InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences runs basic and applied research in the disciplines of animal sciences and fisheries, food technology and nutrition.
EN
General information
Mission
Our mission at InLife is to advance knowledge and develop innovative solutions in food, health, and reproduction for the benefit of people, animals, and the environment. We combine interdisciplinary research with societal engagement to address global challenges, promote well-being, and support sustainable development.
Strategic objectives
- Institute’s research excellence in interdisciplinary studies on the factors influencing physiological and pathological processes in humans and animals.
- Consistency of Institute’s research priorities with the socioeconomic needs of the country and the region.
- Integration of Institute’s infrastructure.
Impementation of strategic objectives
- Continuation of efforts aimed at establishing long term partnership of the Institute with leading national and European research units with similar or complementary scientific and technological profiles in order to implement common research initiatives.
- Investment in Institute’s creative human capital and research infrastructure for strengthening its capacity to conduct research at a level that ensures maintaining of the leading position in the country.
- Offering compelling forms of employment which will counteract ”brain drain” and attract top-class scientists to the Institute.
- Improvement of internal organizational structure of the Institute leading to the integration of divisions, change in the number of departments and creation of commonly available core facilities.
- Stimulating scientific and administrative environments for the realization of investments ensuring integration of Institute’s quarters.
- Dissemination and popularization of the achievements of the Institute and the Polish Academy of Sciences.
Institute
Established in 1988, InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences holds the prestigious status of a Leading National Science Centre (pol. KNOW) „Healthy animal – safe food”, and the highest in Poland A+ category awarded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, being recognized as the best in the areas of agriculture, forestry and veterinary, and with a strong position in life sciences. Furthermore, Institute is a member of a prestigious pan-European EIT-Food Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) that aims to build sustainable end-to-end food supply chains realized through transformative innovation and education initiatives, with a central role for the consumer.
The Institute has the mission of carrying out interdisciplinary research investigating the mechanisms of environmental impact on the well-being of humans and animals. This objective is pursued through activities that include training young scientists, investing in modern technologies, disseminating research findings to society, and stimulating cooperation between science and business to foster socioeconomic development. The Institute’s staff of over 152 people, 35 PhD students supported by maintenance service and administration, carries out basic and applied research focused on:
- quality of life with particular emphasis on the influence of environment, including food, on etiology of infertility, prophylaxis of type 2 diabetes, allergies and obesity, as well skin regeneration and development of diagnostic biosensors;
- mutual interactions between food components and the human body; identification, assessment and implementation of strategies for improving nutritive and pro-health values of food, identifying harmful reaction in humans to food ingredients, including intolerances, allergies and pathogenicity;
- identification of reproduction disturbances in animals and humans, introducing new therapeutic techniques and biotechnical methods of infertility prophylaxis and treatment, and designing new tools for protecting biodiversity of animal production and selected species threatened by extinction.
These scientific activities are conducted in 13 research departments (Hormonal Action Mechanisms, Team of Reproductive Pathology and Translational Medicine, Physiology and Toxicology, Physiology and Toxicology, Gamete and Embryo Biology, Bioelectroanalytics, Biological Function of Food, Immunology and Food Microbiology, Chemistry and Biodynamics of Food, Chemical and Physical Properties of Food, Prophylaxis of Metabolic Diseases, Biology and Pathology of Human Reproduction, and Conservation Biology), which are further supported by highly specialized core facilities of: Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Sensory Analysis, In Vitro, Animal Facility and integrated laboratories of: Proteomics, Reproduction Biotechniques and Biotechnology, Bioelectroanalysis, Immunodiagnostics and Metabolomics, all equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure.
Furthermore, having recently incorporated into its structure the Research Station in Popielno, the Institute has considerably extended the scope of its research within the field of animal reproduction and food safety. Current activities of the Station focused on the protection of natural resources and implementation of Polish konik horses and local cattle breeding program, are complemented with the research on reproduction of wild animals and conservation biology, as well as the studies on traditional and ecological food as regard to its pro-health properties.
Each year, on average, the Institute publishes over 140 peer-reviewed publications listed in Journal Citation Reports. Institute’s research staff have been increasingly successful in leveraging national funds, currently carrying out around 50 scientific projects, funded by i.a. National Science Centre and National Centre for Research and Development, focused on the pursuit of pioneering research and bolstering innovation. The subsidies connected with the status of the Leading National Science Centre allow the Institute to strengthen its research potential, facilitate career development of scientists and training of PhD students.
Postgraduate training is an integral part of Institute’s mission, and aims to provide the students with cross-disciplinary knowledge and transferable skills to be used both in commercial and academic centres. Institute is entitled to confer the degree of PhD (doctorate) in agricultural sciences in the field of animal husbandry and food technology and nutrition. Young researchers are actively engaged in research performed in Institute, being given the opportunity to participate in international studies involving short-term scientific missions and trainings. What is more, they are equipped with tools enabling them to develop and manage their own research endeavours with the access to highly specialized scientific facilities.
In addition, Institute runs a wide scientific cooperation through partnerships established with world-renowned research centres, stimulation of joint projects, twinning agreements, organization of international conferences and participation in EU-wide actions. At present, it is coordinating or participating in several international programs (FP7, HORIZON 2020 – Joint Programming Initiative, Marie Skłodowska – Curie Actions, COST Actions), fostering its interactions with leading scientific partners and reinforcing integration with the European Research Area.
One of the strategic objectives of the Institute is to transfer its research results to boost industrial effectiveness, keeping its research priorities consistent with the socioeconomic needs of the country and the region. It provides rapid, confidential consultancy and custom-tailored food, health and reproductive biology research services to the sectors of medicine, veterinary, animal breeding, and food processing, offering high quality expertise, training and analysis along with direct access to the Institute’s science specialists through a network of science-business partnerships.The activities are facilitated by the Liaison Officer and institute’s Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) INOBIOTEK LLC.
The Institute publishes two scientific journals, both covered by Journal of Citation Reports: Polish Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences (since 1991) and Reproductive Biology (since 2001).
Małgorzata Wronkowska awarded the title of Professor [update]
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!
The Institute implemented the educational project „Scientist’s Compass”
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.
Postdoctoral Positions in Epigenetics and Vitamin D Research
Position 1: Impact of Vitamin D on Epigenetic Programming of CD34⁺ Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells
Funding: NCN OPUS 27
Principal Investigator: Prof. Carsten Carlberg
Key Responsibilities:
- Isolation of CD34⁺ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from cord blood donors for in vitro studies;
- Preparation of RNA and chromatin libraries for NGS (RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, ChIPmentation);
- Analysis and integration of high-throughput sequencing data.
Position 2: Epigenetic Memory in Immune Cell Responses to Vitamin D
Project: Research on epigenetic memory mechanisms based on the response of human immune cells to vitamin D
Funding: NCN OPUS 25
Principal Investigator: Prof. Carsten Carlberg
Key Responsibilities:
- Isolation of human immune cells from blood donors for immediate use and cell culture;
- Preparation of RNA and chromatin libraries for NGS (RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, ChIPmentation);
- Analysis and integration of high-throughput sequencing data.
Requirements (for both positions):
- PhD in Biosciences (Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology; Bioinformatics). At the time of signing the employment contract, the diploma should have been obtained in the year of employment in the project (2026) or within 7 years prior to the year of commencement of employment in the project (i.e. up to 7 years prior to 1 January 2026). In the case of applicants who have obtained more than one doctoral degree, the reference date shall be the date of award of the first doctoral degree. This period may be extended by the duration of documented long-term sick leave (exceeding 90 days) or rehabilitation benefits due to incapacity for work. Furthermore, the period may be extended by the number of months spent on childcare- and child-rearing-related leave granted in accordance with the Labour Code. In addition, for women applicants, the period may alternatively be extended by 18 months for each child born or adopted, where this method of accounting for career breaks is more favourable;
- Proven experience in molecular and/or cell biology techniques;
- Experience in high-throughput data analysis (omics);
- Demonstrated scientific achievements, including:
- Co-authorship of publications indexed in Journal Citation Reports (at least two as first author),Experience in at least one externally funded research project,
- Research internship(s) abroad;
- Experience in high-throughput data analysis (omics);
- Proficiency in methods such as:
- Cell culture,RNA and chromatin isolation,
- NGS library preparation,
- High precision in laboratory techniques (e.g., pipetting);
Additional Skills:
- Motivation to work in a multidisciplinary environment;
- Strong communication and teamwork skills;
- Proactive, organized, and self-driven work ethic;
- Excellent English skills (spoken and written);
- Strong scientific writing and presentation abilities.
Recruitment Process:
- Applications will be evaluated according to NCN regulations for research projects;
- Only online applications will be considered;
- Top candidates will be invited for an interview (onsite or online);
- During the interview, candidates will deliver a 10-minute presentation summarizing their PhD work and research interests.;
- Results will be published on the IAR&FR PAS website within 10 days of the final decision.
Required documents:
- Copy of PhD diploma;
- Academic CV, including:
- Education history,Research achievements (publications, conference presentations),Fellowships, awards, internships, training, and project participation,
- List of laboratory and computational techniques mastered;
- Motivation letter;
- Reference letter from PhD supervisor or current employer;
- Proof of research internship(s) abroad;
- Summary of the PhD thesis;
- Any other documents relevant for assessment.
Where to apply: c.carlberg@pan.olsztyn.pl
Additional Information:
Location: Olsztyn, Poland
Institution: InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences (InLife)
Start date: Open until filled
Application deadline: February 3, 2026, 23:59 (CET)
Duration: 36 months
Salary: ~PLN 9,700 gross/month
Number of positions: 1 per project
Application method: e-mail
GDPR
In the submitted documents, please include a clause of consent to the processing of personal data by us in the recruitment process:
„I consent to the processing of my personal data contained in the application documents by InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences with its registered office 10-683 Olsztyn, ul.Trylińskiego 18, in order to carry out the recruitment process and publish the full competition results on the Institute’s website.
Information clause:
- The administrator of personal data processed as part of the recruitment process is InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences with its registered office at 10-683 Olsztyn, ul. Trylińskiego 18, tel. 89 500 32 00, e-mail: institute@pan.olsztyn.pl .
- Contact with the personal data protection officer is possible at: iodo@pan.olsztyn.pl.
- The provided personal data will be processed for the purpose of implementing the current recruitment process and stored until its completion based on the consent given (in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR).
- The data subject has the right to withdraw consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.
- The data subject has the right to access his or her personal data, request its rectification or deletion. Submitting a request to delete data is tantamount to resigning from participation in the recruitment process. In addition, she has the right to request restriction of processing in the cases specified in Art. 18 GDPR.
- The data subject has the right to lodge a complaint with the President of the Personal Data Protection Office regarding unlawful processing of his or her personal data. This body will be competent to consider the complaint, however, the right to lodge a complaint only concerns the lawfulness of the processing of personal data and does not concern the recruitment process.
- The data provided will not be subject to profiling or made available to entities or third countries. The recipients of the data may be institutions authorized by law.
- Providing the data contained in the recruitment documents is not obligatory, but it is a necessary condition for participating in the recruitment process.
In the rhythm of the sun and the seasons. Event recap
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!
OL-PAN seminar – 12.12.2025
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!
The Institute with five new NCN grants
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.
What will the food of the future look like?
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.
