Professor Witt has been director of the Institute of Human Genetics of the Polish Academy of Sciences since 2016 and Head of the Department of Molecular and Clinical Genetics of the Institute for many years.

From 1998 to 2014 he was deputy Director for Scientific Affairs at the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw. Since 2019, he is a member of the scientific councils of the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry PAS in Poznań and the Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy PAS in Wrocław.

In 1994 and 1996 visiting professor at NIH, Bethesda, USA. Afterwards, Prof. Witt has been involved in the introduction of moleular diagnostics standards of cystic fibrosis (CF) in Poland, what resulted in the creation at IHG PAS of an EU-certified, reference center for CF molecular diagnostics. Prof. Witt has also been a co-organizer of the Polish Working Group for Cystic Fibrosis, where since 1993 he has been a member of the Board of Directors. In parallel (1996-2002), prof. Witt has been a member of the Scientific/Medical Advisory Council (SMAC) of the International Cystic Fibrosis (Mucoviscidosis) Association (ICFMA). Recently, due to the interest in primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), Prof. Witt has been involved in the creation of the national reference center for PCD diagnostics (cooperation with the Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Rabka-Zdrój).

 

Since 2001, Prof. Witt has been an editor of the Human Genetics section of the Journal of Applied Genetics, board Member of the Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, of the Board of Directors of the Polish Genetics Society and the Polish Society of Human Genetics. Prof. Witt was also the initiator and the chairman of the panel of authors of drafts of two parliamentary bills: (i) on genetic testing, and (ii) on research on human material and biobanking.

Main scientific interests of Prof. Witt include molecular genetics of inherited diseases of respiratory tract (cystic fibrosis, immotile cilia syndrome); molecular aspects of hematooncologic diseases and of bone marrow transplantation.  Since many years, as a specialist in clinical genetics, Prof. Witt has been involved in genetic counseling. He authored over 70 original papers, 34 reviews and 20 book chapters, published in: Hum Genet, Am J Reprod Immunol, Biochem Biophys Res Commun, J Immunol, Am J Med Genet, Ann Hum Genet, Clin Genet, J Med Genet, Pediatric Pulmonol, J Gerontol, Leukemia Res, Leukemia, etc.

Publications

Special Issue on “Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia: Genetics, Molecular Mechanisms, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Perspectives.

Witt M, Ziętkiewicz E, Bukowy-Bieryllo Z (guest editors)

Int J Molec Sci (MDPI), closed Dec 30, published 2022

IF-5,923 MNiSW-80

Awards

Awarded: prof. dr hab. n. med. Michał Witt
Medal im. Jędrzeja Śniadeckiego.
Given by: Wydział V Nauk Medycznych PAN, Uchwała Wydziału Nauk Medycznych PAN z dnia 22.11.2018 r. Wręczenie Medalu – Warszawa, 13 grudnia 2018 r.

Za wybitne wyniki badań naukowych z zakresu genetyki klinicznej człowieka, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem diagnostyki mukowiscydozy i zespołu nieruchomych rzęsek oraz rozwijanie poradnictwa genetycznego.

Awarded:
mgr Alicja Rabiasz
prof. dr hab. n. med. Michał Witt
prof. dr hab. n. med. Ewa Ziętkiewicz
Gold Helix
Given by: Polish Human Genetics Association

Poster titled "Schmidtea mediterranea as a model organism to study novel genes potentially involved in primary ciliary dyskinesia pathogenesis" presented by Alicja Rabiasz, Michał Witt, Ewa Ziętkiewicz, was awarded a "Gold Helix" by the Polish Human Genetics Association during IXth Convention of Polish Human Genetics Association in Bydgoszcz

Awarded: prof. dr hab. n. med. Michał Witt
Golden Cross of Merit
Given by: President of the Republic of Poland

For the merit for science development.

Awarded:
dr n. med. Maciej Dąbrowski
dr hab. n. med. i n. o zdr. Zuzanna Bukowy-Bieryłło
prof. dr hab. n. med. Michał Witt
prof. dr hab. n. med. Ewa Ziętkiewicz
Award for the poster
Given by: Conference: BEAT-PCD 1st Training School of the CIOST action and Second Young Researchers' Meeting on Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia.

Poster: "Translational suppression of premature termination codons in selected genes involved in primary ciliary dyskinesia". Paris, France, 26-30.04.2016 r.

Awarded:
dr hab. n. med. i n. o zdr. Zuzanna Bukowy-Bieryłło
dr n. med. Maciej Dąbrowski
prof. dr hab. n. med. Michał Witt
prof. dr hab. n. med. Ewa Ziętkiewicz
Gold Helix
Given by: Polish Human Genetics Association

Poster title: „Application of translational readthrough of premature termination codons (PTCs) in primary ciliary dyskinesia pathogenesis” Dabrowski M, Bukowy-Bieryllo Z, Witt M, Zietkiewicz E, presented in session: "Selected genetic disorders in paediatrics, internal medicine, neurology and psychiatry"

Awarded:
dr n. med. Maciej Dąbrowski
dr hab. n. med. i n. o zdr. Zuzanna Bukowy-Bieryłło
prof. dr hab. n. med. Michał Witt
prof. dr hab. n. med. Ewa Ziętkiewicz
“Golden Helix"
Given by: The Polish Genetics Association and the Polish Human Genetics Association

For the poster “Use of translational readthrough of premature STOP codons (PTC readthrough) in pathogenesis of primary ciliary dyskinesia” (IV Polish Genetics Congress, Poznań, 10-13 September 2013).