Outstanding scientists (Science), industry leaders (Biotech) and other innovation-related experts (Beyond) visit ICCVS to share their expertise, initiate new collaborations, promote discoveries, meet people one-on-one to discuss research projects and enjoy the beautiful coastal city of Gdansk.

STAY TUNED FOR NEXT EPISODES!

Season 2 Episode 8: Dr Maciej Cieśla, the head of the Laboratory for Stem Cell RNA Metabolism at the International Institute of Molecular Mechanisms and Machines (IMol) Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, where he leads his group. His interest is in  understanding splicing tunability during activation of stem cells. Maciej obtained his PhD from the Jagiellonian University (PL) to next join Lund Stem Cell Center (SE) in Cristian Bellodi’s lab. He established his independent group at IMol in 2022. Lecture title: “Splicing stemness: spliceosome-related networks in stem cells”, 8 April 2025 (10:00 am, ICCVS), host: dr Alicja Sznarkowska – invitation

Season 2 Episode 7: Prof. Małgorzata Szczerska, the Chair of the Scientific Board of Biomedical Engineering at Gdańsk University of Technology, Poland, where she received her Ph.D. and D.Sc. degrees in technical science, electronic engineering, in 2008 and 2016, respectively. She has supervised six Ph.D. theses and published more than 60 research and review articles. She has authored or coauthored nine patents. Her current research interests include the application of optical and electronic measurements in biomedicine. Lecture title “Optical and photonic techniques in advanced biomedical metrology”, 4 April 2025 (9:00 am, ICCVS), host: dr Artur Piróg – invitation

Season 2 Episode 6: Danuta Gutowska-Owsiak, the head of the Laboratory of Experimental and Translational Immunology at the University of Gdansk. Her scientific interests center around skin immunity as well as extracellular vesicles as mediators of cellular communication. Danuta graduated with an M.D. degree from the Medical University of Gdańsk. Next, she obtained her PhD at the University of Liverpool. After that, she joined the WIMM institute at the University of Oxford as a postdoctoral fellow. Danuta is a recipient of an impressive number prizes, scholarships and grants and she is part of a very extensive network of scientists. “Keratinocyte-drived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) contribute to allergic inflammation and pathogen evasion in atopic dermatitis.” 26 March 2025 (10:00 am, ICCVS), host: dr Wojciech Siwek – invitation

Season 2 Episode 5: Krzysztof Łepek, from Vaxican gave a lecture on the “Motive, Means and Opportunity – a triangle for start-up.” Krzysztof Łepek is the co-founder & chief operating officer (COO) of Vaxican, a company focused on novel immunotherapies and nucleic acid sequencing. Mr. Łepek obtained his MSc and PhD at the University of Gdansk. He is a specialist in epidemiology of human and animal viruses, molecular basis of pathogenicity and molecular diagnostics. 25 February 2025 (10:00 am, ICCVS), host: dr Wojciech Siwek – invitation

Season 2 Episode 4: Mayank Chaturvedi, delivered a talk entitled: “Advancing Cancer Monitoring Through Dextramer Reagents”. Mayank Chaturvedi is a Global Development Scientist Director in Clinical Trial Excellence and Delivery at AstraZeneca. He trained as a pharmacist in India. Next, he obtained his Ph.D. degree in Neurobiology from the Nencki Institute, Poland. After that, Mayank completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Oxford. He has over 10 years of academic research and 7 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, 17 January 2025 (10:00 am, ICCVS), host: dr Sacin Kote – invitation

Season 2 Episode 3: Jaime James, from Immudex delivered a talk entitled: “Advancing Cancer Monitoring Through Dextramer Reagents”. Jaime obtained her PhD from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, where she studied T cell receptor signaling in the context of oxidative regulation. She is a Technical Application Scientist at Immudex a Danish company specialized in creating reagents for monitoring the antigen-specific immune response, 15 November 2024 (10:00 am, ICCVS), host: dr Wojciech Siwek – invitation

Season 2 Episode 2: Klaudia Tajthi and Magda Jaworska, representatives of the Experyment Science Center in Gdynia. Klaudia is a physicist and science popularizer. She is involved in the organization of events in Experyment. Magda is a PR specialist; she is focused on promoting science and fostering public interest. Beyond that she is involved with the European Network of Youth Cancer Survivors.- “Science Popularization, why and how to do it.”, 18 October 2024 (10:00 am, ICCVS), host: dr Wojciech Siwek – invitation

Season 2 Episode 1: Magda Konarska, Professor at the International Institute of Molecular Mechanisms and Machines, where she leads the Laboratory for RNA Biology. She is a world-class specialist in RNA splicing. She obtained her PhD at the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (PL). She trained at MIT (USA) with Phillip Sharp (Nobel Prize laureate). Magda was a group leader at the Rockefeller University (USA) for many years before coming back to Poland.- “How to catalyze two different reactions with one enzyme: lessons from the spliceosome.”, 27 September 2024 (10:00 am, ICCVS), host: dr Wojciech Siwek – invitation

Season 1 Episode 9: Anna Olszewska, an Assistant Professor at the Medical Universityof Gdańsk. She specializes in mitochondrial patch-clampmeasurements and currently works on the influence ofvitamin D on the mitochondria of healthy skinkeratinocytes and squamous cell carcinoma with Prof.Michał Zmijewski. She obtained her Ph.D. at the NenckiInstitute of Experimental Biology (Polish Academy ofScience). She next gained her research experience at theUniversity of Magdeburg and the University of Bonn.- “Genomic and non-genomic action of vitamin D on mitochondria – focus on ion channels.”, 28 June 2024 (10:00 am, ICCVS), host: dr Wojciech Siwek – invitation

Season 1 Episode 8: Marcin Krzykawski is the founder and CEO of Real Research, a biotech company located in Cracow, PL. He is a specialist in advanced 3D culture of cells for biomedical research purposes. He obtained his MSc degree from the Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology at the Jagiellonian University (UJ) and his PhD from Collegium Medicum at UJ. He is a recipient of the Ventures and Intergrants from the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP). He completed business at the Cambridge Judge Business School as well as the Kaufmann Foundation.- “Application of advanced 3D cell cultures for testing drugs and modeling solid tumors.”, 27 May 2024 (10:00 am, ICCVS), host: dr Artur Piróg – invitation

Season 1 Episode 7: Stefano Persano, an Assistant Professor at the Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology of the University of Milan Statale and an Affiliated Researcher at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Milan, Italy. A specialist in mRNA vaccine development- “Design and Development of mRNA-based Therapeutics for Cancer Treatment”, 29 April 2024 (10:00 am, ICCVS), host dr Sachin Kote – invitation

Season 1 Episode 6: Prof. Krzysztof Liberek, the head of the Laboratory of Protein Biochemistry at the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, a pioneer in the field of molecular research on protein chaperones, member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and the recipient of the 2023 FNP Prize in the field of life sciences- “Chaperones in protein disaggregation and refolding”, 11 March 2024 (10:00 am, ICCVS), host: dr Artur Piróg – invitation

Season 1 Episode 5: Bartosz Tomasik, PhD, clinician and a scientist at the Medical University of Gdańsk, coordinator of research group, board member of the project STOPSTORM – “Translating radiation research into real-world solutions” , 8 February 2024 (10:00 am, ICCVS), host: dr Wojciech Siwek – invitation

Season 1 Episode 4: Natalia Sowa-Rogozińska, IMMUNOLAB Ltd., junior specialist in the Department of Research and Development and the head of the Department of Genetic Engineering- “Exploring the potential of chicken eggs: Innovative approaches to infections reduction.”, 22 January 2024, host: Iwona Skorowska – invitation

Season 1 Episode 3: prof. Grzegorz Węgrzyn, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk -“Novel Approach for Treatment of  Neurodegenerative Diseases, Based on Genistein-mediated Stimulation of Autophagy.”, 4 December 2023, host: dr Wojciech Siwek – invitation

Season 1 Episode 2: prof. Matthias Bochtler, International Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw,  -“Biochemistry of Cell Fate Maintenance and Change.”, 13 November 2023, host: dr Wojciech Siwek – invitation

Season 1 Episode 1: Beata Gromadzka, CEO NaNoExpo, SkyWay Biolab –  “Cooperate or not cooperate, that is the question.”, 9 October 2023 – host: dr Artur Piróg – invitation