Research/art/teacher profile of a person
Name and surname:
MUDr. Nikola Ferencová, PhD.
Document type:
Research/art/teacher profile of a person
The name of the university:
Comenius University Bratislava
The seat of the university:
Šafárikovo námestie 6, 818 06 Bratislava

I. - Basic information

I.1 - Surname
Ferencova
I.2 - Name
Nikola
I.3 - Degrees
MD, PhD
I.4 - Year of birth
1989
I.5 - Name of the workplace
Biomedical Centre Martin
I.6 - Address of the workplace
Mala Hora 4D, 036 01 Martin
I.7 - Position
researcher
I.8 - E-mail address
nikola.ferencova@uniba.sk
I.9 - Hyperlink to the entry of a person in the Register of university staff
https://www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/34333
I.10 - Name of the study field in which a person works at the university
General Medicine
I.11 - ORCID iD
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3682-404X

II. - Higher education and further qualification growth

II.1 - First degree of higher education
II.a - Name of the university or institution
Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin
II.b - Year
2015
II.c - Study field and programme
General Medicine, MD
II.2 - Second degree of higher education
II.a - Name of the university or institution
Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin
II.b - Year
2015
II.c - Study field and programme
General Medicine, MD
II.3 - Third degree of higher education
II.a - Name of the university or institution
Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin
II.b - Year
2021
II.c - Study field and programme
General Medicine, Normal and Pathological Physiology, PhD.
II.4 - Associate professor
II.5 - Professor
II.6 - Doctor of Science (DrSc.)

III. - Current and previous employment

III.a - Occupation-position III.b - Institution III.c - Duration
researcher Biomedical Centre Martin 2021 - continues
assistant professor Department of Physiology JFM CU in Martin 07/2024 - continues

IV. - Development of pedagogical, professional, language, digital and other skills

IV.a - Activity description, course name, other IV.b - Name of the institution IV.c - Year
training course of therapeutic method "biofeedback and neurofeedback" Slovak Institute for cognitive-behavioral therapy (Slovak Psychotherapy Society) 2020 -2021 y.
certificate of Academy of Education/ Teaching Foreign Students - English language Academy of Education Martin 2020
Scientific qualification level IIa Slovak Academy of Sciences 2024

V. - Overview of activities within the teaching career at the university

V.1 - Overview of the profile courses taught in the current academic year according to study programmes
V.1.a - Name of the profile course V.1.b - Study programme V.1.c - Degree V.1.d - Field of study
Physiology 1 General Medicine 1st and 2nd General Medicine
Physiology 2 General Medicine 1st and 2nd General Medicine
Anatomy and Physiology Nursing 1st. Nursing
Anatomy and Physiology Public Health 1st. Public Health
Anatomy and Physiology Midwifery 1st. Midwifery
V.2 - Overview of the responsibility for the delivery, development and quality assurance of the study programme or its part at the university in the current academic year
V.3 - Overview of the responsibility for the development and quality of the field of habilitation procedure and inaugural procedure in the current academic year
V.4 - Overview of supervised final theses
V.4.1 - Number of currently supervised theses
V.4.b - Diploma (second degree)
2
V.4.2 - Number of defended theses
V.5 - Overview of other courses taught in the current academic year according to study programmes

VI. - Overview of the research/artistic/other outputs

VI.1 - Overview of the research/artistic/other outputs and the corresponding citations
VI.1.1 - Number of the research/artistic/other outputs
VI.1.a - Overall
113
VI.1.b - Over the last six years
106
VI.1.2 - Number of the research/artistic/other outputs registered in the Web of Science or Scopus databases
VI.1.a - Overall
33
VI.1.b - Over the last six years
32
VI.1.3 - Number of citations corresponding to the research/artistic/other outputs
VI.1.a - Overall
290
VI.1.b - Over the last six years
290
VI.1.4 - Number of citations registered in the Web of Science or Scopus databases
VI.1.a - Overall
245
VI.1.b - Over the last six years
245
VI.1.5 - Number of invited lectures at the international, national level
VI.1.a - Overall
2
VI.1.b - Over the last six years
2
VI.2 - The most significant research/artistic/other outputs
1

ADC Ferencova, Nikola – Bona Olexova, Lucia – Visnovcova, Zuzana – Ondrejka, Igor – Tonhajzerova, Ingrid: Role of neuroendocrine, immune, and autonomic nervous system in anorexia nervosa-linked cardiovascular diseases. In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. - 21, 19 (2020), p. 1-19. (2019: 4.556-IF, Q1-JCR, Q1-SJR)

2

V3 Ferencova, Nikola - Visnovcova, Zuzana - Ondrejka, Igor - Hrtanek, Igor - Bujnakova, Iveta - Kovacova, Veronika - Macejova, Andrea - Tonhajzerova, Ingrid: Peripheral Inflammatory Markers in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder at Adolescent Age. In: International journal of molecular sciences. – Bazilej: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute. – ISSN 1661-6596. – ISSN (online) 1422-0067. – 24, 14 (2023), art. no. 11710, p. 1-27 (2022: 5,6-IF, Q1-JCR, Q1-SJR)

3

V3 Ferencova, Nikola - Visnovcova, Zuzana - Ondrejka, Igor - Funakova, Dana - Hrtanek, Igor - Kelcikova, Simona - Tonhajzerova, Ingrid: Evaluation of Inflammatory Response System (IRS) and Compensatory Immune Response System (CIRS) in Adolescent Major Depression. In: Journal of Inflammation Research. – Auckland: Dove Medical Press. – ISSN (online) 1178-7031. – 15 (2022), p. 5959-5976 (2021: 4,631-IF, Q3-JCR, Q2-SJR)

4

ADC Visnovcova, Zuzana - Bona Olexova, Lucia - Ferencova, Nikola - Ondrejka, Igor - Hrtanek, Igor - Funakova, Dana - Kelcikova, Simona - Farsky, Ivan - Tonhajzerova, Ingrid: Spectral and nonlinear analysis of electrodermal activity in adolescent anorexia nervosa. In: Applied Sciences. - 10: 13 (2020), p. 1-13. (2019: 2.474-IF, Q2-JCR, Q1-SJR)

5

ADC Mestanikova, Andrea – Mestanik, Michal – Ondrejka, Igor – Hrtanek, Igor – Cesnekova, Dana – Jurko, Alexander Jr. – Visnovcova, Zuzana – Sekaninova, Nikola – Tonhajzerova, Ingrid: Complex cardiac vagal regulation to mental and physiological stress in adolescent major depression. In: Journal of Affective Disorders. – 249 (2019), p. 234-241. (2018: 4.08-IF, Q1-JCR, Q1-SJR)

VI.3 - The most significant research/artistic/other outputs over the last six years
1

ADC Ferencova, Nikola – Bona Olexova, Lucia – Visnovcova, Zuzana – Ondrejka, Igor – Tonhajzerova, Ingrid: Role of neuroendocrine, immune, and autonomic nervous system in anorexia nervosa-linked cardiovascular diseases. In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. - 21, 19 (2020), p. 1-19. (2019: 4.556-IF, Q1-JCR, Q1-SJR)

2

V3 Ferencova, Nikola - Visnovcova, Zuzana - Ondrejka, Igor - Hrtanek, Igor - Bujnakova, Iveta - Kovacova, Veronika - Macejova, Andrea - Tonhajzerova, Ingrid: Peripheral Inflammatory Markers in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder at Adolescent Age. In: International journal of molecular sciences. – Bazilej: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute. – ISSN 1661-6596. – ISSN (online) 1422-0067. – 24, 14 (2023), art. no. 11710, p. 1-27 (2022: 5,6-IF, Q1-JCR, Q1-SJR)

3

V3 Ferencova, Nikola - Visnovcova, Zuzana - Ondrejka, Igor - Funakova, Dana - Hrtanek, Igor - Kelcikova, Simona - Tonhajzerova, Ingrid: Evaluation of Inflammatory Response System (IRS) and Compensatory Immune Response System (CIRS) in Adolescent Major Depression. In: Journal of Inflammation Research. – Auckland: Dove Medical Press. – ISSN (online) 1178-7031. – 15 (2022), p. 5959-5976 (2021: 4,631-IF, Q3-JCR, Q2-SJR)

4

ADC Visnovcova, Zuzana - Bona Olexova, Lucia - Ferencova, Nikola - Ondrejka, Igor - Hrtanek, Igor - Funakova, Dana - Kelcikova, Simona - Farsky, Ivan - Tonhajzerova, Ingrid: Spectral and nonlinear analysis of electrodermal activity in adolescent anorexia nervosa. In: Applied Sciences. - 10: 13 (2020), p. 1-13. (2019: 2.474-IF, Q2-JCR, Q1-SJR)

5

ADC Mestanikova, Andrea – Mestanik, Michal – Ondrejka, Igor – Hrtanek, Igor – Cesnekova, Dana – Jurko, Alexander Jr. – Visnovcova, Zuzana – Sekaninova, Nikola – Tonhajzerova, Ingrid: Complex cardiac vagal regulation to mental and physiological stress in adolescent major depression. In: Journal of Affective Disorders. – 249 (2019), p. 234-241. (2018: 4.08-IF, Q1-JCR, Q1-SJR)

VI.4 - The most significant citations corresponding to the research/artistic/other outputs
1

[o1] 2021 Puckett, L. - Grayeb, D. - Khatri, V. - Cass, K. - Mehler, P.: A Comprehensive Review of Complications and New Findings Associated with Anorexia Nervosa. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10, 12, 2021, art. no. 2555. ADC Ferencova, Nikola – Bona Olexova, Lucia – Visnovcova, Zuzana – Ondrejka, Igor – Tonhajzerova, Ingrid: Role of neuroendocrine, immune, and autonomic nervous system in anorexia nervosa-linked cardiovascular diseases. In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. - 21, 19 (2020), p. 1-19. (2019: 4.556-IF, Q1-JCR, Q1-SJR)

2

[o1] 2020 - Alizargar, J. - Hsieh, N. C. - Wu, S. F. V. - Weng, S. Y.: Using the Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI) or the Mathematical Correction Form (CAVI0) in Clinical Practice. In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21, 7, 2020, art. no. 2410. ADC Tonhajzerova, Ingrid – Bona Olexova, Lucia, Jurko, Alexander Jr. – Spronck, Bart – Jurko, Tomas – Sekaninova, Nikola – Visnovcova, Zuzana – Mestanikova, Andrea – Kudela, Erik – Mestanik, Michal: Novel Biomarkers of Early Atherosclerotic Changes for Personalised Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Cervical Cancer and Human Papillomavirus Infection. In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences – 20, 15 (2019), p. [1-17], art. no. 3720. (2018: 4.355 – IF, Q1-JCR, Q1-SJR)

3

[o1] 2020 Morris, G. - Puri, B. K. - Olive, L. - Carvalho, A. - Berk, M. - Walder, K. - Gustad, L. T. - Maes, M.: Endothelial dysfunction in neuroprogressive disorders—causes and suggested treatments. BMC Medicine, 18, 1, 2020, art. no. 305. ADC Tonhajzerova, Ingrid - Ferencova, Nikola - Bona Olexova, Lucia - Visnovcova, Zuzana: Novel insight into neuroimmune regulatory mechanisms and biomarkers linking major depression and vascular diseases: The dilemma continues. In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. - 21, 7 (2020), p. [1-15], art. no. 2317 [print]. - ISSN (online) 1422-0067. (2019: 4.556-IF, Q1-JCR,Q1-SJR)

4

[o1] 2020 - Romaniszyn-Kania, P. - Pollak, A. - Danch-Wierzchowska, M. - Kania, D. - Myśliwiec, A. P. - Pietka, E. - Mitas, A. W.: Hybrid System of Emotion Evaluation in Physiotherapeutic Procedures. In: Sensors, 20, 21, 2020, art. no. 6343. ADC Visnovcova, Zuzana - Bona Olexova, Lucia - Ferencova, Nikola - Ondrejka, Igor - Hrtanek, Igor - Funakova, Dana - Kelcikova, Simona - Farsky, Ivan - Tonhajzerova, Ingrid: Spectral and nonlinear analysis of electrodermal activity in adolescent anorexia nervosa. In: Applied Sciences. - 10: 13 (2020), p. 1-13. (2019: 2.474-IF, Q2-JCR, Q1-SJR)

5

[o1] 2021 Bair, A. - Marksteiner, J. - Falch, R. - Ettinger, U. - Reyes del Paso, G. A. - Duschek, S.: Features of autonomic cardiovascular control during cognition in major depressive disorder. Psychophysiology, 58, 1, 2021, e13628. ADC Mestanikova, Andrea – Mestanik, Michal – Ondrejka, Igor – Hrtanek, Igor – Cesnekova, Dana – Jurko, Alexander Jr. – Visnovcova, Zuzana – Sekaninova, Nikola – Tonhajzerova, Ingrid: Complex cardiac vagal regulation to mental and physiological stress in adolescent major depression. In: Journal of Affective Disorders. – 249 (2019), p. 234-241. (2018: 4.08-IF, Q1-JCR, Q1-SJR)

VI.5 - Participation in conducting (leading) the most important research projects or art projects over the last six years
1

Title: Autonomic dysregulation and early atherosclerotic changes in adolescent depression

Grant Agency: Research Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic

Number: 1/0044/18

Duration: 01/2018-12/2021

Position: co-investigator

The project continuously followed the previous solution of the project, where it focused mainly on the determination of cardiovascular risk by analyzing biosignals of different effector systems of autonomic regulation and the earliest changes in atherosclerosis in depressive disorder, in a uniquely evaluated age - adolescence. The project was finished with final evaluation Excellent Results. Publications number in extenso: 35 (22 ADC, 1 ADD, 4 ADF, 6 ADM, 2 AED). Publications number in abstracto: 40 (6 AEG, 6 AFG, 1 AFE, 1 AFF, 26 AFH). Publications number in other journals: 3 (1 BDC, 1 BDE, 1 BEE). Abstracts number from foreign/national congresses: 7 (3 BFA, 4 BFB). SCI citations: 78, non-SCI citations: 6. Awards: nomination by FORBES „Science and Research 2020“ – Dr. Sekaninova-Ferencova; Invitation to international project COST (VascAgeNet, r.2019-2023), Invited lecture (Conference Biological Psychiatry, 2021, Piestany), Award in the Section "Young Physiologists" (Physiological days, Martin, 2020) – Dr. Bona Olexova, Award "The best postgraduate student 2020" /"The best supervisor 2020" - Dr. Ferencova/prof. Tonhajzerova



2

Title: Biomarkers of early atherosclerotic changes in personalized prevention of cardiovascular disease in women with precancerous lesions and cervical cancer.

Grant Agency: Research and development project of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic

Number: 2018/20-UKMT-16

Duration: 2018-2020

Position: co-investigator

Clinically focused project on evaluating preclinical markers of atherosclerosis with subsequent determination of a diagnostic algorithm for cardiovascular risk assessment in cervical cancer.

3

Title: Electrodermal activity as a sympathetic regulation/dysregulation index - analysis using complex mathematical methods in relation to selected diseases

Grant Agency: Research Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic

Number:    1/0190/20

Duration:  01/2020-12/2023

Position: co-investigator

The project was focused on monitoring changes of electrodermal activity (EDA) as a possible biomarker evaluating sympathetic cholinergic system by new mathematical analysis based on quantitative and qualitative algorithms for evaluation of complex EDA characteristics during overall stress response – rest, load, recovery phase such as also in relation to selected diseases (stress-related and mental disorders), focusing on the developmental trajectory from neonatal to young adult age.

4

Title: Changes in autonomic regulation in relation to neurobiological dimensions of personality in response to emotional

stress - a possible pathomechanism in the trajectory of subclinical depression and clinically manifest major

depressive disorder in adolescence?

Grant Agency: Research Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic

Number: 1/0048/24

Duration:  01/2024-12/2027

Position: principal investigator

The project is aimed at revealing differences in temperament and character dimensions of personality in the trajectory health - subclinical depression - MDD with respect to gender and the influence of anxiety in adolescents. Another aim is to evaluate changes in the autonomic nervous system activity during the emotional stress profile to objectify and quantify emotional (dys)regulation, also in relation to inflammatory activity under physiological and pathological conditions.

5

Title: Inflammatory activity and endothelial dysfunction in adolescent depression - detection of potential biomarkers

Grant Agency: Comenius University in Bratislava

Number: UK/63/2021

Duration: 2021

Position: principal investigator. The project was focused on the currently discussing causal relationships between depression and mediator (e.g. inflammation, endothelial dysfunction) as well as causal relationships between mediator and atherosclerosis by determining levels of circulating markers of pro- and anti-inflammatory activity (interleukins (IL)): IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1α, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma) in association with endothelial function assessment (epidermal growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, reactive hyperaemia index) in adolescent depression.

VII. - Overview of organizational experience related to higher education and research/artistic/other activities

VII.a - Activity, position VII.b - Name of the institution, board VII.c - Duration
Member International Organization of Psychophysiology - IOP 2022 y. - continues
Member Slovak Medical Society, Slovak Physiological Society, Association of doctors in Martin 2019 y. - continues

VIII. - Overview of international mobilities and visits oriented on education and research/artistic/other activities in the given field of study

IX. - Other relevant facts

IX.a - If relevant, other activities related to higher education or research/artistic/other activities are mentioned

principal teacher "University of the Third Age" JFM CU Martin

Date of last update
2025-02-14