PRELUDIUM 24 Grants for PhD Candidates at the Doctoral School of Molecular Medicine
We have learned the names of the PRELUDIUM 24 competition winners funded by the National Science Centre. Among the awarded researchers are three doctoral candidates from the International Doctoral School.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations and wish them continued success on their scientific paths!
The PRELUDIUM competitions are well-known NCN programmes among researchers in Poland, enabling the implementation of basic research in Polish institutions. PRELUDIUM grants allow researchers at a very early stage of their careers – still before completing their PhD – to gain their first experience in carrying out research projects lasting up to three years.
| Panel | Project title | Principal Investigator | Name of entity | Granted funds (PLN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ2 | Genetic factors influencing response to immunotherapy and prognosis in patients with melanoma brain metastases | Piotr Jan Błoński | National Research Institute of Oncology (SMM Partner) | 205 766 |
| NZ4 | Small non-coding RNAs as early indicators of carcinogenesis in inherited DNA repair disorders | mgr Katarzyna Izabela Płoszka | Medical University of Lodz | 209 800 |
| NZ4 | Personalized selective activation of γδT Vδ2 cells using zoledronic acid for glioblastoma MICA/B high therapy: in vitro and in vivo investigations | lek. Natalia Anna Lehman | Medical University of Lublin (SMM Partner) | 209 996 |
| NZ7 | suPAR in older adults – a new biomarker of inflammageing, sarcopenia, and malnutrition? | mgr Karolina Agnieszka Dzięcioł | Medical University of Lodz | 209 890 |
Piotr Jan Błoński
Project Supervisor: prof. dr hab. n. med. Anna Czarnecka
National Research Institute of Oncology (SMM Partner)
Project title: Genetic factors influencing response to immunotherapy and prognosis in patients with melanoma brain metastases
Project description: My project will focus on identifying genetic alterations that influence the effectiveness of immunotherapy and prognosis in patients with melanoma brain metastases. After performing whole-exome sequencing, I will integrate the obtained results with other datasets generated by our team to identify biomarkers that enable better prediction of treatment response and support therapy personalization.
Katarzyna Izabela Płoszka, MSc
Project Supervisor: prof. dr hab. n. med. Wojciech Fendler
Department of Biostatistics and Translational Medicine, Medical University of Lodz
Project title: Small non-coding RNAs as early indicators of carcinogenesis in inherited DNA repair disorders
Project description: Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) and Nijmegen syndrome (NBS) are rare, inherited DNA repair disorders resulting from mutations in the ATM and NBN genes. They lead to immunodeficiency, high radiosensitivity, and a significantly increased risk of cancer, particularly leukemia and lymphoma in children. Due to limitations in the use of standard screening tests in this group of patients, there is an urgent need to develop safe, non-invasive methods for early cancer detection. A promising area of research is the use of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) circulating in the blood, whose diagnostic potential has been demonstrated, among others, in cancers associated with DNA repair defects dependent on BRCA1/2 mutations.
The aim of this study is to determine whether patients with constitutional DNA double-strand break repair deficiency exhibit a characteristic sncRNA signature analogous to the miRNA profile observed in BRCA1/2 deficiencies, or whether AT and NBS exhibit a more complex pattern of sncRNA abnormalities reflecting specific repair defects. Furthermore, the study aims to determine whether the identified signature can serve as a noninvasive diagnostic and prognostic tool for cancer in patients with AT and NBS.
Natalia Anna Lehman, MD
Project Supervisor: prof. dr hab. n. med. Radosław Rola
Medical University of Lublin (SMM Partner), PhD carried out at the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS
Project title: Personalized selective activation of γδT Vδ2 cells using zoledronic acid for glioblastoma MICA/B high therapy: in vitro and in vivo investigations
Project description: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor in adults, with an average survival of only 15 months despite surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. A major obstacle in treating this cancer is its ability to suppress the immune system and avoid standard therapies. A new solution may come from an unusual group of immune cells: γδT Vδ2 cells. Unlike conventional T cells, they can recognize and attack tumors without requiring traditional signals, making them promising tools against glioblastoma. This project explores a novel treatment approach utilizing unconventional γδT Vδ2 lymphocytes, which, unlike classical lymphocytes, can recognize tumors without the need for MHC molecules. These cells will be collected from the patient blood and then activated and expanded in the laboratory using zoledronic acid and cytokines milieu personalized according to the phenotype of the patient’s cells. To further increase tumor-killing power, the project will introduce a temporary genetic boost, instructing the cells to produce more NKG2D – a receptor that helps them detect cancer. The efficacy of the therapy will first be evaluated in vitro on patient-derived tumor organoids, and subsequently in vivo in a mouse model where patient-derived tumors and immune cells will be combined. The project is innovative because it avoids a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, it adapts the therapy to each patient’s unique immune landscape, addressing glioblastoma’s heterogeneity. If successful, it could lead to a new class of personalized immunotherapies for brain cancer and beyond.
Karolina Agnieszka Dzięcioł, MSc
Project Supervisor: prof. dr hab. n. med. Tomasz Kostka
Clinic of Geriatrics, Medical University of Lodz
Project title: suPAR in older adults – a new biomarker of inflammageing, sarcopenia, and malnutrition?
Project description: The project aims to assess the significance of the biomarker suPAR (soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor) in identifying key geriatric syndromes such as sarcopenia, malnutrition, and frailty syndrome. suPAR is a promising indicator of chronic, low-grade inflammation associated with aging (inflammaging), which may reflect deteriorating health status even before clinical symptoms appear.
As part of the project, 200 individuals aged 60 and over will be examined. Assessments will include functional status, body composition, muscle strength, mobility, nutritional status, diet quality, and blood suPAR levels. The studies will be conducted using advanced diagnostic equipment at the Geriatrics Clinic of the Medical University of Łódź.
The aim of the project is to determine whether suPAR can serve as a simple and sensitive tool to support early diagnosis of the risk of health deterioration in older adults. The results may contribute to the development of preventive medicine, enable better personalization of geriatric care, and deepen understanding of the biological mechanisms of aging.