The development and implementation of innovative functional food products with high health-promoting potential is the main objective of a new research and development project carried out at the InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The project adopts a comprehensive “from raw material to final product” approach, covering the entire process—from research on the composition and bioactive properties of raw materials to their application in finished food products.
Implemented under the acronym FISHBERRY, the project focuses on the use of rainbow trout as a raw material with high nutritional value. At the same time, it responds to current challenges related to sustainable development, the circular economy, and growing consumer expectations for foods with scientifically documented preventive health effects. The solutions being developed have the potential to provide tangible support for health prevention through diet and to be implemented within the agri-food sector.
The project entitled “Development and implementation of innovative functional products based on rainbow trout with high preventive potential against diet-related diseases” has received funding under the second call of the governmental NUTRITECH Programme – Nutrition in the context of improving societal well-being and climate change challenges. The total amount of funding awarded is PLN 6,929,173.32 (grant No. NUTRITECH-II/0006/2025, dated 25 July 2025). The project will be implemented in cooperation with the industrial partner GLOBIO FEED PIOTR DZIEWAŃSKI.
Securing the funding was the result of close collaboration between research teams and the Research Support Office and covered all stages of proposal preparation—from developing the research concept, through refining the project objectives and assumptions, to preparing the complete application documentation. The project preparation involved the following contributors: Wiesław Wiczkowski, Bartosz Fotschki, Radosław Kowalski, Beata Sarosiek, Michał Blitek, Katarzyna Gawdzińska-Duda, Anna Bednarska-Barcz, Anna Majkowska, Beata Szmatowicz, Dorota Szawara-Nowak, Jerzy Juśkiewicz, and Dorota Napiórkowska.
The FISHBERRY project strengthens InLife’s research capacity in the field of functional foods and represents another step toward effectively linking scientific research with implementations of social and economic relevance. Information on subsequent stages of the project will be published as the research progresses.
By decision of the President of the Republic of Poland dated July 23, 2025, Małgorzata Wronkowska, was awarded the title of Professor of Agricultural Sciences in the discipline of Food Technology and Nutrition. She is affiliated with the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences and works in the Department of Food Chemistry and Biodynamics.
In January 2026, Prof. Małgorzata Wronkowska, took part in the ceremonial presentation of professorial nominations held at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. The ceremony took place on January 7, and the acts of nomination were presented by the President of the Republic of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, to representatives of the academic community from across the country. During the event, the role of science and the academic community in the development of the state was emphasized. Professor Wronkowska joined the group of scholars who received this highest academic distinction in Poland.
– The world of science, Polish professors and researcher, plays a crucial role in ensuring that Poland develops towards prosperity, awareness, and the progress we all hope for in the 21st century. My warmest congratulations and sincere thanks – the President emphasized during the ceremony.
Professor Wronkowska is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in the study of the physical, chemical, and functional properties of plant-based products. Her research also includes the physiological effects of these products on the human body.
Her scientific work focuses on plant biopolymers, with particular emphasis on resistant starch – a specific fraction of starch with significant physiological importance. Like dietary fiber, this type of starch undergoes fermentation in the large intestine, helping to restore the balance of gut microbiota, which has a beneficial effect on human health.
Professor Wronkowska also conducts research in the area of both gluten-free and conventional baking. In her work, she uses cereals, pseudocereals, and selected by-products of the food industry. These are an important source of bioactive compounds that play a significant role in dietetics, prevention, and nutrition.
Another area of her research interests involves the multifunctional properties of baked goods and the biologically active compounds they contain. Many of her studies focus on the biological activity of these products and compounds in the prevention of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetic complications, and inflammatory conditions.
Professor Wronkowska has repeatedly enhanced her expertise through research internships in Poland and abroad, including in Finland, the Netherlands, and Spain. She is a co-author of fou patents related to the production or processing of baked goods.
She is a recipient of several scientific awards, including the “Pro Scientia et Vita” award from the Foundation of Members of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Scientific Award granted by the Marshal of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. She actively participates in both national and international research projects.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations and wish her continued scientific success!
Workshops in modern laboratories, demonstrations and experiments, and science that could be seen and experienced firsthand. Instead of dry theory – inspiring meetings and direct contact with scientists. This was the “Scientist’s Compass” project, implemented by the Institute in cooperation with the Educational Association “Erudycja” between October and December 2025. More than 1,300 students from the Warmia and Mazury region took part in the project.
As part of the project, scientists conducted workshops and educational sessions in the laboratories of the InLife Institute, in schools across the Warmia–Mazury Voivodeship, as well as at the Research Station in Popielno. These were exceptional biology, chemistry and nature science lessons – full of experiments, questions and discoveries. Even the youngest participants took part in hands-on activities!
The project involved over 1,300 students from 27 schools in the region, ranging from preschool children to upper secondary school students. A total of 50 Institute scientists were engaged in delivering the project activities.
The project consisted of six educational components:
1. Scientists with Passion – Pass it on
Scientists visited schools across the region to talk about their research work, share their experience and present possible scientific career paths. They also showcased their scientific achievements.
2. Academy of Big Questions for Young Minds
The youngest participants – preschoolers and students in grades 1–3 – visited the Institute’s laboratories, where through experiments, workshops and demonstrations they asked their first scientific questions and discovered the world of science in an accessible and engaging way.
3. Experiment, School!
These were outreach workshops delivered in primary schools throughout the region. The workshops and demonstrations focused on healthy nutrition, food safety and informed consumer choices.
4. Career Days
Held at the Research Station in Popielno, these activities gave upper secondary school students the opportunity to learn about the daily work of scientists and explore diverse research areas, including animal breeding, food science and environmental protection.
5. Science First-Hand
These workshops took place in the Institute’s modern laboratories. Students learned selected research methods and carried out their first professional experiments under the supervision of scientists.
6. „Student Research Project„ Competition
Upper secondary school students developed their own research projects under the guidance of mentors. Th competition concluded with a presentation of results during Researcher’s Day. Prizes included financial and material awards, as well as two mini-internships at the Institute.
The project was funded by the Ministry of Education.
The human body functions in close connection with daily circadian and seasonal rhythms. Health and well-being are influenced by many biological and environmental factors, such as exposure to sunlight, sleep, physical activity, diet, and the gut microbiome. How natural cycles shape the functioning of the human body was the focus of the educational meeting „In the Rhythm of the Sun and the Seasons. Cycles That Govern Our Body”.
This was the fifth meeting organized as part of the ERA Chairs WELCOME2 project. The event took place on Saturday, December 13, at the InLife Institute and gathered more than 60 participants. The speakers included researchers from the InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, as well as a guest expert from the University of Warmia and Mazury.
The circadian rhythm as the key to health
At the very beginning of the meeting, dr Aleksandra Szczepkowska from the Physiology and Toxicology Team emphasized that every cell in our body has its own timekeeping mechanism. In a professional yet accessible way, she explained how being influenced by the day–night cycle and changing seasons affects the functioning of the human body, well-being, and energy levels. The lecture clearly showed that disruptions to the circadian rhythm-such as shift work, excessive artificial light, or irregular sleep-have real physiological consequences.
The sunny vitamin – D3
Dr Julia Jarosławska-Miszkiewicz from the Nutrigenomics Team spoke about how vitamin D affects our immunity, well-being, and sleep rhythm. Participants learned how the lack of light in winter influences brain function and the immune system. The researcher emphasized that vitamin D, commonly known as a dietary supplement or medication, is first and foremost a hormone. It acts as a guardian of our immunity, and the most powerful factor influencing its level is sunlight.
The clock and gut function
The next lecture shifted attention to the gut. Dr Anna Ogrodowczyk from the Food Immunology and Microbiology Team explained that the microbiome also “lives by the clock.” The composition and activity of gut bacteria change throughout the day and across seasons, responding to what we eat, when we eat, and how we live. She highlighted the importance of a seasonal diet for the microbiome and discussed the consequences of improper nutrition, which may lead to a reduction in the natural cyclical diversity of the microbiome-an important foundation of our immunity.
The clock and physical activity
An expert from the Collegium Medicum of the University of Warmia and Mazury, dr hab. Michał Boraczyński, professor at UWM, talked about how physical activity influences the regulation of sleep and wakefulness rhythms. Participants learned when to engage in intense exercise and when to choose calmer activities that support recovery. He also discussed chrono-exercise, a new field of research that takes into account the timing of physical activity.
– Knowledge builds resistance to disinformation and manipulation, which is why during educational meetings we offer a high-quality dose of reliable information. Direct contact with scientists helps build trust in credible scientific sources – emphasized Iwona Kieda, the event coordinator.
During breaks, participants were able to take part in a tasting of fermented foods. Healthy products were provided by Łukasz Świątkowski from a family-owned company in Kisiny, which has specialized in the natural production of fermented foods for many years.
Thank you for your participation, engagement, and interest. See you at the next educational meetings!
The Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn has the honor of inviting you to the next open “OL-PAN” seminar. The “OL-PAN” seminars are scientific meetings dedicated to the exchange of knowledge and experience. They bring together researchers from various fields of life sciences, who present the latest discoveries and inspire shared discussion.
The guest of the upcoming event will be Mikołaj Ogrodnik, PhD leader of the Tissue Damage Responses in Regeneration and Aging team at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute in Vienna, who will deliver a lecture entitled „Skin damage responses: links to healing & aging”.
Dr. Mikołaj Ogrodnik received his PhD at the Newcastle Institute for Ageing (Newcastle upon Tyne, UK) and conducted his post-doctoral research at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN, USA). His pre- and post-doctoral work focused primarily on the relationship between cellular senescence and organ function in ageing and obesity. Since 2020, he has led the research group Tissue Damage Responses in Regeneration and Aging at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute in Vienna. Ogrodnik’s laboratory explores a wide range of topics, including:
Mapping and controlling cell fates in injuries;
Advancing the understanding of rapid responses to tissue damage to enable regeneration;
Improving the grafting capacity of artificial human skin.
More information about the speaker can be foundHERE.
The seminar will take place on December 12 (Friday) at 9:00 AM on the ZOOM platform.
Participation in the event is open and free of charge.
Topic: OL-PAN Seminar Time: Dec 12, 2025, 08:30 Warsaw
The latest calls of the National Science Centre, OPUS and PRELUDIUM, have brought our Institute five funded projects. Thanks to them, research teams will be able to deepen their knowledge, among others, on animal fertility, circadian rhythms of the brain, communication between reproductive system cells and the role of vitamin D in the functioning of the human immune system.
REACHING HIGHER
OPUS 29 is a call for research projects open to scientists at all stages of their careers. In this edition, 2,538 proposals were submitted, of which 344 received funding for a total amount of over 636.1 million PLN (success rate: 13.55%). Four projects at our Institute received funding.
Title: The role of PAQR receptors in regulating the function of the bovine corpus luteum.
Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Magdalena Karolina Kowalik from the Team of Physiology and Toxicology of Reproduction.
Budget: 2,423,652 PLN
Implementation period: 2026–2029
The project focuses on determining the role of PAQR receptors in regulating the function of the bovine corpus luteum, a key organ responsible for progesterone production and the proper course of the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy. The research will determine how different isoforms of PAQR receptors affect steroidogenesis, angiogenesis, prostaglandin secretion and apoptosis in luteal cells and vascular endothelial cells. Understanding these mechanisms at the molecular and cellular levels is essential to explain why disturbances in corpus luteum function lead to infertility, implantation problems or early pregnancy loss. The project will provide new data on the non-genomic activity of progesterone, complementing knowledge of its classical nuclear pathways. The results may be significant not only cognitively but also practically — supporting the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in reproductive medicine in animals and potentially humans. This research will allow a more complete understanding of how a hormone critical for reproduction acts at multiple levels of regulation, influencing female fertility.
Title: CHRONOFLOW: Integrated study of circadian rhythms of the choroid plexus (transcriptomic, miRNA and proteomic analysis) in the context of blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier function and the glymphatic system.
Principal Investigator: Dr Aleksandra Dąbrówka Szczepkowska from the Team of Physiology and Toxicology.
Budget: 2,950,936 PLN
Implementation period: 2026–2029
The researchers will examine how the internal biological clock affects the functioning of the choroid plexus – the structure responsible for producing cerebrospinal fluid – as well as the function of the blood–brain barrier and the so-called glymphatic system (the brain’s metabolic waste clearance system operating during sleep). Proper circadian rhythms in these structures play an important role in maintaining nervous system homeostasis. Disruptions in circadian rhythm may impair toxin removal from the brain and increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. The results of the project will expand knowledge on how the daily cycle regulates processes of brain cleansing and regeneration, which in the future may help develop new strategies for preventing and treating neurodegenerative disorders.
Title: Extracellular vesicles – potential mediators in the functioning of the male reproductive system in fish.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Mariola Aleksandra Dietrich, member of the Gamete Biology Team (project partner: Jagiellonian University in Kraków).
Budget: 3,311,934 PLN (Institute 2,169,770 PLN, University 1,142,164 PLN)
Implementation period: 2026–2029
The project investigates the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as potential mediators of processes occurring in the male reproductive system of fish, with particular emphasis on their function in regulating semen quality, immunity and stress response. EVs carry proteins, lipids and genetic material, enabling them to influence intercellular communication and reproductive processes, yet their role in fish remains poorly understood. The project will combine research on carp — a key aquaculture species — and zebrafish, a model laboratory organism, to comprehensively explain how EVs interact with sperm cells and immune cells. The results will help determine how environmental stress and infections alter the composition and function of vesicles, thereby affecting male fertility. The research may contribute to developing new biomarkers of fish health, supporting early detection of problems in aquaculture and more sustainable aquaculture management.
Title: The role of trophoblast in modulating pro-fibrotic processes in the mare endometrium: a new perspective on the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon.
Principal Investigator: Dr Joanna Katarzyna Jaworska from the Team of Molecular Basics of Equine Reproduction.
Budget: 4,081,876 PLN
Implementation period: 2026–2029
The research aims to determine whether trophoblast signalling in early pregnancy plays a role in initiating or intensifying pro-fibrotic processes in the mare endometrium. The project will include a detailed characterisation of the trophoblast and its secretome using spatial single-cell transcriptomics, as well as an analysis of the cellular and molecular interactions responsible for the remodelling of the extracellular matrix. The project will also verify whether previous pregnancies and altered cellular composition of the endometrium predispose to the development of an environment favourable to fibrosis. The collected data will allow identification of key signalling pathways, miRNAs and cell populations initiating pathological tissue remodelling. These results are crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of fertility loss in mares and may form the basis for developing targeted therapies that minimise the risk of fibrosis while preserving proper implantation mechanisms.
A GOOD START – PRELUDIUM 24
Another project received funding under a call aimed at researchers at the beginning of their scientific careers. PRELUDIUM 24 is a competition for scientists without a PhD, enabling them to carry out small research projects. A total of 2,506 proposals were submitted to PRELUDIUM 24, of which 369 were approved for funding for a total amount of over 61.6 million PLN (success rate: 14.72%). One project at our Institute received funding.
Title: Discovering the circadian potential of vitamin D in human immune cells.
Principal Investigator: Parcival Maissan, MSc, PhD candidate from the Nutrigenomics Team; scientific supervisor: Prof. Carsten Carlberg.
Budget: 70,000 PLN
Implementation period: 2026–2027
The project investigates whether vitamin D can influence the “biological clock” of immune cells — the rhythms that control their daily activities. The researchers will examine whether vitamin D supplementation changes the pace or nature of daily gene expression cycles in these cells, and whether its action may support better synchronisation of immune rhythms. The analysis will include monitoring changes in gene expression over 36 hours under different experimental conditions, using advanced sequencing methods. The results will determine whether both the amount and timing of vitamin D intake are important for immune system function. This project is important because it may indicate new strategies for supporting immunity through the deliberate “tuning” of the body’s circadian rhythms.
The funding obtained is not only recognition of the high quality of research conducted at our Institute but also a real opportunity to develop new scientific directions and contribute important insights to global knowledge on health, reproduction and cell biology. We warmly congratulate all the awardees and wish them fruitful research work, inspiring discoveries and successes that will strengthen the position of our Institute as one of the leading scientific centres in Poland.
Which innovations will reach our tables, and what challenges may arise along the way? These were the questions explored by participants of the 22nd Scientific Conference of Young Researchers, which we organised together with the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn.
The conference once again created a space for presenting ideas, experiments and research results that can have a real impact on the development of food and human health.
Inaugural lecture – new food under the spotlight
The event opened with the lecture „New food – hopes and concerns”, dedicated to how innovative products can change our diet and the way we think about food. The discussion covered both the potential of new technologies and issues of safety, ethics and social acceptance.
What shapes the food of the future
innovative raw materials and products – ice cream with mushrooms, microalgae in dairy products, exotic plants in hybrid cutlets,
fermentation and prefermentation as a way to create functional products from whey, chokeberry or colostrum,
new research tools for nutrition science: from projects on diabetes and the nutrition of dialysis patients to analyses of skin care at the gene level,
a detailed approach to food safety – acrylamide, Listeria, the risk of product adulteration and the presence of trace elements in spices.
The range of topics showed that young researchers not only observe trends but actively look for solutions that can improve food production, enhance consumer health and increase market transparency.
Awarded presentations
During the conference, awards were presented to the authors of the most valuable talks. The awards went to:
Agata Dąbkowska: Assessment of the potential use of β-glucans in the production of hybrid desserts,
Joanna Wiśniewska: Development and characterisation of a multi-species in vitro model of the „diabetic foot”,
Wiktor Zieliński: Acrylamide under control – an electrochemical aptasensor as a detection tool.
Members of the following committees were involved in the organisation and scientific supervision of the conference:
Scientific Committee: Prof. Barbara Wróblewska, Dr Lidia Markiewicz, and from UWM Prof. Małgorzata Darewicz and Prof. Anna Iwaniak,
Organising Committee: Dr Anna Maria Ogrodowczyk, Dr Joanna Fotschki, MSc Aleksandra Kuliga and from the University Dr Justyna Bucholska and Dr Damir Mogut.
The Scientific Conference of Young Researchers is not only a series of presentations – it is above all an exchange of ideas, inspiring discussions and the building of an environment in which young scientists can grow and collaborate. This year’s edition once again proved that innovation, courage and a fresh perspective can take research on food and health to an entirely new level.
The National Congress “Science for Business”, organised by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, is one of the most important events in Poland bringing together the scientific community, innovative projects and the economy. Our Institute was present at the joint booth of the Polish Academy of Sciences, showcasing research results and solutions that address market needs.
For two days, representatives of the Institute met with partners, entrepreneurs and institutions, demonstrating how science can meaningfully support the development of technologies and new products. Participants also had the opportunity to learn about selected patents, projects and examples of cooperation with the economic sector.
(photo: Polish Academy of Sciences)
(photo: Polish Academy of Sciences)
Our Institute was represented by:
Anna Bednarska-Barcz – responsible for industry cooperation at InLife,
Dr Anna Ogrodowczyk – facilitator of the EIT Food Consumer Engagement Labs 2024 project,
Dr Eng. Przemysław Zduńczyk – head of the most modern Animal Facility in Poland,
Dr Marek Bogacki – head of the Cell Analysis Laboratory.
At the PAN booth, visitors could also taste yoghurt co-created with consumers as part of the EIT Food Consumer Engagement Labs project. Its presentation was made possible thanks to the courtesy of Mlekpol.
We would like to thank the Polish Academy of Sciences for co-organising the booth, and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Łukasiewicz Research Network and the National Centre for Research and Development for creating a space for meetings and discussions that genuinely bring the worlds of science and business closer together.
More about the event
The National Congress “Science for Business” took place on 19–21 November 2025 in Warsaw. It is the first event in Poland of such scale, aimed at strengthening cooperation between the scientific community, business and public administration. The event was held under state patronage and coordinated by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education together with the Łukasiewicz Research Network.
The Congress brought together scientists, entrepreneurs, policymakers, innovation leaders and representatives of public administration – thousands of people interested in building a knowledge-based economy, technology transfer and modern solutions. The programme included panels and presentations devoted to key directions of national development: from science–industry cooperation and technology transfer, through the implementation of innovations and digitalisation, to technological security, defence technologies and the role of research institutions in building a competitive economy.
The Congress was not only panels and debates — it was also an exhibition area, networking opportunities, and a platform for presenting research projects and products developed through science–business collaboration. The goal is to shorten the path from idea to industry, turning research and technologies into solutions ready for real economic application.
We would like to inform you that Monday, 10 November 2025, will be a day off at our Institute.
We’re heading into a few days of rest as we celebrate Poland’s Independence Day, which falls on Tuesday, 11 November. The Institute will reopen on Wednesday, 12 November.
We wish everyone taking this time off a peaceful break and plenty of good energy for the days ahead.
