What's new at Łukasiewicz – PORT?

Breast cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed malignant tumor among women worldwide and in Poland. According to estimates from the World Health Organization and the National Cancer Registry, more than 25,000 new cases are diagnosed annually in Poland, and the lifetime risk of developing the disease is approximately 12.5%.

Researchers from the Wrocław-based research institute have uncovered biological links between women’s adverse childhood experiences and the composition of their breast milk after childbirth.

Beginning in October, Prof. Andrzej Białowiec joins the scientific community of Łukasiewicz – PORT, where he will lead and develop the Biomaterials Engineering and Environmental Technologies Research Group. This strategic decision enables the institute to expand into new, priority research areas within the Łukasiewicz Research Network.

Psychiatric diagnostics still relies primarily on conversations with a physician—but this may soon change. As part of the SAME-NeuroID project, researchers have developed unified research protocols (SOPs) that enable modeling of mental disorders at both the cellular and behavioral levels. This is a step toward objective diagnostic tests that could transform the treatment of depression, schizophrenia, or PTSD.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most serious challenges in modern psychiatry. It affects approximately 4% of the global population, and its prevalence continues to rise due to ongoing worldwide conflicts. Trauma profoundly reduces quality of life for those affected. Developing effective therapies is the focus of Dr. Mykhailo Batiuk, a neurobiologist and molecular biologist and recipient of a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) grant, who has chosen to carry out his project at Łukasiewicz – PORT.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Łukasz Duda, who began his scientific journey at Łukasiewicz – PORT already during his master’s studies, has just defended his Industrial PhD at the University of Wrocław. The project was carried out in collaboration with our institute. It’s a major achievement and – as Dr. Duda himself puts it – the beginning of a new chapter.