Individual divisions of the Polish Academy of Sciences have awarded prizes for outstanding achievements and creative research work. Among the winners are researchers from the University of Gdańsk! Division III: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences recognised the achievements of dr hab. Thomas Zlosnik from the Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics at the University of Gdańsk, and Division II: Biological and Agricultural Sciences awarded the team of researchers consisting of dr hab. Lidia Gaffke, prof. UG, dr Łukasz Grabowski, dr hab. Magdalena Podlacha, prof. UG, prof. Alicja Węgrzyn and prof. Grzegorz Węgrzyn.
The PAS Divisions Awards are granted annually to Polish researchers or foreigners employed in Poland for outstanding and creative scientific work. Applications are submitted by members of the PAS and members of scientific and problem-solving committees affiliated with a given division. The winners are selected by each of the five divisions of the PAS. This year, scientists from the University of Gdańsk were awarded by two Divisions of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
One of the honoured persons is dr hab. Thomas Zlosnik, employed at the Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics of the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics at the University of Gdańsk. Division III: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences of the PAS awarded him the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Scientific Award for his achievements in the field of physics, recognising his series of works entitled ‘Theoretical and experimental aspects of extensions of Einstein's general theory of relativity’.
‘My research focuses on the physics of gravity and space-time. We know that Newton's theory of gravity is a limiting case of Einstein's general theory of relativity. I am interested in the question of whether the general theory of relativity itself is a limiting case of a more general theory of gravity,’ says dr hab. Thomas Zlosnik. ‘Receiving the award is a big surprise, which I am very happy about, although I believe that science is a team effort. I receive tremendous support at the University of Gdańsk, for which I am very grateful, and my priority is to help develop and promote the research conducted at IFTiA.’
The scientific award of the Division II: Biological and Agricultural Sciences was given to a team of researchers recognised for their outstanding research achievement entitled ‘Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of inhibition of the innate immune response of birds and mammals to the presence of bacteriophages in the body during phage therapy.’ The award-winning team consisted of: dr hab. Lidia Gaffke, prof. UG, dr Łukasz Grabowski, dr hab. Magdalena Podlacha, prof. UG, prof. dr hab. Alicja Węgrzyn and prof. dr hab. Grzegorz Węgrzyn.
‘Our research focuses on understanding the mechanisms by which the body recognises and responds to bacteriophages - viruses that infect bacteria, which are increasingly used as an alternative or complementary therapy to antibiotic therapy,’ explains prof. Alicja Węgrzyn. ‘Although phage therapy (the use of bacteriophages to combat pathogenic bacteria in humans and animals) is a promising method of fighting bacterial infections, we still know little about how the presence of bacteriophages affects the innate immune response of animals and humans. In our work, we have explained for the first time the molecular mechanisms leading to the inhibition of this response to the presence of bacteriophages during therapy.’
We also asked prof. Alicja Węgrzyn about her impressions after receiving the award:
‘I was delighted to hear about the award from the Second Department of PAS. It is an extremely valuable distinction, not only confirming the value of our research, but also recognising the hard work of the entire team. I am glad that our results have been noticed and appreciated by one of the most important scientific bodies in Poland,’ said the researcher.
We congratulate our researchers and wish them perseverance and success in their future work!