Medical Universities in Warsaw, Poznan, Szczecin, Gdansk as well as the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, the Nencki Institute and the Foundation for Experimental and Clinical Oncology have jointly founded the Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine. The main goal of the School is to offer a new post-graduate doctorate program in the field of molecular medicine, which is addressed to medical, biology and pharmacy students in Poland. SMM is formally affiliated with the Medical University of Warsaw, which is responsible for the administration of the school. According to its by-laws, the School is managed by the Director and the Scientific Council elected by the founding institutions. At present the Director’s position is held by Prof. L. Konarska from the Pharmacy Department, Medical University of Warsaw.

SMM admits students (up to 10 per year) for the four-year doctoral program.
The candidates are requested to present a scientific program of their doctoral research, scientific merit of which is carefully evaluated by the Recruitment Committee of SMM as well as independent judges in Poland and abroad. Six groups of students were accepted during the period of 1998-2003. Successful candidates accomplish their scientific program, under supervision of their mentors, in different laboratories throughout Poland. The members of SMM Scientific Council annually evaluate student progress. The mentor program offered to the students includes theoretical (lectures, seminars) and practical courses (laboratory sessions) on select topics of modern molecular biology and medicine. Each SMM student is awarded. The Utrecht University doctoral program is based on an agreement between ta stipend (full or supplemental). Furthermore, SMM helps students to participate in short-term scientific training in leading Polish and foreign laboratories. In parallel to funds generated by founding institutions, SMM activities are supported by subsidies from the Polish Ministry of Health, Ministry of Research and Informatization, Kronenberg Foundation, UNESCO-ROSTE, European Commission within the 5th Framework Programme (Centre of Excellence in Molecular Bio-Medicine), CNRS (France). Additional financial support comes from the French government supporting the costs of participation of outstanding French scientists in mentoring and organizational activities of SMM as well as short-term scholarships for the training of SMM students in laboratories in France. In 2003 the following courses were organized:

3rd Integrated Course “Advances In Molecular Medicine: Focus On Oncology”:
Part I: International Conference and Workshop “Glycogenomics and glycobiological tools in tumor immunology”.
Part II: International Conference and Workshop “Molecular aspects of hereditary cancers: pathogenesis, prophylactics, surveillance and treatment”. Szczecin, 5-9 May 2003.

The first part of the course was organized by Prof. Claudine Kieda, the second part was organized by Prof. Janusz Lubinski. Lecturers from France: Professors Sylvie Bay, Chris Phonele Breton, Philippe Delannoy, JeanClaude Michalski, Patrick Midoux, Philippe Roussel, Jean Pierre Zanetta, David Goldgar; from Germany: Prof. Elisabeth Mangold and Prof. Hiltrud Brauch; from Finland: Prof. Päivi Peltomäki; from the Netherlands: Prof. Rolf H. Sijmons. Spring School “Human genetics” (Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences,

Poznan 26-27 May 2003: The course was organized by Prof. Michal Witt. It included 13 lectures on basic theoretical aspects of molecular and clinical genetics. The lecturers consisted of outstanding Polish scientists invited from the most famous clinical and research institutes in Poland. Practical Course Application of Molecular Biology Methods in Medicine: “Molecular basis of skin appendages differentiation” (Department of Physiological Chemistry, Medical University,

Poznan 28-31 May 2003). The School is an annual event organized by Prof. Wieslaw Trzeciak. It included theoretical lectures, communications and practical classes. SMM hosted German lecturers from the Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine: Carmen Birchmeier and Walter Birchmeier.

Annual Scientific Report Session “Advances in Molecular Medicine” (International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Medical Academy in Warsaw, 25-26 October 2003): SMM Students presented the results of their scientific activity during the 2002/03 academic year. Sessions were attended and reviewed by a committee consisting of the members of the SMM Scientific Council and foreign collaborators. The Committee evaluated scientific merit and progress of scientific work performed by each student. 5th Winter School “From genome to protein, from function and dysfunction.”
(International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Medical Academy in Warsaw, Warsaw, 1-5 December 2003): This obligatory annual course was organized by Prof. Liliana Konarska. The lectures were given by 23 outstanding scientists and academic teachers from the most famous clinical and research institutions in Poland. The SMM continued Polish-French collaboration based on the official agreement signed by SMM and the Universite Paris VI (coordinated by Dr. Barbara Lisowska-Grospierre) and signed a new agreement with Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin in Berlin, Germany. Students preparing a doctoral thesis within the international doctorate program of Utrecht University and IIMCB participated in the 5th Winter School in Warsaw.