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Rising Managers Academy 2025 – we are recruiting!

Are you a scientist who would like to improve their soft skills and competences? Do you want to be both: a great researcher and a leader who successfully acquires grants, manages projects and confidently builds their research team? Apply for the Rising Managers Academy (RMA), a course created by the Institute’s experts and dedicated to researchers.

The RMA consists of ten two-day training thematic blocks, during which researchers develop skills related to grant proposal writing, team management or effective communication of results and achievements to different audiences.

– Recruitment has just started and will run until 23 January. The course is free of charge, but the number of places is limited to one training group. Admission will be decided by a recruitment committee, evaluating, among other things, previous scientific achievements, project experience, including work in an international scientific environment – explains Krzysztof Wilczek, RMA coordinator on behalf of InLife.

The entire course lasts from February to December, and sessions are held on a 2-day training schedule. – These are working days, usually from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The scientists meet once a month in Olsztyn (at the Institute’s headquarters – editor’s note), where they are visited by outstanding trainers who are familiar with the specifics of the scientists’ work – adds the coordinator.

The RMA curriculum is developed using the design thinking method and is aimed at educating academics in the development of soft skills, e.g. team management, communication, leadership, project management, financial management or grant proposal writing. The work with design methods and tools is mainly in the form of a practical workshop, where participants work on a practical design challenge – from the research phase to the prototyping stage. Theory is only an introduction to the practical workshop, with content tailored to the logic of the project work. RMA coaches are trainers professionally linked to the world of science, including Tomasz Cichocki, Piotr Wasyluk, Patrycja Radek.

DO RESEARCHERS NEED COACHING?

Where did the idea for such training come from? There is a lot of trainings available on the market, there is more and more talk about personal development, self-presentation, creating a ‘personal brand’, but corporate trainings do not quite meet the needs of researchers. – Researchers, especially ones working in the life sciences, do not have many opportunities for training in soft skills, and learn the rules for essential elements of their daily work, such as grant writing, public speaking or team management, by trial and error. We felt that there was a lack of leadership skills training on the market that was tailored to the specific needs of researchers. As international and interdisciplinary activities are our daily routine, the course is conducted in English, and we invite academics from all disciplines and research and academic centres in Poland to apply – explains Krzysztof Wilczek.

NETWORKING: MORE THAN JUST A COFFEE CHAT

– The curriculum is subject to evaluation, and we, as organisers, make every effort to ensure that the scientists participating in the RMA get as much out of it as possible. Hence, for example, the idea of individual consultations with the trainers. An additional value of the programme is the opportunity to meet new people. The first two editions of the course have resulted in, among other things, joint publications and jointly submitted grant applications. Participants work in a small group, so they have time to get to know each other, and the tools and methods developed during the course encourage further action. I think this is the best recommendation for us – concludes the coordinator.

HOW TO APPLY?

Send your CV and a cover letter (or a briefing note presenting your academic profile) to: k.wilczek@pan.olsztyn.pl. Recruitment is open until 23 January 2025. Participation in the training is free, places are limited and the first classes start in February.

Learn more about the Rising Managers Academy course here.

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The Rising Managers Academy is part of the EU H2020 (952601) ERA Chairs WELCOME2 project ‘Creating the Centre of Excellence in Nutrigenomics to optimise health and well-being’, implemented at the InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

The team researching the reproductive biology of perch fish, including Dr Daniel Żarski, Dr Katarzyna Palińska-Żarska, Prof Andrzej Ciereszko, Dr Sylwia Judycka and Dr Joanna Nynca, received the award from the Marshal of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship, Marcin Kuchciński, during the last session of this year’s Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship Assembly.

The prestigious award honoured the innovative research on improving the reproduction of perch fish (perch and pike-perch). As emphasised during the awarding ceremony, this is an important economic, cultural, natural and culinary value for Warmia and Mazury.

The research, conducted by scientists from the Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology of the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn and the S. Sakowicz Institute of Inland Fisheries – State Research Institute, is a response to the growing need to protect natural, local fish populations – an element of Warmia and Mazury’s heritage.

Research results are key to increasing the innovation and competitiveness of the region’s smart specialisation of ‘water economics’. Stimulating sustainable and profitable production of perch species on local fish farms, translating into increased quality and safety of the raw material reaching consumers is yet another – directly related to the economy – application of the researchers’ research.

The team has been researching the broad reproductive biology of perch fish for more than 10 years, combining comprehensive zootechnical analyses with advanced molecular research tools (transcriptomics and proteomics). The researchers share knowledge and good practices at national and international level, by attending key industry events, publishing, and organising practical workshops aimed at breeders and entrepreneurs. Notably, the team is also committed to engaging in popular science activities to bring the latest scientific developments to a wide range of consumers.

Congratulations!

Facts and myths about fish as food – science-based insights

With an eye on their health, Polish consumers should consume more fish meat, as it contains many valuable nutrients that play a key role in the proper functioning of the human body, emphasise scientists from the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn.

In order to structure our knowledge of fish as a food, we invite you to take a look at popular facts and myths and science-based justifications. Our guides on this topic are Dr Radosław Kowalski and Dr Marianna Raczyk.

FACT #1

Fish plays a key role in a healthy diet, providing not only high-quality protein but also many other valuable nutrients that are beneficial to the proper functioning of the human body.

Fish are a source of:

high-quality, complete protein (an extremely valuable dietary element, especially for those concerned with building and regenerating muscle and the proper functioning of the nervous system),
beneficial fatty acid composition (especially fatty marine species such as salmon, mackerel and sardines are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as omega-3 fatty acids, which play a key role in reducing inflammation, support heart and brain health and may contribute to lowering triglyceride and cholesterol (LDL) levels in the blood,
vitamins and minerals that support the functioning of the body on many levels (including vitamins A and D, B vitamins and minerals such as selenium, phosphorus, iodine and calcium).

FACT #2

Introducing fish 2-3 times a week into the diet would be an important part of a balanced diet and an element of preventive health care.

Due to its high content of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium and iodine, fish should be a particularly important part of the diet of people with thyroid diseases such as Hashimoto’s. Iodine is essential for the production of thyroid hormones, and omega-3 fatty acids can help alleviate the inflammation that is a common symptom of this disease.

In addition, consumption of oily fish has been linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, making fish an important part of preventive health care.

FACT #3

Despite its numerous health benefits, fish consumption in Poland remains low.

According to the Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics, for several years the consumption of fish and seafood has been 12-14 kg per capita per year, which corresponds to an average of one portion of fish per week. However, this is well below the recommended amount of 2-3 portions of fish per week.

MYTH #1

Fish are toxic, full of antibiotics and have harmful contaminants in them, so they should not be eaten.

First of all, it must be made clear that there are no fish that are unhealthy for humans (except for those that are poisonous). There are, however, fish that are more or less beneficial to health. Equally, there are fish that are more or less contaminated.

However, it is worth understanding that it is not the fish themselves that are so by nature – it is the environment in which they live that determines their characteristics. And this environment is largely shaped by human activity. Therefore, one should not generalise that a particular fish species is, for example, a dioxin carrier; rather, one should talk about fish from specific habitats.

Scientific data indicate that even fish that contain some mercury or dioxins, at the quantities consumed on average in Poland, can still be a valuable and safe part of the diet.

Such an example is panga from the Mekong Valley in China, around the quality of which there have been concerns in the past. Indeed, reports years ago indicated the presence of substances such as antibiotics, chemicals and even heavy metals in panga meat. However, pressure from foreign importers has had an effect and farming standards have improved significantly. Today, according to recent studies, it is possible to eat as much as more than 20 kg of meat from this fish in a week without being adversely affected by any of the contaminants found in the fish.

MYTH #2

Genetically modified fish poses a threat to our health.

Genetically modified (GMO) Atlantic salmon has now been released for sale in the USA and Canada, although it cannot be sold or bought in Europe.

However, it is worth understanding what genetic modification is in the case of fish. Most often, it involves ‘just’ the transfer of DNA encoding a desired protein (such as a growth hormone) from one species to another. In fisheries, triploidisation is also used – to sterilise fish and improve their growth rates. These procedures are identical to those used, for example, in banana production (all bananas available in shops are triploid). These changes, however, do not cause mutations that can have any impact on the health of the people who eat the fish.

Despite this, there is a public aversion to genetically modified products. Therefore, science is also developing an alternative to the creation of GMO species, which is interspecies crossbreeding, resulting in varieties with new traits that are intermediate between the initial species.

An example of Polish research in this direction is the Wielkopolski trout, a cross between a male brook trout and a female rainbow trout. It is valuable to breeders because it is resistant to the VHS virus decimating rainbow trout breeders, and it is also sterile (triploid), which means that if it escapes from breeding, it will not pose a long-term threat to the biodiversity of open waters (because it will not reproduce).

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The text is based on the article ‘Fish as food – facts and myths’ by: Radosław Kajetan Kowalski, Marianna Raczyk, Anna Grygier and Katarzyna Polanowska, which appeared in issue 4 (2024) of the journal “Przegląd Rybacki”.

Prof. Monika M. Kaczmarek new director of our Institute

Prof. Monika M. Kaczmarek has been appointed the new director of the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn. She will begin her four-year term in January 2025. The scientist – a native of Olsztyn – has been associated with the Institute for many years.

Until now, Prof. Monika M. Kaczmarek has headed the Laboratory of Molecular Biology. Her versatile research interests – often at the borderline of different disciplines – mainly focus on uncovering molecular mechanisms of offspring-mother interactions during pregnancy and in the postnatal period. She also leads projects in oncology, cell biology and entomology.

Prof. Kaczmarek, an Olsztyn resident since birth, is a graduate of the IV High School in Olsztyn named after Maria Skłodowska-Curie and the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, where she graduated in 2001 with a degree in biotechnology engineering.

She obtained further degrees and titles in 2004 (PhD under the supervision of Prof. Adam J. Zięcik), 2010 (habilitation) and 2018 (Professor). In addition, from 2013 to 2017 she worked as a professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, combining this with her activities at the Institute. She also gained experience during numerous scientific internships, including in Germany and the USA.

Professor Monika M. Kaczmarek is the winner of many prestigious awards and scholarships, including the Foundation for Polish Science, the Polish-American Fulbright Commission, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and Hertie. She was also honoured by the residents of Olsztyn, whose votes placed her in the Top 10 Women of Success in Warmia and Mazury.

She combines her scientific activity along with expertise work and mentoring of young researchers. From 2017 to 2022, she served on the Council of the Polish-American Fulbright Commission, and from 2020 to 2024 she was a member of the Council of the National Science Centre (NCN). She is also co-author of the NCN report on how women and men function in science, published in 2022.

Prof. Kaczmarek’s scientific output includes dozens of publications in renowned scientific journals (e.g. FASEB Journal, Cell Communication and Signaling Molecular and Cellular Proteomics). She has given many lectures in Poland and abroad, including the USA, Germany, Israel and Taiwan. She also has extensive experience in presenting research results outside academia (e.g. TEDx, EIT Food & Futurelearn MOOC, University of Children, European Researchers’ Night).

Director Piskuła: ’InLife’ and the relocation are a new opening for the Institute

Moving to new headquarters, structural changes and rebranding with the effect of the ‘InLife’ logo are an opportunity for the Institute to open up anew and look boldly to the future, according to the Director of the Institute, Prof. Mariusz K. Piskuła, who is completing his term of office after 13 years.

The Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences has a new logo – ‘InLife’. What is behind this term?

Literally translating: ‘In’ – from institute, innovation, interdisciplinarity and internationalisation. ‘Life’, on the other hand, refers to the broad spectrum of our activities, which revolve precisely around life – after all, we deal with food, animal and human reproduction, and health.

The new logo is intended to help us show our activities in a universal way, because although we formally deal with two disciplines: food and nutrition technology and zootechnics and fisheries, our research is very often at the interface of many disciplines. For example, exploring the causes of human infertility is not de facto zootechnics, while studying food in the context of metabolic disorders is already entering medicine.

An important argument for creating a logo was also the issue of facilitating communication with other research centres and the socio-economic environment – both in Poland and abroad.

The full name of our Institute – which of course still applies – is long and complicated. Few people can repeat it correctly the first time. This is why we regularly encounter more or less distortions. For example, it has happened – and in documents! – to present us as the Institute for Animal Reproduction or the Institute for Food Reproduction Research. The abbreviation ‘InLife’ will help avoid such situations.

Does the creation of the new acronym involve any changes to the scope of the Institute’s activities?

Along with creating a whole new visual identity, we also carried out a rebranding process for our Institute. We rethought who we are, what our goals are, which direction we want to head in, how we want to be perceived and so on. ‘InLife’ thus corresponds to the profound changes within our Institute.

At this point, I would like to briefly outline our 36-year history, as it is crucial to understanding this story and directly explains the flow of my thinking.

To illustrate, I am finishing my term of office as a representative of the second generation of the Institute’s management. For the first generation, narrow specialisation was important – which is why for a long time there was a formal division of the unit into two departments: animal reproduction and food research. This resulted, among other things, in the budget for the purchase of research equipment being divided equally, 50-50, regardless of whether anyone needed more. The aftermath of this thinking has been apparent to date – each department was based in a different location in Olsztyn, and on top of that we have two medical-oriented facilities in Białystok. Eventually, after many years, we merged everything.

Shortly after I took over as director 13 years ago, we started preparations for the new headquarters. At that time, we had already reached a consensus that we should merge, and the new, shared headquarters would be an opportunity to do so. With this, we started to look at the Institute as a whole – not as two separate departments. I have gone even further, we are moving away from this division, we are abolishing the branches. The formalities in this direction are already underway.

So the move to the new premises is supposed to be a kind of opening up of the Institute for the new?

There will be a new mission for the Institute associated with the move, but I leave that to Professor Monika Kaczmarek, who will take over the leadership of the Institute from me at the beginning of January 2025. She is a representative of the ‘third generation’ of staff.

Looking further inside the Institute, you have also made structural changes. What kind of changes?

One of the biggest changes is the elimination of research departments in favour of smaller but still flexible teams – as is happening in the world. I have given a chance to those scientists who are ready to do independent research, have an idea for funding and have gathered the right human capital around them – so that they do not have a glass ceiling above them. Now they can start their own team, focusing on their chosen topic.

We currently have 18 research teams identified. There is still interest, so perhaps more will emerge. In my opinion, this is also a way for such healthy competition between researchers and a way to learn how to build consortia around a common goal with other teams/units.

We have also created specialised laboratories, or so-called core facilities, which focus on our most expensive and advanced technologies. Access to these will be open to all researchers – under the guidance of competent staff operating these laboratories, of course.

Does the proximity of the Institute’s new headquarters to the Olsztyn Science and Technology Park mean that it is more open to cooperation with business?

Definitely. This is due to two reasons.

Firstly, one of the conditions for obtaining funding for the construction of the new premises from EU funds under the Regional Operational Programme for the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship 2014-2020 was that we should be open to cooperation with the wider business community and make some of the rooms available to them; this will generate additional income for us, which is an important argument.

I would like it to be clearly stated that current funding for PAS institutes from the state budget is scandalously low in comparison with how universities are treated. Therefore, in order to be able to conduct world-class research, we need to find additional funding, for example from the aforementioned cooperation with business, from national projects and from funds straight from Brussels. We have to look at our institutes as business units.

Coming to the end of your role as Director of the Institute, are you satisfied with the state you are leaving the Institute in?

Yes, I am completing my term of office with satisfaction – especially the fact that I have led the construction of a new shared headquarters and carried out an internal restructuring with the rebranding of the Institute.

And what, in your opinion, is the biggest challenge facing the Institute’s new director?

Budget, budget, budget. The subsidies received have practically come to a standstill, and expenditure continues to rise due to, among other things, the rising cost of living and statutory increases for academic staff, although we have not received additional funds, apart from incidental cash injections, for this. Well, and at least the continued success in obtaining EU funding from Brussels. I would add that our successes in this area resulted in our nomination to the Crystal Brussels Prize, as 1 of 5 out of a total of 69 institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and we certainly beat all those doing science in the region.

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The Awards of the Divisions of the Polish Academy of Sciences are awarded annually to Polish researchers and foreign scientists employed and conducting research in Poland for outstanding and innovative scientific work. Applications are submitted by, among others, members of the Polish Academy of Sciences and members of the scientific and problem committees at the respective division. Among this year’s laureates is a team from the Institute consisting of Dr. Maria M. Guzewska, Dr. Joanna Szuszkiewicz, Dr. Kamil Myszczyński, and Prof. dr. hab. Monika M. Kaczmarek.

The Division II of Biological and Agricultural Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences awarded the Institute’s team for their work titled „Defining the role of microRNA and extracellular vesicles in the early stages of pregnancy”.

*photo Aneta Karwowska, Communication Department*

The research conducted by the team of Prof. Monika Kaczmarek has shown that cellular vesicles and the microRNA transported within them participate in the regulation of processes occurring during early pregnancy. – „Extracellular vesicles are nanostructures covered with a double cell membrane, secreted by all types of cells. Recently, they have gained recognition as a significant element of intercellular communication. Moreover, over the past decade, their role has become particularly important in the field of mammalian reproductive biology, attracting the attention of many research teams and scientists worldwide”, explains Prof. Monika Kaczmarek.

We wrote about the team’s research and the mechanisms affecting pregnancy success HERE.

Congratulations!

We are „InLife”

„InLife” – is the new logo of the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences. It refers to the research conducted at the Institute, which focuses on life – food, animal and human reproduction, and health. It is also intended to facilitate communication both in Poland and abroad.

– This one word defines our entire activity. „In” – from the institute, innovation, interdisciplinarity and internationalization. In turn, „Life” refers to the wide spectrum of our activities, which focus precisely on life – after all, we deal with nutrition, reproduction, and broadly understood health – explains the director of the Institute, Prof. Mariusz K. Piskuła.

The reason for the creation of the „InLife” logo is the commencement of the Institute’s activity in its new headquarters – at 18 Trylińskiego St. in Olsztyn, in the neighbourhood of the Olsztyn Science and Technology Park.

– The new facility integrates all units of the Institute (the Food Sciences Division and the Reproductive Biology Division in Olsztyn and two departments in Białystok), and the “InLife” logo is to emphasize this interdisciplinary, new chapter in the Institute’s history – adds the director.

The new brand is also to facilitate communication with other research centers and the socio-economic environment – both in Poland and abroad.

– The full name of our Institute, which of course is still in force, is long, complicated and difficult to remember. Hence, we regularly encounter its – greater or lesser – distortion, which is not conducive to building the visibility of our activities. The “InLife” brand will allow us to avoid such situations – says Iwona Kieda, who heads the Communication and International Affairs Office at the Institute.

The entire visual identification refers to the new logo. The logo is based on the shape of a hexagon symbolizing a cell – the basic unit of life. It is a metaphor for natural perfection, precision, cooperation and modularity – the foundations on which research on reproduction, nutrition and health is based on.

THE „HOUSEWARMING PARTY”

The presentation of the new logo and new visual identification of the „InLife” Institute was combined with a „housewarming party”, i.e. the inauguration of operations in the new headquarters. The spaces of the new Institute are filling up with equipment and furniture. Most of the scientific and administrative staff have already moved to the new location, and the laboratories are being launched.

The ceremony, which took place on 17 December, was attended by invited guests – representatives of the governmental, academic and business stakeholders from the region and beyond. They included the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Prof. Marek Konarzewski; Voivode of Warmia and Mazury, Radosław Król; Vice-President of Olsztyn, Justyna Sarna-Pezowicz; Member of Parliament, Dorota Olko; Senator of the Republic of Poland, Gustaw Marek Brzezin; Rector of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Dr. Jerzy A. Przyborowski, Prof. UWM; Rector of the European Academy of Applied Medical and Social Sciences, Dr. Agnieszka Górska, Prof. EAMiSNS; Director of the Institute of Rural Development and Agriculture of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Dr. Habil. Monika Stanny, Prof. IRWiR PAN.

President of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Prof. Marek Konarzewski, congratulated us on the new headquarters and the new logo. He admitted that the official name of the Institute is complicated, and the new logo will gradually improve the communication. – From today on, I will refer to the new brand, to this new, very accurate name – said the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

– This new opening is incredibly important both for you and for the entire Polish Academy of Sciences – we are developing as an institution and this Institute is the best example of this – added Prof. Marek Konarzewski.

Participants of the „house-warming” party also had the opportunity to tour the building, including the new laboratories.

ABOUT THE NEW HEADQUARTERS

The new headquarters of the Institute has six floors (five administrative and laboratory floors and one technical floor), and its volume is over 25 thousand m3. Inside there are specialist laboratories, so called „core facilities”, rooms for conducting biomedical research and necessary facilities typical of the Institute’s profile of activity. An animal laboratory was also created, meeting the strictest EU requirements for such units.

The facility was created as part of the project „Environmental Research Center and Innovative Food Technologies for the Quality of Life”, co-financed by the Regional Operational Program of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship for the years 2014-2020. The investment cost is over PLN 109 million, of which the subsidy amounts to over PLN 79 million, and PLN 30 million is the Institute’s own contribution.

You can read more about the construction HERE and HERE.

LOGO HISTORY

Work on the new logo and visual identification system lasted several months. For this purpose, the Institute announced a competition, in which 7 creative agencies from Olsztyn, Warsaw and Krakow took part 2Kropek Studio, Pigalopus, Kot Bury, Brandy Design, Renton, Gravite Design and Bury Design. A total of 10 logo proposals were submitted to the competition.

The jury evaluated the submitted works based on the criteria of aesthetics, innovativeness and respect towards the vision behind the „InLife” brand. Points were also awarded in relation to the cost of the proposed project. The weight of the criteria was 70/30. The jury members were employees of the Institute and Dr. Arkadiusz Karapuda, Professor of the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, invited to the jury as an external expert.

The winner of the competition was „Gravite Design” from Olsztyn. In accordance with the regulations, a contract was signed with the winner of the competition to create Institute’s logo and the Visual Identity Book. The winning logo is hexagonal, elegant and simple in its form. In the basic full-color version, the hexagon is lime green and the name is navy blue.

The new visual concept will be gradually implemented in all communication channels.

Institute researchers with NCN grants to study fertility disorders and the immune system

The role of dendritic cells (a special type of immune cell) in regulating the inflammatory microenvironment, investigating inter-individual differences in vitamin D-triggered immune responses, the effect of ulipristal acetate (a drug used, among other things, in emergency contraception) on liver mechanisms, analysis of the foraging ability of perch larvae and finding new ways of assessing the quality of European perch spermatozoa – these are the five topics that the Institute’s researchers will investigate as part of OPUS 27 and PRELUDIUM 23 grants from the National Science Centre (NCN).

SET THE BAR HIGH

OPUS 27 is a competition aimed at researchers at all stages of their scientific career. This year, 2255 applications were submitted, of which 357 received funding for a total of PLN 603.6 million. The success rate was 15.8 per cent.

Funding was awarded to a project entitled: “The molecular dialog between dendritic cells and endometrial microenvironment during equine endometrosis”.

The project leader is Dr Agnieszka Sadowska from the Team of Team of Reproductive Pathology and Translational Medicine.

– The information gained from the project is extremely important because of its potential to prevent and treat endometrosis in mares, as well as to improve equine breeding rates by reducing financial losses due to embryo loss. In the future, the results of the project may also point to a new direction in the search for treatment of fibrotic diseases in humans – concludes Dr Agnieszka Sadowska, awardee of the OPUS 27 competition.

Budget: PLN 3 569 232

Funding from the OPUS 27 competition has also been awarded to the project entitled: “Impact of vitamin D on the epigenetic programming of CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells derived from human cord blood”.

The project leader is Prof. Carsten Carlberg from the Nutrigenomics Team.

– Our immune system protects us against various types of microbes that may cause infectious diseases. However, in order to fulfill this function perfectly, the cells forming the immune system need to be trained as good as possible. This training takes place during hematopoiesis, which is a differentiation process happing inside our large bones. In this project, we aim to understand how hematopoiesis is influenced by vitamin D and its receptor VDR – concludes Prof. Carlberg.

Budget: PLN 3 351 340

ON THE RIGHT TRACK

A further three projects received funding through a competition aimed at researchers at a very early stage of their career. For PRELUDIUM 23, 2104 proposals were submitted, of which 362 received funding. The success rate in this case was 17.2%.

Funding was awarded to a project entitled: “Molecular mechanisms underlying the liver injury induced by ulipristal acetate treatment”.

The project leader is Aleksandra Natalia Łupińska, M.Sc., from the Biology and Pathology of Human Reproduction Team.

– In clinical trials, patients treated with ulipristal acetate (UA) were observed to have reduced uterine myoma volume, less heavy bleeding and significant improvements in well-being. These studies showed no significant side effects, but some patients treated with UA were diagnosed with severe liver damage. The causes regarding drug-induced liver damage remain unclear – explains Aleksandra Łupińska, M.Sc.

Budget: PLN 210 000

Another project implemented at our Institute within the PRELUDIUM 23 competition is entitled “To eat or not to eat? Zootechnical and transcriptomic exploration of foraging performance in Eurasian perch larvae”.

The project leader is Rossella Debernardis from the Fish Development and Reproduction Team.

– During the first few days of their independent life, the larvae do not need to take food from the external environment; the necessary nutrients are provided by an internal storehouse – the yolk sac. As they grow, these stored nutrients become depleted, forcing the larvae to actively begin searching for food (called foraging – ed.). Unfortunately, a high percentage of the larvae, never begin to take up food, which eventually leads to them dying of starvation – explains Rosella Debernardis.

Budget: PLN 140 000

The third PRELUDIUM 23 awarded project is entitled “Small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs): Novel biomarkers for assessing sperm fertilizing ability in Eurasian perch”.

The project leader is Abhipsa Panda from the Fish Development and Reproduction Team.

– Currently, numerous morphological, biochemical and physiological parameters are taken into account when assessing semen quality, including motility, viability, sperm concentration and the integrity of their DNA. In our study, we have shown that none of these parameters correlate directly with fertilisation success in European perch (Perca fluviatilis), hence the need to identify new indicators of sperm fertilisation capacity in this species – concludes Abhipsa Panda.

Budget: PLN 70 000

Congratulations to all the laureates!

NFAT genes in subcutaneous adipose tissue vs insulin resistance

14 November is World Diabetes Day. Diabetes is an increasing health and social problem and is associated with insulin resistance, i.e. reduced sensitivity of tissues to the effects of insulin. Researchers at the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn are investigating the pathogenesis of this condition. In their recent research, they looked at NFAT genes in subcutaneous adipose tissue that may regulate insulin sensitivity.

– Subcutaneous adipose tissue, as the main ‘storehouse’ of lipids, can protect other tissues from the harmful effects of excess lipids (i.e. from lipotoxicity) and thus protect against the development of insulin resistance. Necessary for this action is adipogenesis, i.e. the process of forming new fat cells (adipocytes). Proteins of the NFAT family are involved in this process and may therefore be important in the regulation of insulin sensitivity – explains Professor Marek Strączkowski, head of the Prophylaxis of Metabolic Diseases Team at the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn (IAR&FR PAS).

The specific aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) family genes in subcutaneous adipose tissue in normal-weight and overweight or obese subjects, and to assess the effect of weight reduction under a low-calorie diet on NFAT gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue in overweight or obese subjects.

In other words, it is about investigating what the expression of these genes is in normal-weight people and those who are overweight or obese, and also whether and what role weight reduction plays in this.

The results of the study have just been published in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases. The authors of the publication are: Magdalena Danowska (PhD student, IAR&FR PAS), Dr Magdalena Stefanowicz (Medical University of Białystok) and Prof. Marek Strączkowski (IAR&FR PAS).

The main result is the demonstration that NFAT gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue is associated with insulin sensitivity and adipogenic gene expression.

– This suggests that NFAT genes may play a role in maintaining normal subcutaneous adipose tissue function. By maintaining the capacity for adipogenesis (i.e. the formation of new adipocytes), they protect against the development of lipotoxicity (i.e. against the detrimental effects of free fatty acids on other organs and tissues, e.g. liver, skeletal muscle, heart). This way, they may contribute to an improvement in insulin sensitivity, also under the influence of weight reduction – explains Professor Marek Strączkowski, who is involved in research into the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in people at risk of type 2 diabetes.

The researchers also showed that reduced NFAT gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue in overweight and obese individuals is partially reversible under weight reduction.

– The results suggest new mechanisms for improving insulin sensitivity and thus reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, occurring under the influence of weight reduction. They also point to potential new handle points for drugs that could play a role in the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with insulin resistance, concludes Prof Marek Strączkowski.

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Insulin resistance is a reduced sensitivity of tissues to insulin, a hormone that increases the transport of glucose into cells, which in turn lowers blood glucose levels.

Insulin resistance is not a disease, but it is a condition that can lead to the development of many diseases: first and foremost type 2 diabetes, but also cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers or neurodegenerative diseases.

According to recent estimates by the National Health Fund, around 3 million people in Poland suffer from diabetes, and it is expected that by 2030, one in ten Poles will be affected by the disease.

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Read about our research around the topic of insulin resistance:

Biological clock genes, insulin and obesity – what do they have in common?

Structures around skeletal muscle linked to insulin resistance

Anti-Müllerian Hormone and its Role in Endocrinology and Oncology

Drewhow, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is widely recognized as a key marker of ovarian reserve, used to assess a woman’s fertility, especially before undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, AMH is also gaining attention in oncology due to its potential role in diagnosing and treating various cancers.

A recent review article, published in Frontiers in Endocrinology by an international team of researchers, focusses into the biology of AMH and its multifaceted roles in both endocrinology and oncology. The senior author, Prof. Carsten Carlberg, who leads the Nutrigenomics Team at the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, contributed to this comprehensive analysis. However, major contributions came from the first author, Dr. Marek Gowkielewicz, a gynecologist from the School of Medicine of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn.

The review organizes current knowledge about AMH, examining its roles across different life stages: from fetal development, childhood, and adolescence, to its involvement in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovarian function, and menopause. The researchers also explore AMH’s relevance in reproductive technologies, such as ovarian tissue cryopreservation, and its implications for the cell cycle and cancer biology.

According to Prof. Carlberg, “AMH has complex effects on the development and function of various human tissues.”

Currently, AMH is most commonly used to measure ovarian reserve, which indicates a woman’s reproductive potential by assessing the ovaries’ ability to provide viable eggs. This is particularly relevant in fertility treatments like IVF, where AMH levels are checked to optimize the chances of success.

However, AMH’s ability to inhibit the cell cycle and induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) has sparked growing interest in its oncological applications.

„One promising area of research focuses on antibodies targeting the AMH receptor, AMHR2, which plays a key role in signaling and modulating the expression of hundreds of genes,” explains Prof. Carlberg. „In animal models, antibodies conjugated with radioactive isotopes that target AMHR2 have shown potential in destroying cancer cells.”

AMH may also have a protective effect on the ovarian reserve during chemotherapy, which is known to be toxic to ovarian tissue. „By stabilizing the pool of primary ovarian follicles, AMH could help enhance the resistance of ovarian tissue to cryopreservation, a procedure used to preserve fertility,” notes Prof. Carlberg.

In addition to its reproductive functions, AMH is present in motor neurons, where it acts as a protective growth factor, potentially influencing learning and memory processes. This has led to speculation that AMH might support treatments for neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

AMH has also been linked to ovarian and endometrial cancers, though much remains to be discovered.

„Despite significant progress, further research is needed to fully understand the potential of AMH,” concludes Prof. Carlberg. „While today’s knowledge primarily benefits fertility specialists, AMH holds promise for future applications in oncology.”

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Prof. Carsten Carlberg is the ERA Chair of the WELCOME2 project, „Creating the Centre of Excellence in Nutrigenomics to Optimize Health and Well-Being,” at the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research PAS in Olsztyn.