Innate Immunity Research Group
The Innate Immunity Research Group focuses on the role of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) within the tumor microenvironment. These cells are a crucial component of the immune system, providing protection against bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections.
Additionally, ILCs are involved in the formation of lymphoid tissue, which underscores their importance in maintaining immune system stability. Innate lymphoid cells are particularly abundant in the body’s barrier tissues, such as the skin, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract, where they play a key role in responding to pathogens and maintaining overall homeostasis.
Group members
Dr. Marek Wagner
Marek earned his PhD at the University of Bergen (Norway), where he conducted pioneering research on the tumor microenvironment, identifying the angiogenic potential of tumor-associated adipose tissue (Wagner et al., Angiogenesis 2012). Part of his doctoral work was carried out at Harvard Medical School & Children’s Hospital Boston, in the Vascular Biology Program founded by Prof. Judah Folkman — a pioneer in research on the role of blood vessels in tumorigenesis.
During his postdoctoral fellowship in Bergen, he demonstrated that the presence of functional lymphatic vessels plays a key role in the formation of an inflammatory tumor microenvironment (Lund and Wagner et al., JCI 2016). He also conducted research in the laboratory of Prof. Shigeo Koyasu at RIKEN (Japan), where he investigated the influence of the newly discovered group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) on melanoma growth and progression.
His work in this area contributed to the development of a new field in immunology (Wagner et al., Cell Reports 2020). Since January 2023, he has led the Innate Immunity Research Group at Łukasiewicz – PORT in Wrocław.
Dr. Martyna Stachowicz-Suhs
Martyna earned her PhD at the Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences. Her research focused on the role of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in breast cancer, in the context of how vitamin D influences the tumor microenvironment.
During her doctoral work, she characterized TAMs in the context of the metastatic phenotype and investigated the ability of monocytes and bone marrow progenitors to polarize into pro- or anti-tumor macrophages, depending on vitamin D levels and disease stage. She also completed a short-term internship at the State University of New York. In our team, as a postdoctoral researcher, she studies new activators of ILC2s in melanoma, continuing her research interests related to vitamin D.
Mateusz Marciniak
Mateusz completed his master’s degree in biotechnology at Wrocław University of Science and Technology. His specialization includes molecular biology, microbiology, and pharmacy. He also holds postgraduate qualifications in quality management. During his professional career, he has worked as a microbiologist in both manufacturing and service sectors.
He initially joined our team as a laboratory manager and is now pursuing doctoral studies at Wrocław Medical University, focusing on cancer immunology. As part of his research, he analyzes interactions between innate immune cells and stromal cells within the melanoma microenvironment.
Natalia Marczewska
Natalia holds a master’s degree in biotechnology with a specialization in molecular microbiology from the University of Wrocław. She gained professional experience working in diagnostic and research laboratories, including at Łukasiewicz – PORT, where she participated in key projects during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and was involved in tasks conducted in the BSL-3 laboratory. Her competencies include advanced molecular biology techniques such as PCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS).
In our team, Natalia serves as the laboratory manager, overseeing both the scientific and operational aspects of laboratory activities. Her responsibilities include budget control, order management, documentation handling, and ensuring the efficient organization of laboratory work.
Katarzyna Kurecka
Kasia completed her medical biotechnology studies at the University of Wrocław. During her studies, she conducted research on the mechanisms of heme uptake by bacteria of the Bacteroidota phylum. She carried out her master’s thesis at the Faculty of Biotechnology of the University of Wrocław and at the Institute of Molecular Biology in Barcelona. She completed internships in diagnostic laboratories and pharmaceutical companies both in Poland and abroad. In our team, she works as a technician, supporting researchers in conducting experiments.