Four research projects involving scientists from the InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences have received funding in the latest calls of the National Science Centre: OPUS 30 and SONATA 21. Three of them are led directly by InLife researchers, while one – carried out by the Poznań University of Life Sciences – is being implemented in collaboration with a scientist from the Institute.
The total amount of funding awarded is PLN 5,487,987.
According to the National Science Centre, these were the largest editions of the OPUS and SONATA calls in their history. Polish research institutions will receive grants for 522 research projects with a total value of nearly PLN 912 million.
SONATA 21: Embryo Implantation and Meat Quality
What determines whether an embryo implants in the uterus – or not? Dr Maria Guzewska from InLife will seek answers at a level that has not previously been studied. In her project, the researcher will focus on extracellular vesicles – microscopic structures through which cells send signals to one another – and examine their role in communication between the embryo and the maternal organism. The project “Communication between the Embryo and the Mother at the Nanoscale – the Role of Extracellular Vesicles in the Proper Course of Implantation” has received funding of PLN 2,231,807.
The second project selected for funding under SONATA 21 is entitled “Molecular and Technological Mechanisms Shaping the Quality of Cervid Meat: Interactions of Natural Bioactive Additives with Low-Temperature Processing Methods”, led by Dr Eng. Anna Kononiuk. The funding awarded amounts to PLN 1,018,090.
The project will focus on the quality of cervid meat and the factors that influence its properties at the molecular and technological levels. The research will include, among other aspects, interactions between natural bioactive additives and low-temperature food processing methods. The results may expand knowledge on how to shape the quality of meat products using modern and less invasive technologies.
OPUS 30: Omega-3 and Rapeseed Proteins
Professor Agnieszka Blitek will lead the project “The Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on the Ovary and Embryo Implantation in the Pig”, which has received funding of PLN 1,894,050. The researcher will focus on processes regulating fertility and the development of early pregnancy. Conducted using the pig as a model, the studies may provide important insights into the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on ovarian function and interactions between the maternal organism and the embryo.
Professor Ryszard Amarowicz, leader of the Food Chemical and Physical Properties Team, will participate in the project “Interactions of Aroma Compounds with Rapeseed Proteins: Binding Mechanisms and Aroma Stability in the Context of Rapeseed Press Cake Utilisation”. The project will be led by Professor Henryk Jeleń from the Poznań University of Life Sciences. InLife’s budget amounts to PLN 344,040.
The project concerns rapeseed proteins and their potential use in food production. Researchers will investigate how compounds responsible for smell and aroma bind to rapeseed proteins and how these interactions affect aroma stability and the sensory quality of products. The project results may help assess whether rapeseed proteins, obtained, among other sources, from rapeseed press cake, can be used more widely as a valuable ingredient in plant-based foods.
What Are the OPUS and SONATA Calls?
OPUS is a broad NCN funding call addressed to researchers at various stages of their scientific careers. It provides funding for projects carried out at Polish research institutions and lasting from 12 to 48 months.
SONATA is a call intended for early-career researchers. In the edition that has just been concluded, applications could be submitted by researchers who obtained their doctoral degree between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2023. Projects funded under this call may last 12, 24 or 36 months.
This year’s NCN results demonstrate the high competitiveness of both calls. More than 3,700 applications were submitted to OPUS 30 and SONATA 21. In total, 522 projects received funding, including 279 under the OPUS call and 243 under SONATA.
We congratulate all the awardees and wish them every success in carrying out their research.
