Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
The activities of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology focus on conducting scientific research and teaching (theoretical lectures and practical laboratory courses) in the broad field of the molecular basis of human diseases. The main research interests of the Department’s staff concern cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Research is carried out using an extensive range of laboratory equipment, enabling analyses involving various models(mammalian cells, microorganisms, C. elegans), their modifications (transfection, transformation, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated silencing), microscopic analyses (light, fluorescence, and confocal microscopy), functional assays (proliferation, viability, migration, invasiveness, adhesion, cell cycle, and in vitro angiogenesis assays), real-time PCR, hybridisation techniques (Western Blot, FISH), ELISA, and colourimetric assays (metabolite analysis). A significant part of the research focuses on the analysis of non-coding RNAs. The research is conducted primarily with external funding (National Science Center, Poland, Polpharma Scientific Foundation, Foundation for Polish Science) as well as internal funds from CPME.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology was established in 1970 under the primary name of Department of Clinical Biochemistry. It was initially led by Prof. Stefan Niewiarowski and later by Dr Bohdan Lipiński. In 1971, the head of the Department became Dr hab. Janusz Nauman, who developed radioimmunoassay methods for thyroid hormone measurements and was one of the initiators of administering potassium iodide after the Chernobyl disaster. From 1991 to 2009, the Department was headed by Prof. Andrzej Gardas, who conducted research on the spatial structure of thyroid peroxidase and identified the epitopes responsible for autoantibody binding. From 2009 to 2018, the Department was led by Prof. Barbara Czarnocka, whose research interests primarily focused on the biology of thyroid cancers. In 2004, the department name was changed to the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Since 2018, the Department has been headed by Prof. Agnieszka Piekiełko-Witkowska.
More information: https://biolmol.cmkp.edu.pl/
See also: Andrzej Gardas, Historia Zakładu Biochemii Klinicznej w latach 1971-2008, Postępy Nauk Medycznych 5/2008, s. 317-325 (Article in Polish)
Educational activities
Each year, the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology conducts over 40 specialised, advanced, and practical educational courses in the fields of endocrinology, laboratory diagnostics, and molecular and cell biology methods (including, for example, protein separation and detection techniques such as electrophoresis and Western Blot, as well as HPLC, ELISA, PCR, and cell culture). Additional courses cover autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, genetic information flow, chronic liver and intestinal diseases, oncogenesis, and related topics.
Scientific activities
The research conducted at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology focuses on the molecular biology of cancer and autoimmune diseases, and involves studies aimed at identifying new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The research interests of the Department’s staff include, among others, the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of renal, thyroid, and breast cancers, with particular emphasis on the role of non-coding RNAs (microRNAs, piRNAs), microvesicles, and disturbances at the metabolomic, proteomic, and transcriptomic levels, as well as DNA repair mechanisms. We also carry out research on autoimmune diseases of the thyroid and liver.
Scientific cooperations
National partners:
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw: Prof. Dominika Nowis
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University: Dr Urszula Jankowska
- Department of Immunology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw: Prof. Leszek Pączek
- University of Warsaw, Faculty of Biology, Department of Systems Biology, and the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Microarray Analysis Laboratory: Dr hab. Marta Koblowska, Prof. UW
Collaboration with CMKP clinics/departments:
- Department and Clinic of Dermatology and Paediatric Dermatology, CMKP: Prof. Irena Walecka-Herniczek
- Department of Endocrinology, CMKP, Bielański Hospital: Prof. Wojciech Zgliczyński
- Department of Cardiology, CMKP: Prof. Andrzej Budaj
- Department of Urology, CMKP, Prof. Orłowski Hospital: Prof. Jakub Dobruch
- Second Department of Urology, CMKP, Bielański Hospital: Prof. Piotr Kryst
- Department of Clinical Physiology, CMKP: Dr hab. Michał Mączewski, Prof. CMKP; Prof. Urszula Mackiewicz; Dr hab. Monika Duda, Prof. CMKP
- Department of Translational Immunology and Experimental Intensive Therapy, CMKP
- Department of Clinical Neuroendocrinology, CMKP: Prof. Wojciech Bik
- Department of Nephrology, Internal Diseases and Family Medicine, CMKP, Bielański Hospital: Prof. Ryszard Gellert
International partners:
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, Germany: Prof. Alisdair Fernie
- Biochemical Proteomics Group, Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany: Prof. Jacek R. Wiśniewski
- Institute for Clinical Medicine, Department for Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Oslo, Norway: Prof. Hilde Nilsen
Contact:
ul. Marymoncka 99/103, 01-813 Warszawa
tel.:+48 22 56 93 810
email: kzbk@cmkp.edu.pl
Employees:
Head of Department:
prof. dr hab. n. med. i n. o zdr. Agnieszka Piekiełko-Witkowska
Professors:
dr hab. n. med. Piotr Popławski, prof. CMKP
Adjuncts/assistant professors
dr n. biol. Anna Adamiok-Ostrowska
dr n. biol. Katarzyna Arczewska
dr n. med. Alicja Bauer
dr n. med. Małgorzata Grzanka
dr n. med. Karolina Hanusek
dr n. med. i n. o zdr. Beata Rak-Makowska
Lab technicians:
mgr inż. Alex Białas
mgr Beata Rybicka
mgr Wanda Wojciechowska
Administrative Office/secretary:
dr n. fiz. Agnieszka Paszun
Other technical support:
mgr inż. Michał Milczarek
Iwona Milczarek
Agnieszka Szustkiewicz