The 26th Polish Peptide Symposium, organised by the staff of the Department of Molecular Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, was held from September 3–7, 2023, in Stare Jabłonki. The Polish Peptide Symposium is a cyclical event organised every other year for over 50 years. Due to the epidemiological situation, the last meeting took place in 2019.
This year's meeting was opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Gdańsk, dr hab. Beata Grobelna, prof. UG. The 26th Polish Peptide Symposium was attended by 108 participants from Poland and abroad related to peptide research: specialists from scientific institutions (including representatives of all major academic centres and research institutes), representatives of chemical and related industries, doctoral students and undergraduates. In the surroundings of picturesque lakes and forests, 37 presentations could be heard, including nine lectures by guests: prof. Norbert Sewald of Bielefeld University, prof. Christian Becker of Vienna University, prof. Piotr Stefanowicz of Wrocław University, dr Wioleta Rut (in place of prof. Marcin Drąg) from the Wrocław University of Technology, prof. Marcin Sieńczyk from the Wrocław University of Technology, prof. Paula Gomes from the University of Porto, prof. Michael Gütschow from the University of Gdańsk, dr Elżbieta Jankowska from the University of Gdańsk and prof. Galia Blum from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The proceedings were accompanied by two poster sessions, where nearly 40 posters were presented. On the last day of the Symposium, two sessions for doctoral students were held under the name of Young Scientists Minisymposium, during which nine doctoral students from centres in Wrocław, Warsaw, Gdańsk and Łódź presented their research results.
We are pleased to announce that the first Dr. Emil Taszner Prize for the best oral presentation for doctoral candidates, funded by the Chemat company, was established and awarded during the meeting. This year's prize winner was dr Monika Kijewska from the University of Wrocław for her presentation 'Intramolecular reversible and irreversible stapling of peptides via boron-sugar interaction'.
In addition, the following were awarded for their poster presentations: dr Natalia Miodowska (Wrocław University of Technology, first prize), dr Paweł Noceń (Wrocław University of Technology, distinction) and dr Mikołaj Śleziak (University of Wrocław, distinction). During the Young Scientist Mini-Symposium, the scientific committee decided to award the 1st Prize to Uladzislava Tsylents (Centre for New Technologies, University of Warsaw) and the distinction to Aleksandra Czerchawy (Wrocław University of Technology).
The deliberations were accompanied by an unofficial part, equally important for future cooperation - the participants had the opportunity to get to know each other better during events such as a joint barbecue, a boat cruise to Ostróda, canoeing, beach volleyball and a festive banquet.
Our sincere thanks go to all Sponsors and Exhibitors. We would also like to thank our Patrons, particularly the Rector of the University of Gdansk, prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski and the Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry, prof. dr hab. Beata Grobelna, UG. More information about the Symposium can be found on the event website: https://26pps.ug.edu.pl.
