Minister of Science Award for the Team of Wojciech Pokrzywa

From left: Dariusz Wieczorek, Maria Mrówczyńska, Natalia Szulc, Katarzyna Olek (Banasiak), Pankaj Thapa and Wojciech Pokrzywa

In the world of science, discoveries can completely change our perception of how life works. A team of scientists led by Dr. Wojciech Pokrzywa has been honored with an award from the Minister of Science for significant scientific achievements that open new horizons in understanding cellular processes that are crucial to our health. The award is a confirmation of the importance of ongoing research that sheds light on the complex mechanisms of protein degradation and their impact on various aspects of the functioning of living organisms.

Of central interest to the team is a protein degradation pathway known as the ubiquitin-proteasome system. This system plays a key role in maintaining cellular health by eliminating damaged or unneeded proteins, and its disruption can lead to a number of serious conditions, such as cancer or neurodegenerative or metabolic diseases. The work of Dr. Wojciech Pokrzywa's team is casting new light on the impact of the ubiquitin-proteasome system on aging, metabolic regulation, the development of rare diseases, and molecular mechanisms that may be crucial to the development of new therapies. 

One of the team's intriguing discoveries is the role of exopheres, specific extracellular vesicles, in maintaining protein homeostasis. The team identified that exopheres, by transporting products of muscle metabolism, play a crucial role in delivering nutrients to embryos. This unexpected function of the exopheres is fundamental to supporting reproduction and ensuring the health of the offspring.

Among the team's other achievements is the diagnosis of an extremely rare neurological disorder in a 9-year-old patient by creating a unique animal model of the disease using the nematode C. elegans, which can also be used to find new treatments.

These and other breakthroughs were made possible by the collaboration of an international team of experts that, in addition to Dr. Wojciech Pokrzywa, includes Dr. Aniruddha Das, Dr. Abhishek Dubey, Dr. Katarzyna Olek (Banasiak), Dr. Malgorzata Piechota, Natalia Szulc, M.Sc., and Pankaj Thapa, M.Sc. The awarding of the Prize of the Minister of Science to Dr. Wojciech Pokrzywa and his team at the Polish Science Gala is not only a recognition of their achievements to date but also a motivation to continue uncovering the secrets of life at the molecular level.

The Polish Science Gala was held on the eve of Polish Science Day, which is celebrated on February 19.