What's new at Łukasiewicz – PORT?
- Reading time: 5 min.
Radiation in the deep ultraviolet (UV-C) range has a unique ability to inactivate bacteria and viruses, making it essential for disinfection and sterilization—from water purification and medical-equipment sterilization to air-sanitization systems in buildings. Demand for fast and safe methods of eliminating biological threats is steadily increasing, and the deep-UV emitter market is expanding rapidly. Analysts estimate that the UV-lamp market will grow by USD 3.25 billion between 2023 and 2027.
- Reading time: 3 min.
The paradox of modern times is that we can extend life expectancy, yet the brain does not always keep pace with maintaining its functional capacity. Societies are ageing, and with advancing age the risk of neurodegenerative diseases increases. Projections are alarming: the number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to double by 2050. “This is a civilisation-level problem that is growing exponentially,” says Dr Agnieszka Krzyżosiak, Head of the Neurodegeneration Mechanisms Research Group at Łukasiewicz – PORT.
- Reading time: 5 min.
The human brain contains 86 billion neurons and an equal number of glial cells responsible for support, nourishment and protection. Each neuron can form connections with thousands of others, creating a network of trillions of synapses. These connections determine the brain’s capabilities—making it extraordinary, yet incredibly difficult to study.
- Reading time: 4 min.
Perovskites—found both in nature and produced synthetically—have the potential to transform technologies such as low-cost, high-efficiency solar cells and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Scientists worldwide are working to improve their durability and performance, while also exploring new fields of application.
- Reading time: 3 min.
This October, Łukasiewicz – PORT will welcome young brain researchers from around the world to Wrocław, Poland. The five-day ISN-PORT Neuroscience School will focus on the role of metabolism in neurodegenerative diseases, combining expert lectures, hands-on workshops, and personalized mentoring. Applications are open until September 17, 2025.
- Reading time: 3 min.
Professor Paul Schulz – a world-renowned neurologist from McGovern Medical School (University of Texas) – and Dr Ali Jawaid – a translational neuroscientist researching intergenerational trauma at Łukasiewicz – PORT – meet for an exceptional conversation about science, life, and the relationships that shape a scientific career. Their long-standing mentor–mentee relationship, now transformed into a partnership, reflects a shared dedication to understanding the brain and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Reading time: 3 min.
Dr Joanna Bernacka from the Neurophysiology of Oncology Research Group at Łukasiewicz – PORT has recently returned from a three-week stay at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown in Lisbon, where she participated in the highly regarded Cajal course “Interacting with Neural Circuits.”
- Reading time: 3 min.
Olga Pietrzyk from the Neuroplasticity and Metabolism Research Group, led by Dr. Witold Konopka, has been awarded the Fulbright Junior Research Award for 2025–2026. She will spend 10 months at Stanford University School of Medicine in the United States, carrying out a research project at one of the most prestigious scientific institutions in the world.
- Reading time: 3 min.
Dr. Łukasz Pietras, a member of the Cancer Neurophysiology Group at Łukasiewicz – PORT, has just defended his doctoral dissertation focused on the study of mitochondria – the structures responsible for energy production within cells. His research sheds new light on the role of the enzyme FBP2, which may be crucial not only for sugar metabolism but also for the proper functioning of mitochondria.
- Reading time: 3 min.
The MINIATURA competition, organized by the National Science Centre, is a program aimed at researchers at an early stage of their careers. It represents a first step toward scientific independence and applying for larger national or international grants. In the latest edition of the competition, the research of Dr. Daria Hajka from the Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration Group, led by Dr. Agnieszka Krzyżosiak, was recognized and funded. The awarded project is titled “Validation of a novel human research model for ALS in the context of energy metabolism.”
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