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Marta Kędziora awarded a National Science Centre (NCN) PRELUDIUM 20 grant Marta Kędziora awarded a National Science Centre (NCN) PRELUDIUM 20 grant Marta Kędziora has been awarded a grant from the National Science Centre (NCN) PRELUDIUM 20 for a project entitled "Novel hope for diseased joints: a polymer-based treatment to promote regenerative strategies for patients with osteoarthritis". Osteoarthritis is increasingly diagnosed among adults and elderly people, while most currently available therapeutic strategies do not treat the cause of the disease, but only temporarily mask its symptoms such as pain and mobility difficulties. In preliminary studies, novel synthetic polymers have shown analgesic and inhibitory properties against articular cartilage degeneration in an animal model of osteoarthritis. Therefore, the aim of this project is to investigate the exact mechanism of action of the newly synthesized polymers in an in vitro model of osteoarthritis and to determine the role of joint building cells (chondrocytes and synoviocytes) in the protective effect of polymers. Congratulations!
Michał Wilczkowski awarded a National Science Centre (NCN) PRELUDIUM 20 grant Michał Wilczkowski awarded a National Science Centre (NCN) PRELUDIUM 20 grant Michał Wilczkowski has been awarded a grant from the National Science Centre (NCN) PRELUDIUM 20 for a project entitled "Investigating the role of the focal adhesion kinase and its related signaling pathways in glucocorticoid- and stress-induced morphological changes of neurons".Cortical and hippocampal neurons have been shown critically involved in several neuropsychiatric disorders. At the same time, they appear particularly sensitive to chronic stress effects and dendritic spines plasticity. Chronic stress and one of its characteristic features – sustainably elevated corticosterone level decrease dendritic spines density in both the cortex and hippocampus. Despite significant advances, little is known about mechanisms involved in corticosterone/stress-evoked structural and density changes of spines in the cortex and hippocampus. One of the candidate proteins which disturbed activity may contribute to corticosterone/stress-associated morphological alterations of the cortical and hippocampal neurons is focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Thus, in the proposed project, we will characterize the role FAK and its associated molecules play in the corticosterone/stress-mediated structural changes of dendritic spines in cortical and hippocampal neurons. Congratulations!
The winner of the National Science Centre (NCN) OPUS 21 grant The winner of the National Science Centre (NCN) OPUS 21 grant Dr. Bernadeta Szewczyk has been awarded grants from the National Science Centre (NCN) OPUS 21 for two consortia projects: "Molecular mechanisms of 5-HT7R-mediated resilience in stress-related disorders" and "Effect of SSR 504734, a selective glycine transporter type 1 inhibitor, on seizure activity and therapeutic efficacy of selected antiseizure drugs". Congratulations! 
Dr Ewa Bromek awarded a National Science Centre (NCN) MINIATURA 5 grant Dr Ewa Bromek awarded a National Science Centre (NCN) MINIATURA 5 grant Dr Ewa Bromek has been awarded a grant from the National Science Centre (NCN) MINIATURA 5 for a project entitled "The engagement of brain 5-HT6 and 5-HT7 serotonergic receptors in the regulation of liver cytochrome P450". The aim of the project is to investigate the effect of general activation and blocking of brain 5-HT6 and 5-HT7 receptors on the expression and activity of CYPs in the liver. Project outcomes will demonstrate the involvement of the brain's 5-HT6 and 5-HT7 receptors in the neuroendocrine regulation of hepatic CYPs and help to understand and predict how new drugs acting through central serotonergic mechanisms could affect the metabolism of endogenous neuroactive substrates and drugs catalyzed by CYP in the liver. Congratulations!