I. - Basic information

I.1 - Surname

Šimko

I.2 - Name

Fedor

I.3 - Degrees

Professor, MD, PhD. FESC

I.4 - Year of birth

1956

I.5 - Name of the workplace

Institute of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava

I.6 - Address of the workplace

Sasinkova 4, 82108 Bratislava

I.7 - Position

professor, head of the department

I.8 - E-mail address

fedor.simko@fmed.uniba.sk

I.9 - Hyperlink to the entry of a person in the Register of university staff

www.portalvs.sk/regzam/detail/3366

I.10 - Name of the study field in which a person works at the university

normal and pathological physiology

I.11 - ORCID iD

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9922-4885

II. - Higher education and further qualification growth

II.1 - First degree of higher education

II.2 - Second degree of higher education

II.a - Name of the university or institution

Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Medicine

II.b - Year

1981

II.c - Study field and programme

pediatrics

II.3 - Third degree of higher education

II.a - Name of the university or institution

Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Medicine

II.b - Year

1987

II.c - Study field and programme

Normal and pathologic physiology

II.4 - Associate professor

II.a - Name of the university or institution

Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Medicine

II.b - Year

1991

II.c - Study field and programme

Normal and pathologic physiology

II.5 - Professor

II.a - Name of the university or institution

Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Medicine

II.b - Year

2000

II.c - Study field and programme

Normal and pathological physiology

II.6 - Doctor of Science (DrSc.)

III. - Current and previous employment

III.a - Occupation-position	III.b - Institution	III.c - Duration
University teacher (PhD student, assistent, associate professor, professor)	Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Medicine	1982 - till present

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
certifications in internal medicine	Faculty of Medicine / SZU	1988
certification of cardiology	Faculty of Medicine / SZU	1996
JASPEX - language and social certification for foreign experts	Comenius University in Bratislava	1988
Certification in pedagogical skills	Comenius University in Bratislava	1987

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
pathological physiology 1+2 v in both Slovak and English language	general medicine	II	general medicine
pathological physiology 1+2 v in both Slovak and English language	dentistry	II	dentistry
Introduction into research activities	all the PhD. programmes at the Faculty of Medicine in Bratislava	III	general medicine and dentistry
The most important syndromes in pathophysiology	general medicine	II	general medicine

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.2.a - Name of the study programme	V.2.b - Degree	V.2.c - Field of study
Normal and pathological physiology	III	general medicine

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.3.a - Name of the field of habilitation procedure and inaugural procedure	V.3.b - Study field to which it is assigned
Normal and pathologic physiology - habilitation procedure	general medicine
Normal and pathologic physiology - inauguration procedure	general medicine

V.4 - Overview of supervised final theses

V.4.1 - Number of currently supervised theses

V.4.b - Diploma (second degree)

V.4.c - Dissertation (third degree)

V.4.2 - Number of defended theses

V.4.b - Diploma (second degree)

V.4.c - Dissertation (third degree)

V.5 - Overview of other courses taught in the current academic year according to study programmes

V.5.a - Name of the course	V.5.b - Study programme	V.5.c - Degree	V.5.d - Field of study
Pathophysiology	general medicine and dentistry	II	general medicine and dentistry
The most important syndromes in pathophysiology	general medicine	II	general medicine

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.1.2 - Number of the research/artistic/other outputs registered in the Web of Science or Scopus databases

VI.1.a - Overall

185

VI.1.b - Over the last six years

VI.1.3 - Number of citations corresponding to the research/artistic/other outputs

VI.1.a - Overall

above 2700

VI.1.b - Over the last six years

above 1300

VI.1.4 - Number of citations registered in the Web of Science or Scopus databases

VI.1.a - Overall

above 2500

VI.1.b - Over the last six years

above 1500

VI.1.5 - Number of invited lectures at the international, national level

VI.1.a - Overall

appr. 25

VI.1.b - Over the last six years

VI.2 - The most significant research/artistic/other outputs

Simko F, Baka T, Paulis L, Reiter RJ. Elevated heart rate and nondipping heart rate as potential targets for melatonin: a review.

J Pineal Res. 2016 Sep;61(2):127-37. Q1 IF=10,3

Simko F, Bednarova KR, Krajcirovicova K, Hrenak J, Celec P, Kamodyova N, Gajdosechova L, Zorad S, Adamcova M. Melatonin reduces cardiac remodeling and improves survival in rats with isoproterenol-induced heart failure.

J Pineal Res. 2014;57(2):177-84. Q1 IF=9,6 Q1

Simko F, Stanko P, Repova K, Baka T, Krajcirovicova K, Aziriova S, Domenig O, Zorad S, Adamcova M, Paulis L Effect of sacubitril/valsartan on the hypertensive heart in continuous light-induced and lactacystin-induced pre-hypertension: Interactions with the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Biomed Pharmacother. 2024;173:116391. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha. Q1 IF=7,5 Q1

Simko F, Pechanova O. Potential roles of melatonin and chronotherapy among the new trends in hypertension treatment.

J Pineal Res. 2009;47:127-33. Q1 IF=5,45

Simko, F., Pechanova, O., Pelouch, V.,Krajcirovicova, K., Mullerova, M.,Bednarova, K., Adamcova, M., Paulis, L. Effect of melatonin, captopril, spironolactone and simvastatin on blood pressure and left ventricular remodelling in spontaneously hypertensive rats. 2009 J Hypertens 2009, 27 (Supl. 6) , S5-S10 Q1 IF=4,99

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

Simko F, Baka T. Commentary: Effect of Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme Inhibitor and Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonist Treatment on ACE2 Expression and SARS-CoV-2 Replication in Primary Airway Epithelial Cells. Front Pharmacol. 2022, 13:842512. Q1 IF=6.2

Simko F, Baka T. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers: potential allies in the COVID-19 pandemic instead of a threat? Clin Sci (Lond). 2021;135(8):1009-1014. doi: 10.1042/CS20210182. Q1 IF=6.4

Simko F, Hrenak J, Adamcova M, Paulis Ľ.Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system: Friend or foe-the matter of balance. Insight on history, therapeutic implications andcovid-19 interactions. Int J Mol Sci. 2021, 22(6):1-8. 2021: Q1 IF=6.2

Repova K, Aziriova S, Krajcirovicova K, Simko F. Cardiovascular therapeutics: A new potential for anxiety treatment? Med Res Rev. 2022 42(3):1202-1245. Q1 IF=13.2

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

Simko F, Bednarova KR, Krajcirovicova K, Hrenak J, Celec P, Kamodyova N, Gajdosechova L, Zorad S, Adamcova M. Melatonin reduces cardiac remodeling and improves survival in rats with isoproterenol-induced heart failure. J Pineal Res. 2014 Sep;57(2):177-84.

Mukherjee, D. - Ghosh, A.K. - Dutta, M. - Mitra, E. - Mallick, S. - Saha, B. - Reiter, R.J. - Bandyopadhyay, D.: Journal of Pineal Research, vol. 58, no. 3, 2015, s. 275-290 -- SCI ; SCOPUS

Xie, S. - Deng, Y. - Pan, Y.Y. - Wang, Z.H. - Ren, J. - Guo, X.L. - Yuan, X. - Shang, J. - Liu, H.G.: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, vol. 464, no. 4, 2015, s. 975-981 -- SCI ; SCOPUSMaarman, G. - Blackhurst, D. - Thienemann, F. - Blauwet, L. - Butrous, G. - Davies, N. - Sliwa, K. - Lecour, S.: Journal of Pineal Research, vol. 59, no. 3, 2015, s. 343-353 -- SCI ; SCOPUSHu, W. - Ma, Z. - Jiang, S. - Fan, C. - Deng, C. - Yan, X. - Di, S. - Lv, J. - Reiter, R.J. - Yang, Y.: Journal of Pineal Research, vol. 60, no. 2, 2016, s. 121-131 -- SCI ; SCOPUSHe, B. - Zhao, Y.C. - Gao, L.C. - Ying, X.Y. - Xu, L.W. - Su, Y.Y. - Ji, Q.Q. - Lin, N. - Pu, J.: Hypertension, vol. 67, no. 6, 2016, s. 1237-1248 -- SCI ; SCOPUS

Simko F, Baka T, Paulis L, Reiter RJ.Elevated heart rate and nondipping heart rate as potential targets for melatonin: a review. J Pineal Res. 2016 Sep;61(2):127-37.

Ovali, M.A. - Uzun, M.: Cellular and Molecular Biology, vol. 63, no. 3, 2017, s. 45-50 -- SCI ; SCOPUSBaltatu, O.C. - Amaral, F.G. - Campos, L.A. - Cipolla-Neto, J.: Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, vol. 74, no. 21, 2017, s. 3955-3964 -- SCI ; SCOPUSZhang, Y. - Liu, X. - Bai, X. - Lin, Y. - Li, Z. - Fu, J. - Li, M. - Zhao, T. - Yang, H. - Xu, R. - Li, J. - Ju, J. - Cai, B. - Xu, C. - Yang, B.: Journal of Pineal Research, vol. 64, no. 2, 2018, art. no. e12449 -- SCI ; SCOPUSDing, M. - Feng, N. - Tang, D. - Feng, J. - Li, Z. - Jia, M. - Liu, Z. - Gu, X. - Wang, Y. - Fu, F. - Pei, J.: Journal of Pineal Research, vol. 65, no. 2, 2018, art. no. e12491 -- SCI ; SCOPUSCipolla-Neto, J. - do Amaral, F.G.: Endocrie Reviews, vol. 39, no. 6, 2018, s. 990-1028 -- SCI ; SCOPUS

Simko, F.; Hrenak, J.; Adamcova, M.; Paulis, L. Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone System: Friend or Foe—The Matter of Balance. Insight on History, Therapeutic Implications and COVID-19 Interactions. Int.J.Mol.Sci. 2021, 22,3217.

Parn, Kim Wai, et al. "Safety and efficacy of dietary epigallocatechin gallate supplementation in attenuating hypertension via its modulatory activities on the intrarenal renin–angiotensin system in spontaneously hypertensive rats." Nutrients 14.21 (2022): 4605.Borsche, Lorenz, Bernd Glauner, and Julian von Mendel. "COVID-19 mortality risk correlates inversely with vitamin D3 status, and a mortality rate close to zero could theoretically be achieved at 50 ng/mL 25 (OH) D3: results of a systematic review and meta-analysis." Nutrients 13.10 (2021): 3596.Xie, J-X., et al. "The function of the ACE2/Ang (1-7)/Mas receptor axis of the renin-angiotensin system in myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury." European Review for Medical & Pharmacological Sciences 26.6 (2022).Esmaeilzadeh, Abdolreza, et al. "Endocrine and metabolic complications of COVID-19: lessons learned and future prospects." Journal of Molecular Endocrinology 69.3 (2022): R125-R150.Cojocaru, Elena, et al. "Role of the renin-angiotensin system in long COVID’s cardiovascular injuries." Biomedicines 11.7 (2023): 2004.

Repova K, Aziriova S, Krajcirovicova K, Simko F. Cardiovascular therapeutics: A new potential for anxiety treatment? Med Res Rev. 2022 May;42(3):1202-1245.

Pereira, AT; Gelfuso, ÉA and Beleboni, RO Repositioning pinacidil and its anticonvulsant and anxiolytic properties in murine models SCIENTIFIC REPORTS 14 (1)Chen, ZY; Tang, YC; (...); Feng, TY Edge-centric connectome-genetic markers of bridging factor to comorbidity between depression and anxiety NATURE COMMUNICATIONSarrow_drop_down 15 (1)Saba, L; Maindarkar, M; (...); Suri, JS A Pharmaceutical Paradigm for Cardiovascular Composite Risk Assessment Using Novel Radiogenomics Risk Predictors in Precision Explainable Artificial Intelligence Framework: Clinical Trial Tool FRONTIERS IN BIOSCIENCE-LANDMARKarrow 28 (10)Manolis, TA; Manolis, AA; (...); Manolis, AS Neuropsychiatric disorders in patients with heart failure: not to be ignored HEART FAILURE REVIEWS 28 (4) , pp.821-858Woodman, R; Student, J; (...); Lockette, W Ivabradine-Induced Bradycardia is Accompanied by Reduced Stress-Related AnxietyAMERICAN JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION36 (6) , pp.316-323

Simko F, Baka T. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers: potential allies in the COVID-19 pandemic instead of a threat? Clin Sci (Lond). 2021 Apr 30;135(8):1009-1014.

Daher J. Endothelial dysfunction and COVID-19 (Review). Biomed Rep. 2021 Dec;15(6):102. doi: 10.3892/br.2021.1478. Epub 2021 Oct 7. PMID: 34667599; PMCID: PMC8517756.Calò LA, Stefanelli LF, Nalesso F. Angiotensin II, RAS Activation, and RAS Blockers in COVID-19: Unambiguous Evidence. Kidney Blood Press Res. 2022;47(10):593-596. Calò LA, Stefanelli LF, Nalesso F. Angiotensin II, RAS Activation, and RAS Blockers in COVID-19: Unambiguous Evidence. Kidney Blood Press Res. 2022;47(10):593-596. doi: 10.1159/000526791.Dayaramani C, De Leon J, Reiss AB. Cardiovascular Disease Complicating COVID-19 in the Elderly. Medicina (Kaunas). 2021 Aug 17;57(8):833.

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

Cardiovascular protection in experimental hypertension and heart failure by dual inhibition of neprilysin and at1 receptors for angiotensin II: comparison with ACE inhibition and melatonin

Principal investigator: F. Šimko

Project start year: 2019; Project end year: 2022

VEGA 2/0112/19

Experimental myocardial infarction: contribution of hypertension and obesity, effect of toll-like receptor inhibitor

Principal investigator: O.Pecháňová, F. Šimko

Project start year: 2019; Project end year: 2022

VEGA 1/0048/23

Protection of the cardiovascular system in experimental hypertension and heart failure by the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor dapagliflozin: effect on the heart, blood vessels and kidneys. Comparison with the ace-inhibitor captopril

Principal investigator: F. Šimko

Project start year: 2023; Project end year: 2026

VEGA 2/0025/23

ACE2 receptor inhibition in hypertension and obesity as a potential model of the consequences of covid-19: the effect of s-nitrosocaptopril

Principal investigator: O. Pecháňová, F. Šimko,

Project start year: 2023; Project end year: 2026

APP-COVID-20-0043

New perspectives in the treatment of cardiovascular complications associated with COVID-19

Principal investigator: S. Čačániová, co-investigator: F. Šimko

Project start year: 2020; Project end year: 2021

APVV-20-0421

Cardiometabolic effects of Mas receptor stimulation by modulating the renin-angiotensin system - the key role of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2

Principal investigator: Š. Zorád, co-investigator: F. Šimko

Project start year: 2021; Project end year: 2024

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
main guarantor of the study subject Normal and pathological physiology - doctoral, habilitation, inaugural proceedings	Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University	2007 - till present
vice-dean for science and research	Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University	2007 - 2011
member of the Approbation committee of the Faculty of Medicine	Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University	2023 - till present
Co-Editor-in-Chief of the journal Bratislava Medical Journal	Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University	2015 - 2022
member of the editorial board of the journal Journal of Hypertension	journal Journal of Hypertension	2010-2013
member of the editorial board of the journal World J Hypertension	journal World J Hypertension	2015-till presence
member of the editorial board of the journal Reports	journal Reports	2021- till present
member of the committee of the Slovak Society of Cardiology	the Slovak Society of Cardiology	2008-2020
member of the committee of the Slovak Society of Hypertension	the Slovak Society of Hypertension	2021 - till present
Member of the Presidium of the Scientific Council of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic	Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic	2004 - 2011

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

VIII.a - Name of the institution	VIII.b - Address of the institution	VIII.c - Duration (indicate the duration of stay)	VIII.d - Mobility scheme, employment contract, other (describe)
Berlín-Buch - (German Academy of Sciences)	German Academy of Sciences	1988 - one month	study stay Prof. Wallukat
the Clinic of internal medicine Prague-Motol	Prague-Motol hospital	1991 - 1 month	study stay Prof. Fischerová
Unispital Zurich - echocardiographic department	Zurich - Switzerland	1992 - two months	study stay - echocardiography Prof. Jeni
Institut Physiologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Gottingen	Gottingen - Germany	1992-1994 - 18 months	Foundation Alexander von Humboldt Stifftung - prof. Bretschneider
Heidelberg - Institut Experimentelle Chirurgie	Heidelberg - Germany	2000 - two months	Foundation Alexander von Humboldt Stifftung - prof. Gebhard
Unispital Wien - Abt. Echokardiogrphie	Wienna	1991 - two months	study stay - training in echocardiography

IX. - Other relevant facts

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

domestic awards:

Scientist of the Year of the Slovak Republic 2008

Award for Science and Technology 2023 in the category Personality of Science and Technology

Honorary Award of Academician T.R. Niederlanda Presidium SLS 2024

Final nomination for the Crystal Wing 2009

Guoth Prize of the Presidium SLS 1988

Jesseni Prize of the Presidium SLS 2016

2016 - Hynek Medal of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Prague

1981 - Rector's Award for Excellent Academic Achievements

2x Rector's Award of the Comenius University for the Best Publication and Scripts

8x awards of the professional societies of the Slovak University of Cardiology (Hypertension, Physiology, Internal Medicine) for the best publications of the year

2011 - Dean's Award as the best trainer within the Slovak Society of Cardiology in the last 10 years

Honorary membership of the Slovak Cardiological Society 2016

Honorary membership of the Slovak Pathophysiological Society 2016

Honorary membership of the Slovak Hypertension Society 2021

Purkinje Lecture of the Slovak Physiological Society 2008

Rector's Lecture of the Comenius University 2008

Haviar's lecture of the Slovak Society of Cardiology 2010

foreign awards:

Prestigious scholarship: Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship 1992-1994, 2000,

FESC title from the European Society of Cardiology

1996 - most cited paper in Physiol Res in the last 10 years

1999 - Medical Education Center of Pennsylvania - request for rights to use the publication Simko F, Simko J: Heart failure and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition: problems and perspectives. Phys Res 48,1-8:1999 for the purpose of teaching American doctors

Šimko F, Paulis L: Melatonin as a potential antihypertensive treatment.J Pineal Res 42:319-322,2007 - on the web the 5th most read paper of the given journal in 2007.

5x guest editor:

-Guest editor: F. Simko Physiological Research 2007: The importance of nitric oxide in the haemodynamically overloaded circulation IF=2.12

-Guest editor: F. Simko, O. Pechanova : J Hypertension 27, Suppl 6,1-52, 2009. : "Recent trends in hypertension treatment: perspectives from animal studies" IF=4.99

-Guest editor: F. Simko, O. Pechanova : J Hypertension 28, Suppl 1, 1-62, 2010. "Remodelling of heart and vessels in experimental hypertension: advances in protection". – IF=4.5

- Guest editor: F Simko, L Paulis, RJ Reiter Frontiers in Bioscience: The protective role of melatonin in the cardiovascular system. IF-4.02

-Guest editor: M Adamcova, F. Simko, L. Paulis: Int J Mol Sci 2021: Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system: the friend or enemy: the matter of balance. IF = 6.2

Editorial board member of J Hypertens, World J Hypertens, Frontiers in Bioscience, Bratisl Med J, Cardiol Lett., Reports

Reviewer of 35 pending journals including Lancet, Circulation, Circulation Res.

Date of last update

2025-01-30

Name and surname:	prof. MUDr. Fedor Šimko, CSc.
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