A PhD student from the Cancer Immunology group at the University of Gdańsk's International Centre for Cancer Vaccine Science (MCBSP), Ines Papak, has received funding from the ExCELLent Grant Programme created by the Polish Stem Cell Bank.

Ines was awarded 4th place in a competitive programme aimed at young scientists. She was thus awarded a financial prize to be used to attend a conference or training course of her choice.

- 'I am very excited about this award, I perceive it as an appreciation of my research work so far. My current research focus is the preclinical model of lung cancer immunotherapy, a broad and rapidly developing field in which continuous learning and skill development is a necessity,' - says Ines Papak. - 'As a young researcher, I plan to use the funding to attend a conference that will help me expand my knowledge or for a training course to increase my competencies.'

The UG doctoral student is currently pursuing her PhD on the biology of NK cells and their therapeutic application in anti-cancer cell therapy under the supervision of prof. Natalia Marek- Trzonkowska at MCBSP.

The ExCELLent Grant programme is created by the Polish Bank of Stem Cells (PBKM), the largest stem cell bank in Europe. The competition is aimed at young scientists conducting advanced research in one of the following fields: cell biology, regenerative medicine, cell and gene therapies.

The first edition of the competition, which attracted a great deal of interest, has now ended. The prize for taking one of the first three places was a grant of PLN 100,000, and the prize for taking one of the next three places was funding to attend a conference or training course.

For more information about the ExCELLent Grant Competition: https://excellentgrant.pl/idea-programu/.