Composition of the Council in the years 01.2020-12.2022 (NZ)

Prof. dr hab. Ewa Łojkowska – Chair of the Scientific Council for Life Science. A graduate of the Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University. Currently, she is Head of the Department of Plant Protection and Biotechnology, the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of the University of Gdańsk (UG) and the Medical University of Gdańsk (MUG) in Gdańsk. Between 2005-2012, she was Dean of the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of the University of Gdańsk and the Medical University of Gdańsk. She is the founder of PhD studies “Life Science and Mathematics Interdisciplinary Doctoral Studies (LiSMIDoS)” at the University of Gdańsk. She collaborates with Prof. Alessio Mengoni of Università degli Studi di Flirenze (Italy) and Prof. Nicole Hugouvieux-Cotte-Pattat of Institut National des Sciences Appliquées in Lyon (France). Between 20011-2012, she lectured at the Università degli Studi di Perugia (Italy). She conducts research within the European ERA-NET Euphresco “Assessment of Dickeya and Pectobacterium spp. on vegetables and ornamentals (soft rot) “. She is a specialist in molecular factors determining bacterial pathogenicity, biodiversity and epidemiology of bacterial plant pathogens, the molecular basis of plant resistance to bacteria and molecular taxonomy. The second area of her research covers issues concerning biologically active, plant secondary metabolites, the possibility of their use for the protection of human health, biotechnological methods of propagation of rare and endangered plant species (Polish orchids, insectivorous plants). She is the founder of a research school that focuses on the study of biodiversity, taxonomy and molecular factors determining the pathogenicity of bacterial plant pathogens. She has promoted 20 doctoral candidates and 5 of her fellows have been awarded a degree of doctor habilitated. During the 2013-2016 and 2017-2021 terms of office, she was a member of the Central Commission for Academic Degrees and Titles and deputy chair the Section of Biological, Agricultural, Forestry and Veterinary Sciences of the Central Commission and since 2011 deputy chair of the Biotechnology Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Chair of the Jury of the “L’Oreal-UNESCO for Women in Science Award” and President of the Professor Wacław Szybalski Foundation.

Dr hab. Maciej Bieliński, prof. UMK – Vice-Chair of the Scientific Council. Associated with the Department of Clinical Neuropsychology of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University. He is a specialist in cardiac surgery and works at the Jan Biziel University Hospital No. 2 in Bydgoszcz. Professor Maciej Bieliński’s scientific interests focus on research in the field of neuropsychology and neurobiology of CNS dysfunctions in somatic and mental diseases. His current scientific research concerns the specificity of cognitive dysfunctions and neuropsychiatric disorders in metabolic, cardiological and angiological disorders in clinical and neurobiological terms. It is within this field that he researches the importance for the CNS of therapeutic procedures such as invasive cardiology, endovascular procedures and pharmacological treatment. He is mainly involved in the evaluation of clinical, biochemical and neuropsychiatric factors such as markers determining the risk of death and the need for intensive therapy in patients hospitalized in the internal medicine department. Another aim of his current research is to assess the neurobiological, including genetic, foundations of affective temperament and its role in the pathogenesis of somatic diseases, their course and clinical picture. He collaborates with Harvard Medical School.

Dr hab. Marek Foksiński, prof. UMK – Head of the Department of Clinical Biochemistry at the Faculty of Pharmacy. He explores the participation of oxidative and epigenetic DNA modifications in the pathogenesis of human diseases, the potential of antioxidants and their influence on the process of oncological treatment. He actively participated in the implementation of European Union grants (concerted action grants – ESCODD No QLK1-CT-1999-00568 and networks of excellence grants – FOOD-CT-2005-513943 ECNIS implemented under the FP6 and more than a dozen grants from the State Committee for Scientific Research, the Ministry of Science and Informatisation and the National Science Centre. He was also one of the recipients of the Polish-American grant (Skłodowska-Curie MZ/NIST-97-298). He was the principal investigator of two research projects from the State Committee for Scientific Research the results of which were published in international journals. He has also obtained funding for the research project entitled “Products of enzymatic oxidation of 5-methylcytosine as new predictive factors in response to systemic breast cancer treatment” from the National Science Centre (grant number 2015/17/B/NZ5/00640). He is also principal investigator of the project on the part of Collegium Medicum “Medicine and Human Health. The Kujawsko-Pomorskie Interdisciplinary Programme of Personalized Diagnosis and Health Care” within the Regional Operational Programme of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship for the years 2014-2020 (RPKP.01.01.00-04-0003/17). In addition to scientific and administrative activities, he also participates in the works of various bodies. He took an active part in the organization of the PhD Studies at the Faculty of Pharmacy and is a member of the Commission for PhD Studies. He is also a member of the University Disciplinary Committee for Academic Teachers. He is a member of expert and evaluation panels for research projects at the local level and National Science Centre panels for Life Sciences. He is a laureate of the Team Scientific Award, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences. He also received the Team Award of the Minister of Science and Higher Education in 2006 and the Team Awards of the Minister of Health and Social Welfare in 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2008. He is a beneficiary of many awards of the Rector of the Nicolaus Copernicus University.

Dr hab. n. med. Agnieszka Gorzkowska – affiliated with the Department of Neurology of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice. A neurologist, a specialist in clinical psychology. She is Head of the Neurorehabilitation Clinic of the Department of Neurology, the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice. She is Vice-Head of the Neurology Ward and Stroke Ward of the University Clinical Centre in Katowice. Additionally, she serves as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Psychological Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Katowice. She implements scientific projects concerning neurodegenerative diseases of the nervous system, in particular, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. She has been especially involved in the research on dopamine dysregulation syndrome in Parkinson’s disease, molecular conditions of neurological diseases, including dementia. She has presented her work at international and national congresses, mainly concerning neurodegenerative and extrapyramidal Parkinson’s disease. She is a co-founder of the field of study – neurobiology at the Medical University of Silesia. The scientific collaboration includes 1. TeleBrain – Artificially Intelligent EEG Analysis in the Cloud; Project Acronym: TeleBrain NCBiR, German-Polish cooperation POL182P2Z1-011 Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany and Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice 2. Centre for Research and Implementation of the Health Support Strategy; Project Acronym: RIDage Regional Initiative of Excellence, Ministry of Science and Higher Education 3. Development and evaluation of the effectiveness of innovative dietary supplements as a result of testing unique strains of probiotic bacteria and previously unused mixtures of compounds with anti-glycological effect – the National Centre for Research and Development, Operational Programme Intelligent Development 2014-2020; application number: POIR.01.01.01-00-0985/17. Development of innovative methods of neuropsychological therapy for adults. Contractor ̶ Expert Technicenter Sp. z o.o. Project co-financed by the EU from the European Regional Development Fund as part of the Regional Operational Programme of the Silesian Voivodeship for 2014-2020.

Prof. dr hab. Grzegorz Króliczak – affiliated with the Faculty of Psychology and Cognitive Science of Adam Mickiewicz University. He is Head of the Action and Cognition Laboratory where he explores the neuronal background of movement activities and manual gestures, language, handedness and their connections. He studied and completed internships at several universities including Adam Mickiewicz University, the University of Oxford in the UK (postgraduate visiting scholar), Western University of Canada (PhD in Neuroscience, 2005; postdoctoral fellow, 2005-2006), and the University of Orange in the USA (postdoctoral research associate, 2006-2010). In 2011 he was awarded a degree of doctor habilitated, and between 2012 and 2019 he held the position of associate professor. He is a beneficiary of the MAESTRO grant from the National Science Centre and a grant for the so-called large research infrastructure from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The author of numerous articles in renowned scientific journals, recently publishing mainly the results of brain research with the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). He is also interested in neuropsychology, especially in disorders of manual functions (limb apraxia) and language.

Prof. dr hab. Edyta Reszka – graduated in molecular biology from the University of Łódź. As a fellow of the Transfer of Knowledge in Molecular Biology and Epidemiology of Occupational and Environmental Cancer (EPI-Tok) Fellowship and the ECNIS Exchange Fellowship Network of Excellence, she worked at the Institute of Toxicology of the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany. She is Head of the Department of Molecular Genetics and Epigenetics at the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Łódź and she serves as President of the Łódź Branch of the Polish Society of Toxicology. She is also a member of the Association of European Toxicologists and European Societies of Texicologi (EUROTOX), Working Time Society (WTS), Cancer Epigenetics Society (CES) and the Polish Biochemical Society (PTBioch). Her research includes the study of epigenetic and genetic markers with consideration given to gene-gene, gene-environmental or gen-diet interactions to determine the risk of disease as well as the diagnosis, forecasting or treatment of civilization diseases. Her research interests also include the circadian rhythm and its influence on the functioning of the body, including the mechanisms of cancer development. Her current scientific achievements include over 60 publications. Dr Edyta Reszka was principal investigator and contractor in many scientific projects funded through national and international competitions including projects from the National Science Centre and PNRF/EOG funds. She is a reviewer of many publications in journals and research projects, including the Diamond Grant and COST. For many years she has cooperated, among others, with I Clinic of Urology, Medical University of Łódź, Department of Laboratory Medicine and the Biobank of the Medical University of Gdańsk, the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, Italy, the National Health Institute in Oslo, Department of Genetics in Psychiatry, Medical University of Poznań, and she is a member of the Scientific Council of the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine.

Prof. dr. hab. n. vet. Mariusz Skowronski – is head of the Department of Basic and Preclinical Sciences at the Institute of Veterinary Medicine of the Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences. He graduated with a degree in veterinary medicine from the Academy of Agriculture and Technology in Olsztyn. He worked as an assistant in the Department of Pharmacology at Tokushima University in Japan, where he received his PhD. From 2000-2018, he worked as an assistant professor and university professor in the Department of Animal Physiology at UWM Olsztyn. From 2004 to 2005, he worked as an assistant professor at The Water and Salt Research Center of Aarhus University in Denmark. He was a visiting professor at Aarhus University and Aalborg University in Denmark. He was the director and principal investigator of 13. domestic and foreign projects funded by NCN, PBZ-KBN and 6. grants from the Ministry of Science, Sports and Culture of Japan, among others. He is currently implementing an NCN project and is a contractor-expert for Probios Sp. z o. o. in a project co-financed by the EU from the European Regional Development Fund under the Regional Operational Program of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. He serves as vice-chairman of the Olsztyn Branch of the Polish Physiological Society, a member of the Society for Reproductive Biology and the Polish Society for Veterinary Sciences. From 2014 to 2019, he was a member of the National Ethical Committee for Animal Experiments at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. His research work includes human and animal physiology and pathophysiology. His main research interests include: the role of aquaporins (AQPs) in the human and animal reproductive system, the regulation of secretory function in the rat parotid gland with special emphasis on the role of AQP5 and its pathway in salivary gland cells, the determination of the role of AQP 7 and 9 using gene silenced mice, the role of marker genes in oocytes and granulosa cells. Research collaboration: Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark; Department of Health Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Denmark; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Dentistry, Tokushima University, Japan; Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyungpook University in Dageu, South Korea, Department of Anatomy, Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine II, Medical University of Poznan, Department of Human Physiology and Department of Public Health, Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine , CM, UWM in Olsztyn.