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Chronic pain is not merely a prolonged warning signal from the body. It is a complex neurobiological process involving persistent alterations in nervous system function, modulation of inflammatory responses, and reorganization of stimulus-processing mechanisms. Understanding these processes remains one of the major challenges of contemporary neuropharmacology.

On 27 February 2026 at 9:00 a.m. (Zoom platform), the OL-PAN seminar will host Professor Katarzyna Starowicz-Bubak, Director of the Maj Institute of Pharmacology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Kraków. Her lecture, entitled “New Neuropharmacological Perspectives in Chronic Pain Therapy: The Role of the Endocannabinoid System,” will focus on current research directions concerning the mechanisms underlying neuropathic and inflammatory pain, as well as potential therapeutic strategies.

Particular attention will be devoted to the endocannabinoid system—a widespread signaling network present throughout the body. Its receptors are located in the brain, lungs, bones, gastrointestinal tract, skeletal muscles, reproductive system, and in structures of both the central and peripheral nervous systems. This system is considered one of the fundamental physiological systems of the body, playing a key role in maintaining homeostasis, regulating inflammatory responses, and modulating pain signaling.

The OL-PAN seminar provides a platform for scientific exchange, presentation of current research directions, and discussion of the challenges facing contemporary medicine and biomedical sciences. The event is open to all interested participants.

📅 27 February 2026
🕘 9:00 a.m.
💻 Zoom platform

Meeting ID: 936 8526 7349
Access code: 328636

Meeting language: English

About the Speaker

Professor Katarzyna Starowicz, PhD, DSc, is Professor of Medical and Health Sciences and Director of the Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków. She has been affiliated with the Institute since 2007. She obtained her MSc from the Jagiellonian University in Kraków and her PhD in Medical Sciences from Utrecht University, followed by habilitation in 2013 and the award of full professorship in 2021.

Professor Starowicz’s research focuses on the neurochemistry of chronic pain, with particular emphasis on neuropathic and osteoarthritis pain, the endogenous cannabinoid system, TRPV1 receptors, and inflammatory and regenerative mechanisms in joint disease. Following her doctorate, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (CNR), Italy, in the Endocannabinoid Research Group led by Professor Vincenzo Di Marzo.

She is an internationally recognised expert in cannabinoid research and pain pharmacology. Professor Starowicz is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS) and served as its President in 2024–2025. She regularly lectures at international scientific meetings and serves on editorial boards, including the British Journal of Pharmacology. Her distinctions include the National Science Centre Award in Life Sciences (2016), the ICRS Mid-Career Award, and the L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science Award.

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Can dominance in fish reproduction be controlled? How can egg quality be improved through the identification of molecular markers? In what ways do circadian rhythms influence organismal development, and how does gene expression dysregulation affect larval condition? These are just some of the key questions that will be addressed during the open Fish’n’Repro seminar, organized on 25 February 2026 by the InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences.

The aim of the event is to facilitate the exchange of expertise, present current research findings, and identify common research areas that may serve as a foundation for further international scientific collaboration. The seminar is addressed to researchers working in the field of reproductive biology as well as professionals involved in fish farming and aquaculture.

Special Guests from the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research

The event will feature lectures by researchers from the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), one of Europe’s leading institutions in aquaculture research.

Prof. Constantinos (Dinos) C. Mylonas – Director of the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (IMBBC) and a recognized expert in fish reproductive physiology and endocrinology. His research focuses on identifying reproductive dysfunctions in captive fish and developing environmental and pharmacological methods to control maturation and spawning.

Dr Ioannis (Yannis) Fakriadis – Research scientist specializing in fish reproductive physiology and practical approaches to controlling reproductive processes in aquaculture. His interests include selective breeding, assisted reproduction, gamete quality assessment, and reproductive behaviour analysis.

Programme:

Constantinos (Dinos) C. Mylonas, Professor (HCMR)
Fish Reproduction in Mediterranean Aquaculture and its Control

Ioannis (Yannis) Fakriadis, PhD (HCMR)
Dominance in fish reproduction: can we manipulate it?

Daniel Żarski, PhD (InLife)
Fishing for molecular indicators of egg quality in pikeperch

Oliver Barić, PhD Student (InLife)
Winding the clock: current knowledge on circadian rhythm development in Eurasian perch

Rossella Debernardis, PhD Student (InLife)
Heart oedema in Eurasian perch larvae is associated with multi-tissue gene dysregulation

Fish’n’Repro has an interdisciplinary character, combining fundamental research with its potential applications in fish farming. The meeting will provide a platform for in-depth discussion, partnership building, and the initiation of joint research projects in the field of reproductive biology and aquaculture.

📍 Venue: InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Skanda Hall
📅 Date: 25 February 2026
🕘 Time: 9:00 AM

We warmly invite researchers and aquaculture professionals interested in the latest advances in fish reproductive biology to participate.

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DIRECTOR and the SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL of the InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn have the honor to invite you to the public defense of the doctoral dissertation for the degree of Ph.D. in agricultural sciences, discipline of animal science and fisheries:

Manohara Mahadeva, M.Tech

’Membrane Potential Sets the Tempo: Bioelectricity Controls the Rate of Somitogenesis in Chick Embryos through Mechanics’

The defense will take place on March 3, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. (CET) via ZOOM platform.

Supervisor:

• Magdalena Kowacz,Ph.D. Dr. Sci. – InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences;

Reviewers:

• Prof. Małgorzata Lekka, PhD, D.Sc – Department of Biophysical Microstructures, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Science;
• Magda Dubińska-Magiera, Ph.D., D.Sc. prof. UWr – Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław;
• Przemysław Płonka, Ph.D., D.Sc  – Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University;

The doctoral dissertation and the dissertation reviews can be found in the BIP Institute website. The doctoral dissertation is also available in the Director’s Office, InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research PAS in Olsztyn, Trylinskiego Str. 18.

Those wishing to participate in the public defense are asked to send an e-mail to the Secretary of the Doctoral Committee, Sebastian Niestępski, Ph.D., s.niestepski@pan.olsztyn.pl.

In the reply e-mail, you will receive an access link to the defense. Logging in to the meeting will be possible from 8:30 a.m., and the defense will start at 9:00 a.m.

Chair of the Scientific Council
Prof. Urszula Gawlik

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DIRECTOR and the SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL of the InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn have the honor to invite you to the public defense of the doctoral dissertation for the degree of Ph.D. in agricultural sciences, discipline of animal science and fisheries:

Abhipsa Panda, M.Sc.

’A Journey Towards Identification of Paternal-Effect Genes and Exploration of Their Roles During Early Life Stages in Eurasian Perch, Perca fluviatilis’

The defense will take place on February 23, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. (CET) via ZOOM platform.

Supervisor:

• Daniel Żarski, Ph.D., D.Sc. – InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences;

Auxiliary supervisor:

• Sylwia Wałdowska (family nameJudycka), Ph.D. – InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences;

Reviewers:

• Prof. Vanesa Robles Rodriguez, Ph.D. – University of León, Spain;
• Magdalena Socha, Ph.D., D.Sc. – University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland;
• Doc. Ing. Martin Pšenička, Ph.D.  – University of South Bohemia in České Budejovice, Czech Republic.

The doctoral dissertation and the dissertation reviews can be found in the BIP Institute website. The doctoral dissertation is also available in the Director’s Office, InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research PAS in Olsztyn, Trylinskiego Str. 18.

Those wishing to participate in the public defense are asked to send an e-mail to the Secretary of the Doctoral Committee, Agnieszka Mostek-Majewska, Ph.D., a.mostek@pan.olsztyn.pl

In the reply e-mail, you will receive an access link to the defense. Logging in to the meeting will be possible from 8:30 a.m., and the defense will start at 9:00 a.m.

Chair of the Scientific Council
Prof. Urszula Gawlik

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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 found HERE.

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

Join the Zoom meeting (link)
Meeting ID: 912 4084 0028
Passcode: 382806

Language of the lecture: English

You are warmly invited!

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