Once again, the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) has decided to fund a project by prof. Michał R. Szymański, head of the Department of Structural Biology, and his team. In 2018, EMBO awarded Michał R. Szymański's laboratory a grant of €50,000 per year for 3 to 5 years. Now the organisation has decided to increase the grant to €100k for two years.
The Installation Grants of the EMBO organisation are intended to help young scientists with foreign experience establish and run a new research unit. Prof. Michał R. Szymański's team studies enzymes responsible for the replication and repair of genetic material in humans, bacteria and viruses. - 'Damage to mitochondrial DNA contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction. This is associated not only with ageing processes but also with many disease syndromes of complex aetiology such as cancer and metabolic diseases (including diabetes) and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's disease),' - explains prof. Michal R. Szymański.
As part of its research, prof. Michał R. Szymański's laboratory cooperated with the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant), the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP), the National Science Centre (NCN), the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and the Ministry of Education and Science.
The head of the group, prof. Michał R. Szymański spent most of his scientific career in the USA. There he completed his studies, obtained his PhD and was awarded a grant for further research. This research has contributed to understanding the mechanisms of DNA replication and repair in bacteria, the structural basis of human mitochondrial DNA replication, and understanding the causes of toxicity and complications associated with the use of antiviral drugs.
In 2017, after receiving POLONEZ grants from the National Science Centre and FIRST TEAM grants from the Foundation for Polish Science, he started working as an assistant professor in the Complex of Specialised Laboratories at the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of the University of Gdańsk and Gdańsk Medical University. Currently, prof. Michał R. Szymański is Head of the Department of Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk.