News

Dr. Wojciech Kuban enters the EU Joint Programe of Neurodegenerative Disease Research JPND Dr. Wojciech Kuban enters the EU Joint Programe of Neurodegenerative Disease Research JPND Dr. Wojciech Kuban from the Department of Department of Pharmacokinetics and Drug Metabolism together with the international consortium of researchers from Klinikum rechts der Isar der TU München, Helmholz-Zentrum München, Muskelzentrum/ALS Clinic St. Gallen, Le Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Tours, Hebrew University - Hadassah Medical Center Jerusalem, Göteborgs Universitet and external collaborators from Flinders University Adelaide, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen and University of Miami were awarded funding from the JPND program for their ambitious project titled "A premotor disease signature for ALS" (premodiALS). The aim of the project is to identify early molecular markers that occur before the motor symptoms of ALS disease, i.e permanent damage to the upper and lower motor neurons with a devastating prognosis. The research will be conducted on clinical samples from patients from different countries using advanced diagnostic technology: mass spectrometry and targeted quantitative immunoassay. The obtained results will be additionally integrated and modeled by the bioinformatics team. The identified molecular marker will also be associated with general pathological patterns of ALS. The research aims to enable early detection of the disease, improve diagnostic accuracy, but also provide information on the molecular and pathophysiological causes of ALS, enabling effective treatment in the initial stage of the disease.Congratulations!
Polymorphisms of the sphingomyelinase gene affect the risk of depression and alcoholism Polymorphisms of the sphingomyelinase gene affect the risk of depression and alcoholism The latest issue of Molecular Psychiatry features a report from an international team of scientists that included researchers from the Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology at our Institute that points to the involvement of disrupted function of the enzyme sphingomyelinase in the risks of developing alcohol dependence, mood disorders, and also abnormal bone mineralization. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-021-01304-w.  The Authors observed that polymorphisms in the gene encoding sphingomyelinase (SMPD3) had a significant correlation with alcoholism and depression in a cohort of almost 500 000 volunteers that participated in the study. Moreover, experiments conducted using genetically modified mice with inactivation of the Smpd3 gene confirmed its significance for alcohol-related behaviors and also revealed accompanying changes at the neuronal level. Congratulations to the Authors!
We encourage you to watch the film from this year's Neurobiological boat. We encourage you to watch the film from this year's Neurobiological boat. The neurobiological boat, traditionally organized by the Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, is a science outreach event designed to popularize neurobiology and brain sciences.The event was co-financed by the "Social Responsibility of Science" program of the Minister of Science and Higher Education.
The Central European Biomedical Congress (CEBC) has concluded. The Central European Biomedical Congress (CEBC) has concluded. The 4th edition was the largest yet, with over 300 participants, 4 plenary lectures, 63 lectures during 14 scientific sessions and several workshops. We are looking forward to the 5th CEBC in 2023, and in the meantime here is the video with the highlights from the 4th meeting!