How can people live longer and healthier lives while managing everyday challenges such as poor sleep, chronic pain, stress and nutrition? An upcoming international online conference will bring together 16 physicians, researchers and health experts to explore practical answers.
The Online Longevity Conference, organized by ZdravaCreva.rs, will take place on Saturday, December 5, 2026, featuring 13 presentations and one panel discussion conducted in Serbian.
Experts from Serbia, other European countries and the United States will discuss the latest knowledge on longevity, preventive medicine, nutrition, gut health, women’s health, sleep, stress management and physical fitness.
Chicago-Based Professor to Discuss Chronic Pain
One of the featured speakers will be Professor Nebojša Knežević, MD, an anesthesiologist at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and professor at the University of Illinois Chicago.
His presentation, beginning at 10:35 a.m. Chicago time, will focus on what modern medicine can offer people living with chronic pain.
Knežević is the first author of a review article on lower back pain published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet, highlighting his expertise in pain management.
From Longevity Trends to Personalized Medicine
The conference will open with Ivana Gajić Hoffman, MD, head of the Precision Longevity program at the AUMAR clinic in Zurich. She will explain the principles of longevity medicine and the importance of prevention.
Professor Stefan Stefanović, MD, from Heidelberg University, will explore the future of personalized medicine, including how doctors could assess an individual’s health risks over the next decade and develop preventive strategies tailored to each patient.
Professor Vladimir Ilić, MD, will examine dietary supplements, the scientific evidence behind their use and how consumers can distinguish reliable health information from advertising claims.
Nutrition and Gut Health
Stevan Milenković, MD, a surgeon and proctologist at Klinikum Bremen-Nord in Germany and the conference organizer, will discuss the gut microbiome, inflammation and metabolic health.
Nutritionist and dietitian Aleksandra Đorđević will offer practical advice on improving family nutrition without preparing separate meals for different household members.
The discussion will also address scientific research into fermented foods. A controlled study published in Cell found that diets richer in fermented foods were associated with increased gut microbiome diversity and reduced levels of certain inflammatory markers.
Women’s Health, Sleep and Stress
Several presentations will focus on the connections between hormones, metabolism, sleep and mental health.
Jovana Zlatković, MD, who earned her doctorate at the University of Gothenburg, will discuss how hormones influence metabolism and body weight in women.
Tamara Radaković, MD, will address hormone therapy during menopause, explaining who may benefit and what women should discuss with their physicians when considering treatment.
Professor Dragana Rogulja, PhD, a neurobiologist at Harvard Medical School, will explore the science of sleep and why it is essential for human health. She will also discuss research conducted by her team examining the effects of sleep deprivation on the gut using animal models.
Other presentations will include:
- Irena Đorđević, MD: Women’s mental health.
- Marija Knežević, MD: The relationship between stress, trauma and the immune system.
- Darko Cvetković, MD: Stress regulation, the vagus nerve and mindfulness.
- Marko Jovašević, MD: How close relationships and emotional connections influence health.
Muscles and Longevity: Staying Strong as We Age
A special panel discussion titled Muscles and Longevity will bring together Marko Stojanović, Professor Marko Vukotić and Petra Jurić, PhD.
Combining the practical experience of two coaches with the scientific perspective of an exercise biomedicine researcher, the panel will examine how exercise, nutrition and recovery contribute to maintaining strength throughout life.
The discussion will focus on everyday abilities that become increasingly important with age, from carrying grocery bags upstairs to getting up from the floor after playing with children or grandchildren.
How to Watch from Chicago
The conference will be streamed live via Zoom on December 5, from 3:00 a.m. to 11:10 a.m. Chicago time, corresponding to 10:00 a.m. to 6:10 p.m. in Serbia.
Each presentation will include up to 20 minutes for the speaker and an additional 10 minutes for audience questions.
Ticket holders will also receive access to the conference recording for 30 days, allowing them to watch presentations they may miss because of the time difference.
The event will also support a charitable cause. For every completed, nonrefunded ticket purchase, the organizers will donate €5 to NURDOR, Serbia’s National Association of Parents of Children with Cancer.
Conference details and registration:
The conference offers an opportunity for Serbian-speaking audiences in Chicago and across the diaspora to hear directly from international experts and learn how scientific research can translate into healthier everyday habits.
