Prof. Nataša Drača, MD, PhD

Professor Nataša Drača, MD, PhD, after graduating from the Faculty of Medicine, worked as an assistant at the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb.

In addition to her scientific work, she led anatomy exercises for first-year medical and dental students in Croatian and English.

In 2006, she spent three months specializing at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Aberdeen.

She completed her postgraduate studies in Biomedicine and Healthcare, as well as a professional postgraduate study in ophthalmology, at University Hospital Center Zagreb (Rebro).

She obtained her doctorate in 2013 and completed her ophthalmology specialization in 2014 at Special Hospital for Ophthalmology Svjetlost.

Since 2015, she has been a research assistant at the Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka.

She achieved the scientific and teaching title of Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, on the topic: ”Evolution of anti-VEGF therapy in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration” in 2021.

In 2026 she was elected Associate Professor at the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rijeka School of Medicine. This academic advancement confirms her long-standing contribution to the field of ophthalmology through teaching, scientific research, and professional work.

• Subspecialist in Posterior Segment of the Eye
• Retina Department, Special Hospital for Ophthalmology Svjetlost

In addition to general ophthalmology, Prof. Nataša Drača, MD, PhD, specializes in diseases of the posterior segment of the eye within the field of medical retina: treatment of diabetic retinopathy, senile macular degeneration, application of intravitreal injections (Avastin, Lucentis, Eylea, Ozurdex), and application of laser photocoagulation.

She actively participates in clinical studies related to the application of intravitreal injections in the treatment of macular degeneration (Fovista).

She is the author or co-author of numerous abstracts presented at national and international congresses. She has published 16 internationally peer-reviewed papers (with a total of 178 citations).

She was a scientific fellow on a project of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Croatia at the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb.

In addition to her work in the field of the posterior segment of the eye, she participates in research on the cornea and transplantation mechanisms.

• Sampath TK, Simic P, Moreno S, Bukanov N, Draca N, Kufner V, Tikvica A, Blair A, Semenski D, Brncic M, Burke SK, Vukicevic S. Sevelamer Restores Bone Volume and Improves Bone Microarchitecture and Strength in Aged Ovariectomized Rats. Endocrinology. 2008;149(12):6092-102. Q1 (WoS), IF (5 year) 4.886
• Sampath TK, Simic P, Sendak R, Draca N, Bowe AE, O’Brien S, Schiavi SC, McPherson JM, Vukicevic S. Thyroid-stimulating hormone restores bone volume, microarchitecture, and strength in aged ovariectomized rats. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. 2007 ,22(6):849-59. Q1 (WoS), IF (5 year) 6.520
• Simic P, Culej JB, Orlic I, Grgurevic L, Draca N, Spaventi R, Vukicevic S. Systemically administered bone morphogenetic protein-6 restores bone in aged ovariectomized rats by increasing bone formation and suppressing bone resorption. Journal of Biological Chemistry 2006. 281(35):25509-21. Q1 (WoS), IF (5 year) 4.863
• Gavric M, Gabric N, Dekaris I, Bohac M, Draca N. Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty in the Treatment of Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma in Patients Allergic to all Anti-Glaucoma Drops COLLEGIUM ANTROPOLOGICUM 2010. 34(2): 275-277. Q2 (Scimago), IF (5 year) 0.586
• Lazic R, Lukic M, Boras I, Draca N, Vlasic M, Gabric N, Tomic Z. Treatment of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Resistant Diabetic Macular Edema with Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant. RETINA-THE JOURNAL OF RETINAL AND VITREOUS DISEASES 2014. 34 (4): 719-724. Q1 (WoS), IF (5 year) 3.047
• Draca N, Lazic R, Simic P, Dumic-Cule I, Luetic AT, Gabric N. Potential beneficial role of sevelamer hydrochloride in diabetic retinopathy. MEDICAL HYPOTHESES 2013. 80(4): 431-435. Q2 (Scimago), IF (5 year) 1.196
• Dumic-Cule I, Brkljacic J, Rogic D, Niksic TB, Luetic AT, Draca N, Kufner V, Trkulja V, Grgurevic L, Vukicevic. Systemically available bone morphogenetic protein two and seven affect bone metabolism. INTERNATIONAL ORTHOPAEDICS 2014. 38(9): 1979-1985. Q2 (WoS), IF (5 year) 2.116
• Dumic-Cule I, Draca N, Luetic AT, Jezek D, Rogic D, Grgurevic L, Vukicevic S. TSH Prevents Bone Resorption and with Calcitriol Synergistically Stimulates Bone Formation in Rats with Low Levels of Calciotropic Hormones. HORMONE AND METABOLIC RESEARCH 2014. 46(5): 305-312. Q2 (Scimago), IF (5 year) 2.050
• Draca N, Tikvica A, Eljuga D, Semenski D, Brncic M, Vukicevic S. Biomechanical Properties of Bones from Rats Treated with Sevelamer. COLLEGIUM ANTROPOLOGICUM 2011. 35(2): 557-563. Q2 (Scimago), IF (5 year) 0.586
• Eljuga, Razumovic JJ, Bulic K, Petrovecki M, Draca N, Bulic SO. Prognostic importance of PAI-1 in node negative breast cancer patients-Results after 10 years of follow up. PATHOLOGY RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2011. 207(5): 290-294. Q2 (Scimago), IF (5 year) 1.429
• Dekaris I, Gabric N, Draca N, Pauk-Gulic M, Milicic N. Three-year corneal graft survival rate in high-risk cases treated with subconjunctival and topical bevacizumab. GRAEFES ARCHIVE FOR CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OPHTHALMOLOGY 2015. 253(2): 287-294. Q2 (WoS), IF (5 year) 2.751
• Dekaris I, Gabric N, Pauk, Draca N. Positive pressure during penetrating keratoplasty can be solved with a modified graft-over-host technique. ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA 2014. 92(3): 282-285. Q2 (WoS), IF (5 year) 2.538
• Draca N, Covic, Pauk M, Pasalic A, Dekaris I. 1-Year Follow-up Study of Endothelial Cell Density Loss after Penetrating Keratoplasty. COLLEGIUM ANTROPOLOGICUM 2011. 35(2): 11-14. Q2 (Scimago), IF (5 year) 0.586
• Bohac M, Gabric N, Anticic M, Draca N, Dekaris I. First Results of Intracor Procedure in Croatia. COLLEGIUM ANTROPOLOGICUM 2011. 35(2): 161-166. Q2 (Scimago), IF (5 year) 0.586
• Mravicic I, Gabrić N, Pasalić A, Glavota V, Draca N. Surgical treatment of residual esotropia. COLLEGIUM ANTROPOLOGICUM 2011. 35(2): 299-302. Q2 (Scimago), IF (5 year) 0.586
• Dekaris I, Mravicic I, Barisic A, Draca N, Pauk M. Amniotic Membrane Transplantation in the Treatment of Persistent Epithelial Defect on the Corneal Graft. COLLEGIUM ANTROPOLOGICUM 2010. 34(2): 15-19. Q2 (Scimago), IF (5 year) 0.586

She is the recipient of awards for best presentations at international congresses: 2014 European Eye Bank Conference (EEBA), Lausanne, Switzerland; 2014 Croatian Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery (CSCRS), award from the Foundation of Profs. Drs. Ljiljana Zergollern Čupak and Krešimir Čupak, 2015 European Association of Tissue Banks (EATB).

• Member of the Croatian Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery (CSCRS)
• Member of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS)
• Member of the organizing committee of the European Eye Bank Association congress
• Member of the organizing committee of the Dubrovnik Ophthalmology Academy annual meeting, Dubrovnik, Croatia

[email protected]