Dr. Wojciech Pokrzywa, Postdoc Dr. Abhishek Dubey, and Ph.D. student Natalia Szulc, members of the GRIEG project, actively participated in the 24th International C. elegans Conference in Glasgow, June 24-28, 2023. In this largest gathering dedicated to worm research, the group presented posters on two distinct subjects.

Firstly, they shared their research on the intriguing cold resistance effect induced by 5'-fluorodeoxyuridine (FUdR), an anticancer drug, in C. elegans. Their findings shed light on the potential applications of FUdR in enhancing the organism's ability to withstand low temperatures. The team's presentation on this topic captivated the attention of the conference attendees, leading to engaging and fruitful discussions.

Furthermore, the group showcased their significant discoveries regarding an ultra-rare mutation found in the FEM1C gene, which gives rise to a severe neurodevelopmental disorder. The impact of their research on understanding the underlying mechanisms of this disorder garnered considerable interest from the conference participants.

In addition, the scientists had the opportunity to meet their collaborators on the GRIEG grant – the group of Prof. Rafał Ciosk from the University of Oslo. The researchers discussed the progress and advancements of their ongoing joint projects while also planning and strategizing for upcoming experiments.

Overall, the participation of the Laboratory of Protein Metabolism at the 24th International C. elegans Conference in Glasgow proved to be highly impactful, not only through their research presentations but also through the valuable connections and collaborations they formed with fellow scientists in the field.

The GRIEG project "Cellular adaptation to cold" (CellCOLD), National Science Center, funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021.