, adaptability, and commitment to continuous learning are crucial. when you’re motivated by the end goal and open to learning through challenges, you create the conditions for progress and long-term success. and just as vital are kindness and strong people skills- the ability to connect, collaborate, and support others along the way. after all, it’s much more rewarding and fun to make an impact together.
glycodiagnostics
at glycodiagnostics, we are transforming liver disease detection. millions of people suffer from liver fibrosis, a silent condition that often goes undiagnosed until it’s too late. current tests are invasive, unreliable, or hard to access. that’s why we’re developing a simple, non-invasive blood test based on a unique glycan biomarker discovered at leiden university medical center. our test is designed to catch liver fibrosis early, especially in high-risk groups like people with type 2 diabetes, so that healthcare providers can take action sooner to stop the disease progression. early detection means better outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and a healthier future.
powered by gemeente leiden
de gemeente leiden maakt samen met inwoners, ondernemers en andere partijen een steeds mooiere plek van leiden en de leidse regio. het stimuleren van ondernemerschap is belangrijk voor gemeente leiden. we werken daarvoor onder andere samen met unlock_ van plnt leiden. om het belang van ondernemerschap en het leiden bio science park verder uit te dragen heeft gemeente leiden een aantal onderneemsters vanuit dit incubatorprogramma genomineerd voor de rolmodellencampagne.