Prof. dr hab. Grzegorz Węgrzyn, PhD, Head of the Department of Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Biology of the University of Gdańsk, has been interested in biology already in primary school. Taking up education in a class with a biological profile and then studies at the Faculty of Biology of UG was a natural continuation of his interests. Today, prof. dr hab. Grzegorz Węgrzyn is an eminent molecular biologist, a corresponding member of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Chairman of the Council for Scientific Excellence. His achievements include the development of the first effective method of Sanfilippo disease treatment.

Prof. dr hab. Grzegorz Węgrzyn served as dean of the Faculty of Biology, Geography and Oceanology UG in 2002-2008 and as Vice-Rector for Science at the University of Gdańsk in 2008-2016. Since 1996 he has been Head of the Department of Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Biology of the University of Gdańsk since 2010 he has been a corresponding member of the Polish Academy of Sciences, (currently Chairman of the Committee on Molecular Cell Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences) since 2019 also Chairman of the Council for Scientific Excellence.

The researcher is involved in molecular biology, genetic diseases and the genetics of bacteria and bacteriophages. He led a team of scientists that developed a new, yet first effective treatment for Sanfilippo disease, allowing to stop the devastating processes of the disease.

The professor is a winner of many scientific awards, including a scholarship of the Foundation for Polish Science for young scientists, J.K. Parnas award of the Polish Biochemical Society four times, the award of the Minister of National Education and the award of the Prime Minister, the award of the Polish Genetic Society, a professorial subsidy of the Foundation for Polish Science, J. Hevelius Science Award of the City of Gdańsk, and others. He was awarded the Medal of the Commission of National Education and the Golden Cross of Merit. In December 2020, he received the Vebleo Scientist Award, a prestigious award recognizing his enormous contribution to the advancement of science in the field of molecular biology.

Read the interview with prof. Węgrzyn

The March issue of the University Gazette features an interview by Anna Wdowińska with prof. dr. hab. Grzegorz Węgrzyn entitled 'Wierzę w moc nauki' (TN: 'I believe in the power of science'). And in it, among others: about the function and tasks of the chairman of the Council for Scientific Excellence, about scientific integrity, diversity of scientific theories and whether scientists have the right to discussions and disputes.