The Department of Nucleic Acid Function conducts research related to the genetics of the molecular diagnostics of familial colorectal polyposis (FAP) and medullary thyroid cancer. Our research also focuses on the genes involved in osteoporosis, Crohn's disease, Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, aortic aneurysm and spermatogenesis. The department has also been working in the field of biotechnology on transgenic animals for biomedical applications.

Keywords:

Featured publications

Modern therapies of nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Jachowski A, Marcinkowski M, Szydłowski, Grabrczyk O, Nogaj Z, Łaz M, Pławski A, Jagodziński PP, Słowikowski BK

J Appl Genet, 2023 Dec, 64 (4): 695-712,doi: 10.1007/s13353-023-00786-4 Epub Sept 12

IF-2.4 MNiSW-140

Genome-wide association meta-analysis identifies risk loci for abdominal aortic aneurysm and highlights PCSK9 as a therapeutic target.

Roychowdhury T, Klarin D, Levin MG, Spin JM, Rhee YH, Deng A, Headley CA, Tsao NL, Gellatly C, Zuber V, Shen F, Hornsby WE, Laursen IH, Verma SS, Locke AE, Einarsson G, Thorleifsson G, Graham SE, Dikilitas O, Pattee JW, Judy RL, Pauls-Verges F, Nielsen JB, Wolford BN, Brumpton BM, Dilmé J, Peypoch O, Juscafresa LC, Edwards TL, Li D, Banasik K, Brunak S, Jacobsen RL, Garcia-Barrio MT, Zhang J, Rasmussen LM, Lee R, Handa A, Wanhainen A, Mani K, Lindholt JS, Obel LM, Strauss E, Oszkinis G, Nelson CP, Saxby KL, van Herwaarden JA, van der Laan SW, van Setten J, Camacho M, Davis FM, Wasikowski R, Tsoi LC, Gudjonsson JE, Eliason JL, Coleman DM, Henke PK, Ganesh SK, Chen YE, Guan W, Pankow JS, Pankratz N, Pedersen OB, Erikstrup C, Tang W, Hveem K, Gudbjartsson D, Gretarsdottir S, Thorsteinsdottir U, Holm H, Stefansson K, Ferreira MA, Baras A, Kullo IJ, Ritchie MD, Christensen AH, Iversen KK, Eldrup N, Sillesen H, Ostrowski SR, Bundgaard H, Ullum H, Burgess S, Gill D, Gallagher K, Sabater-Lleal M; DiscovEHR; Regeneron Genetics Center; UK Aneurysm Growth Study; DBDS Genomic Consortium; VA Million Veteran Program; Surakka I, Jones GT, Bown MJ, Tsao PS, Willer CJ, Damrauer SM

Nat Genet. 2023 Oct 16. doi: 10.1038/s41588-023-01510-y. Online ahead of print.

IF-30.8 MNiSW-200

Featured research projects

1. Acronym MEDPIG, INNOMED/I/17/NCBR/2014

“Development of an innovative technology for using transgenic pig tissues for biomedical purposes”

Task no 5. Development and characterization of new gene construct for transgenesis.

Obtained financial support from the National Centre for Research and Development from the funds of the Operational Programme Innovative Economy within the framework of the European Regional Development Fund.

Agreement no INNOMED 1/20106/07/2013/6

Project leader: prof. dr hab. Ryszard Słomski, Poznan Life Sciences University

Task leader no 5. prof. dr hab. Ryszard Słomski, Institute of Human Genetics,  Polish Academy of Science in Poznan, Poland

Duration of the project: 2014-2017

2. Acronym ONKOKAN, INNOMED/I/11/NCBR/2014

“Development of technology for obtaining cannabinoids from hemp with low THC content as agents supporting treatment for cancer patients”

Task no 7. Assessment of genetic polymorphisms and genes expression involved in the metabolism of cannabinoids and response to their application in the Polish population

Agreement no INNOMED 1/20104/07/2013/7

Project leader: prof. dr hab. Ryszard Słomski, Poznan Life Sciences University

Task leader no 5. prof. dr hab. Ryszard Słomski, Institute of Human Genetics,  Polish Academy of Science in Poznan, Poland

Duration of the project: 2014-2017

4. UDA/POIG.01.04.00-24-002/11-00

Operational Programme Innovative Economy 2007-2013 under Measure 1.4 Support for special projects of priority axis 1 Research and development of new technologies. „Development studies on  efficient technology of production fluid into renal transplantation,

Project leader: Prof. dr hab. n. med. Florian Ryszka, Pharmaceutical Research and Production Plant „BIOCHEFA”

Research task „Development of the methodology to determine the zygosity of pigs for xenotransplantation of kidney and reproducible animal model”

Task leader: prof. dr hab. Ryszard Słomski, Institute of Human Genetics,  Polish Academy of Science in Poznan, Poland

Duration of the project: 2012-2013

5. Ministry of Science and Higher Education N N303 457238

“Investigation of the degree of genetic determination in prenatal testing – analysis of genetic variability in twins”

Project leader : prof. dr hab. Krystyna Cieślik, Institute of Human Genetics,  Polish Academy of Science in Poznan, Poland

Duration of the project: 2010-2014

6. Ministry of Science and Higher Education N N401 037838

“Analysis of gene polymorphisms influenced on reaction to anaesthetics in patients under general anaesthesia and on reaction to analgetics in the postoperative period”

Project leader : dr Adam Mikstacki, Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Science in Poznan, Poland

Duration of the project: 2010-2014

7. Development project N R13 0018 06

„Inhibition of the activation of the coagulation system and systemic inflammatory response during extracorporeal respiratory support in an animal model”

Project leader :  dr Wiesław Zygmunt Królikowski, CM UJ

Task: Analysis of genetic variability of pigs for somatic cloning and xenotransplantation .

Task leader: prof. dr hab. Z. Smorąg, współpraca prof. R. Słomski

Duration of the project:  2009-2012

8. Development project N R13 0075 06/2009

„Transgenic bioprosthetic heart valves based on the tissue engineering techniques”

Project leader: dr hab. Romuald Antoni Cichoń, Foundation of Cardiac Surgery Development in Zabrze

Task: Molecular and cytogenetic characterization of potentially transgenic pigs

Task leader : prof. dr hab. Ryszard Słomski, Institute of Human Genetics,  Polish Academy of Science in Poznan, Poland

Duration of the project:  2009-2012

9. Development project N R12 0036 06/2009

„Obtaining transgenic pigs as donors of tissues and organs for transplantation in humans and their biotechnological, medical and physiological characteristics”

Project leader : prof. dr hab. Z. Smorąg, IZ-PIB

Task no 5. Molecular and cytogenetic characteristics of the transgenic pigs and evaluation of transgene expression at the level of transcription and translation.

Task leader : prof. dr hab. Ryszard Słomski, Institute of Human Genetics,  Polish Academy of Science in Poznan, Poland

Duration of the project: 2009-2013

Collaborations

Awards

Awarded:
Given by:

Awarded: mgr Erkut Ilaslan
In the competition for the best original work of a doctoral student in 2022 organized by The Poznan Branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences, MSc Erkut Ilaslan won the main prize in the field of medical sciences.
Given by: The Poznan Branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Awarded publication:
Ilaslan E, Kwiatkowska K, Smialek MJ, Sajek MP, Lemanska Z, Alla M, Janecki DM, Jaruzelska J, Kusz-Zamelczyk K „Distinct Roles of NANOS1 and NANOS3 in the Cell Cycle and NANOS3-PUM1-FOXM1 Axis to Control G2/M Phase in a Human Primordial Germ Cell Model. IJMS, 2022, 13;23(12):6592.

Awarded: prof. dr hab. n. med. Ryszard Słomski
The Golden Hundred of Polish Agriculture. Gala "Wprost" 2022.
Given by: Awarding the "Wprost" Eagle for innovations in the field of hemp cultivation and the development of non-fibrous hemp.

In the category of Innovations in the agricultural and food industry, the Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants National Research Institute was awarded, which is the only research centre in Poland with almost 90 years of experience in work on hemp. Director of the Institute Dr. Eng. n. med. Rafał Spachacz said that we are happy that we can work together to implement a non-fiber hemp cultivation program and this award is a mobilization for us to further action. Together with the director, the award was received by prof. dr hab. Ryszard Słomski, MD, Katarzyna Wielgus, Paweł Gała, PhD, and Karolina Wielgus, PhD. Institute of Human Genetics PAS represented by prof. Słomski previously implemented the Innomed project. Development of a technology for obtaining cannabinoids from hemp with a low THC content as means supporting the treatment of oncological patients. Acronym: ONKOKAN.

Awarded: dr n. chem. Aleksandra Zielińska
The First Prize in the competition for the best papers “Molecules 2020 Best Paper Award for Anniversary Special Issues”, published in the “Anniversary Special Issues”.
Given by: MDPI Molecules

The award was granted for the publication of:
„Polymeric Nanoparticles: Production, Characterization, Toxicology and Ecotoxicology”
Aleksandra Zielińska, Filipa Carreiró, Ana M. Oliveira, Andreia Neves, Bárbara Pires, D. Nagasamy Venkatesh, Alessandra Durazzo, Massimo Lucarini, Piotr Eder, Amélia M. Silva, Antonello Santini and Eliana B. Souto. Molecules 2020, 25(16), 3731; DOI: 10.3390/molecules25163731
Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049) IF 4.927; Min 140.

Awarded: dr n. med. Maciej Śmiałek
Nagroda im. Prof. W. Bielańskiego przyznana przez Towarzystwo Biologii Rozrodu za dwa powiązane ze sobą artykuły oryginalne opublikowane w 2020 roku.
Given by: Towarzystwo Biologii Rozrodu

za dwa powiązane ze sobą artykuły oryginalne opublikowane w 2020 roku.

Awarded: prof. dr hab. n. med. Krzysztof Szyfter
Head of Local Self-Parliament
Given by: Local Self-parliament

Prof. Krzysztof Szyfter was awarded by Marek Woźniak, the Head of Local Self-parliament for his merits to Great-Poland District.

Awarded:
prof. dr hab. n. biol. Jadwiga Jaruzelska
dr n. med. Marcin Sajek
dr n. med. Maciej Śmiałek
mgr Erkut Ilaslan
Award of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Given by: Faculty of Medical Sciences of the PAS

Prof. Jadwiga Jaruzelska, dr Marcin Piotr Sajek, dr Maciej Jerzy Śmiałek and Ms Erkut Ilaslan were awarded by Medical Division of the Polish Academy of Sciences for 5 articles entitled: “Role of NANOS and PUM proteins in human reproduction and infertility”.

Awarded: dr n. med. Maciej Śmiałek
Prize of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland
Given by: Prize of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland

Dr Maciej Jerzy Śmiałek was awarded a Prize of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland for his PhD dissertation „A global identification of mRNAs regulated by PUM1 and PUM2 and their protein cofactors, in the model of human seminoma (TCam-2)”defended in 2020.

Awarded: dr n. chem. Aleksandra Zielińska
FNP START 2021 Program.
Given by: FNP

Dr Aleksandra Zielińska from the Department of Nucleic Acids Function of our Institute has become a laureate of the FNP START 2021 Program.

Awarded: prof. dr hab. n. med. Ryszard Słomski
Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.
Given by: President of the Republic of Poland

Prof. dr hab. n. med. Ryszard Słomski was decorated with the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. The ceremony took place on June 7, 2021 at the Wielkopolska Voivodship Office in Poznań. The Cross was awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, on the Professor's 70th birthday. Due to the pandemic, the handing over was delayed by a year and a half. The Order was awarded for the Professor's scientific and research activities, including pioneering DNA studies in the country for diagnostic, medical and forensic purposes, as well as the implementation and dissemination of molecular diagnostics (DNA fingerprinting 1987; PCR polymerase chain reaction 1989). Works in the field of medical biotechnology constitute an important field of interest and include obtaining of transgenic animals as bioreactors for the production of peptides and tissues for xenotransplantation. Biological dressings made of the skin of transgenic pigs have been used many times in the Burn Treatment Center in Siemianowice Śląskie.