On April 29th - May 5th, 2019 in Przeworsk, took place the Symposium and Workshops of 3rd Art & Science "Power of Biological Structures" organized by the Art Department and Institute of Philosophy of the University of Rzeszów, the Nencki Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Marcel Nencki Foundation for the Support of Biological Sciences.

On the 1st and 5th April 2018, thirty scholarship holders from the National Children's Fund visited the Nencki Institute. On the opening day, guests attended two lectures: "The history and achievements of the Nencki Institute" by dr hab. Monika Liguz-Lęcznar and "Why neuroscience needs behavioral studies?" by Kacper Kondrakiewicz. Following the lectures, they visited three selected laboratories from the Nencki Institute: Brain Imaging, Bioenergetics and Biomembranes, and Neurobiology. During this time, students had the opportunity to learn more about ongoing research projects.

On April 1, in the exhibition room of the Neurobiology Center of the Nencki Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, there was an art exhibition of prof. Marek Olszyński, deputy dean of the Art Department of the University of Rzeszów. The exhibition, entitled "MO Pictures", comprises of around 30 works that were created in 1985-2018. The exhibit is open until 26 April this year, during the working hours of the Nencki Institute.  

On March 25 2019, the Nencki Institute received from the General Director of Environmental Protection, a decision allowing the creation and maintenance of the Arboretum - a forestry Botanical Garden at the Research Station in Mikołajki.

Professor Jerzy Andrzej Chmurzyński, ethologist and philosopher, founder of the famous ethological seminars of the Nencki Institute, Founder President of the Polish Ethological Society, celebrated his 90^th anniversary on 11^th March 2019. To commemorate the occasion, on Saturday 23^rd March 2019, the Nencki Institute hosted a scientific session „Ethology and more".

The Roundtable debate on "The needs of industry, and the commercialization of scientific research in Poland, in the field of biomedicine" was held at the Foundation for Polish Science.

In November 2018, the Patent Office in Japan granted a patent for the invention entitled "Compositions and methods for treating glioma" (JP6426001). The subject of the patent is the innovative method using synthetic, short interfering peptides in the therapy of gliomas. 

The Brain Awareness Week is the global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. This year it will be held between March 11-16 2019 at the Nencki Institute. 

Prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyń, Director of the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS, has been appointed as a member of the Programme Board of the Polish Science Contact Agency "PolSCA" in Brussels, for the 2019-2022 term of office. 

The Scientific Council Report Session took place February 22nd 2019. During the sitting, there was a part of the meeting open for the public, in which scientific achievements were presented by prof. Katarzyna Kwiatkowska, dr Monika Bijata, dr Jakub Mieczkowski and dr Wioleta Grabowska. After this, prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyń, the director of the Institute, presented systematic review of achievements and activities ongoing at the institute in 2018. 

The National Science Centre has announced the ranking lists of projects approved for funding in MAESTRO, HARMONIA and SONATA Bis calls. Scientists from the Nencki Institute received financial support for 1 research project in HARMONIA 10 and for 1 project in SONATA Bis 8 competitions.

As a result of a competition procedure, Dr. Hanna Nieznańska has become the new head of the Laboratory of Electron Microscopy. Dr Nieznańska graduated in pharmacy from the Medical University of Warsaw. She received a PhD degree at the Nencki Institute and completed her scientific internship at the Institute of Molecular Biology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Salzburg. 

The first sitting of the Scientific Council for the term 2019-2022 took place on January 18th, 2019. Members elected Presidium of the Scientific Council and members of the Committee for Doctoral Theses. 

You will be part of an international team of scientists participating in ambitious research projects. PhD program at the Nencki Institute opens the doors to your scientific career. 

The U.S. Patent Office has granted the USA patent, numbered US 15/553,575, for the invention entitled ‘A METHOD FOR THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF A PRE-DIABETIC STATE AND TYPE 2 DIABETES’. The patent is owned by researchers from the Nencki Institute, which holds full exclusivity to this invention: Prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyn and Dr. Kamil Kozinski from the Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Metabolic Disorders, and Prof. Pawel Dobrzyn and Dr. Tomasz Bednarski from the Laboratory of Molecular Medical Biochemistry.

In December 2018, the final decision was made regarding an open competition for the position of head of the research laboratory - Group Leader 2018. The winners are Dr. Piotr Brągoszewski and Dr. Katarzyna Jednoróg, D.Sc.

II Division of Biological and Agricultural Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, awarded the team from the Nencki Institute, led by Prof. Katarzyna Kwiatkowska (Laboratory of Molecular Membrane Biology), for outstanding scientific achievements.

On December 19th 2018, for the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute, the closing of the 2nd Art & Science: ‘The Art of Biodiversity‘ exhibition took place in the Exhibition Hall of the Neurobiology Centre of the Nencki Institute. It is the second edition of the Art & Science project, initiating the interaction of molecular biologists and artists. Presented works were created during the artistic symposium and workshops held in Boska Dolina, near Rzeszów, from September 30th to October 5th 2018.

On Wednesday, 12^th December, a rare but welcomed event may have been witnessed by people passing by our Institute, as well as by employees and students of the Institute, as an ambulance dedicated for blood donation was parked on the premises of the Nencki Institute. The PhD Students' Council, in cooperation with the Director of the Institute and RCKiK in Warsaw, decided to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Institute in this fascinating and charitable way.

The final sitting of the Scientific Council for the term 2015-2018 took place on December 7th, 2018, during which a summary of Council activities was completed. During this time, the Council was chaired by Prof. Andrzej Wróbel, who was supported mainly by Prof. Maria Jolanta Rędowicz (Vice-Chair) and Prof. Katarzyna Łukasiuk (Secretary).

On  Wednesday, November 28th, 2018, the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology Polish Academy of Sciences, organized a Conference on “Science Diplomacy”. The event took place in the Lecture Hall of the Center of Neurobiology of the  Institute and was composed of an introduction to the field, followed by five presentations discussing various aspects of science diplomacy.

On December 1st, 2018, the 17th Scientific Symposium for Biology Teachers was organized by the Nencki Institute and the BioCentrum of Science Education. Over 40 people from all over Poland took part.

On November 19^th 2018, for the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute, the opening of the 2^nd Art & Science: ‘The Art of Biodiversity‘ exhibition took place in the Exhibition Hall of the Neurobiology Centre of the Nencki Institute. It is the second edition of the Art & Science project, initiating the interaction of molecular biologists and artists. Presented works were created during the artistic symposium and workshops held in Boska Dolina, near Rzeszów, from September 30^th to October 5^th 2018.

On November 14^th 2018, The Nencki Institute and The Marceli Nencki Foundation for Support the Biological Sciences, organized the scientific session "From the primers to Ciliopathy" for the 90th anniversary of the birth of Professor Leszek Kuźnicki. 

On the 15th and 16th of November, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute. On this occasion, the ceremonial Jubilee of the Centennial of the Nencki Institute was held. The 100th anniversary celebrations began with the presentation of Crosses of Merit, Medals for Long-Time Service, and Medals of the National Education Commission, to employees of the Nencki Institute, by Minister Sebastian Skuza, undersecretary of state of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, and the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences, prof. Jerzy Duszyński.
 

The National Science Centre has announced the ranking lists of projects approved for funding in 15th edition of OPUS and PRELUDIUM calls. Scientists from the Nencki Institute received financial support for 13 research projects in OPUS15 and for 4 project in PRELUDIUM15 competitions.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Colleagues,

The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology is celebrating its 100th Anniversary. This is a special time for reflection on the past, enjoying the present, and looking toward a bright future. 

On 25th October 2018 members of the General Assembly of the Polish Academy of Sciences reelected prof. Jerzy Duszyński as the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The second term of Prof. Jerzy Duszynski presidency will last until 2022.
Congratulations! 

On 19^th October, during the inauguration of the Academic Year 2018/2019, the Presidency of the Ochota Biocentre was handed over to the Nencki Institute, and prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyń became the chairman of the Biocentre Board of Directors. 

On October 19th 2018, in in the main lecture hall of the Nalecz Institute of Biocybernetics of Biomedical Engineering, the ceremony for the inauguration of the Academic Year 2018/2019 of the Ochota Biocentre took place. 

The Nencki Institute has received founding within the Dioscuri Programme, to establish two Centres of Scientific Excellence of Max Planc. One Center will be focused on metabolic diseases, led by Dr Grzegorz Sumara from University of Würzburg, Germany; the second one will be established within the field of regulation of genes expression, led by Dr Aleksandra Pękowska from National Institutes of Health, US.

The 3rd PhD Conference of the Nencki Institute took place on 11th and 12th October at the CN lecture hall. A total of 165 participants attended the event, and 148 scientific abstracts were submitted. The conference was officially inaugurated by prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyń, the Director of Nencki Institute.

On October 10^th 2018, the winners of the ‘Golden Scalpel 2018’ competition have been announced. 2nd place has been awarded to the BIONIC PANCREAS project carried out by the consortium: Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology (Prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyń), Foundation of Research and Innovation (dr hab. Michał Wszoła), Warsaw Technical University (prof. Wojcech Święszkowski), Warsaw Medical University (prof. Artur Kamiński), Research Hospital of Baby Jesus, and Medispace Sp.z o.o.

Prof. dr hab. Leszek Kaczmarek and dr hab. Ewelina Knapska are laureates of the International Research Agendas (MAB) competition run by Foundation for Polish Science. A grant, at the amount of PLN 39 mln, is assigned to create at the Nencki Institute, the Center of Excellence in Neural Plasticity and Disorders – BRAINCITY – an International Research Agenda. Our strategic partner in this program is  European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). 

Katarzyna Piwocka has been elected the Co-Chair of the ISAC Marylou Ingram Scholars Committee of the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry (ISAC), for the time frame of 2018-2020. The International Society for Advancement of Cytometry, brings together scientists, technology and development specialists, clinicians, among others, from around the world, who are involved in the quantitative studies of cells and cell networks, with the use of cytometry techniques, including flow, mass and image cytometry, ISAC is a perfect platform which connects a wide variety of disciplines and professional backgrounds in research, technology and innovation in these areas.

On 22nd September 2018, at the Research Station of the Nencki Institute in Mikołajki, a scientific session took place, regarding the present activity of the Station, along with the assignment of a new name. Director of the Institute, prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyń unveiled a plaque with the new name of the Station and planted a commemorative tree on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute. At the Station, the Tree Avenue of the Nencki Institute was also officially launched - the first tree was planted by prof. Adam Szewczyk, whose efforts led to repossession of the Station by the Nencki Institute; the second tree was planted by prof. Lech Wojtczak - an outstanding biochemist and distinguished employee of the Institute.

During the ‘59th International Conference of the Bioscience of Lipids’ (ICBL), held on 4-7 September in Helsinki, Prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyń has been elected the Vice-President of ICBL - a prestigious international organization of lipidologists, who work on basic-research in the field of cell metabolism. Each year ICBL offers the lipid community to meet at venues organized by groups representing a center of lipid research. Most conferences are held in Europe, but in its long-standing history ICBL has also visited Argentina, Israel, Japan, Canada, and the United States.

On August 29th 2018, prof. Maria Jolanta Rędowicz, on behalf of the Director of the Institute prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyń, awarded the Medal of the 100th Anniversary of the Nencki Institute to prof. Laszlo Nyitray, head of the Department of Biochemistry of the Lorand Eotvos University in Budapest. The medal was awarded in recognition for the contribution of scientists from the Department, to the development of the Nencki Institute.

"Summer at the Biologist Laboratory", event for children and youth, organized the Marceli Nencki Foundation for Support the Biological Sciences and the Nencki Institute, which took place on  September 1st this year in the Exhibition Hall of the Neurobiology Center of the Nencki Institute, gained great interest from the participants. Nearly 100 young pre-school and school-aged scholars with a takeover and great commitment, participating in a joint play, explored the secrets of biology. 
 

Dr Jędrzej Szymański has won an international competition for the position of head of the core facility Laboratory of Imaging Tissue Structure and Function at the Nencki Institute. This laboratory supports research using a range of advanced microscopic techniques, including confocal and two-photon microscopy, time-resolved imaging, super-resolved and correlation microscopy (CLEM).

On the 1st August 2018, prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyń, director of the Nencki Institute, and Joanna Miłachowska, Executive Board Member of Siemens Healthineers, have signed a Master Research Agreement. The alliance concerns the use of a magnetic resonance scanner for research projects being conducted in Laboratory of Brain Imaging, headed by dr hab. Artur Marchewka, prof. IBD. The confidentiality and collaboration rules set within the signed agreement, allow the Nencki Institute to use the technologies of Siemens Healthineers, which are not yet commercially available, for research and implementation projects.

Dr  Anna Malik became the laureate of the HOMING program, financed by The Foundation for Polish Science. Dr Malik is working on New proteins important for glia's function: VPS10P-domain containing protein family as a new sorting recepetors in astrocytes and microglia.

The National Science Centre has announced the ranking lists of projects approved for funding in  6th  edition of ETIUDA and 2nd edition of SONATINA calls.

On July 19th, 2018, 25 participants of the scientific camp for talented youth, organized by the Adamed Group Foundation under the Adamed Smart UP program, visited the Nencki Institute. The visits at the labs were organized by the Marceli Nencki Foundation for Support the Biological Sciences. It was aimed at familiarizing young people with the research carried out at the Institute.

Ewelina Knapska is now a member of FENS-Kavli Network of Excellence, to provide some of Europe’s most promising young neuroscientists with a unique opportunity to expand their scientific horizons, influence scientific policies, and facilitate the exchange between science and society. It is jointly sponsored by the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) and The Kavli Foundation. 

Three new cosmetics series from Dr. Irena Eris Cosmetics Laboratory - AUTHORITY have been introduced to the market last days. The cosmetics have arisen as a result of cooperation between the Nencki Institute ( the labs headed by prof. Jerzy Duszyński and prof. Adam Szewczyk) and the  dr  Irena Eris Cosmetics Laboratory, in the project PBS1/B8/1/2012, founded by the National Centre for Research and Development.

Professor Daniel Wójcik was selected to be a member of FENS CHET (Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Committee of Higher Education and Training). This committee constructs FENS educational programmes supporting neuroscientists during all stages of their career, offering various opportunities for educational and professional development. Higher education offered by FENS, includes high-level schools, advanced training courses, travel grants, programmes for
student exchange, and short visits.

On 11^th June 2018, during the Joint East and West Central Europe ISAE Regional Meeting „Animal preferences and animal welfare”, Prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyń, Director of the Nencki Institute, awarded the Medal of the 100^th anniversary of the Nencki Institute to the President of the Polish  Ethological  Society (PTEtol.), Prof. Ewa J. Godzińska, in recognition of many fruitful years of cooperation between the Institute and PTEtol. 

Between 11^th and 12^th June 2018, the Nencki Institute hosted an international conference, The Joint East and West Central Europe ISAE Regional Meeting „Animal preferences and animal welfare”, organised by the International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE), the Institute of Genetics and the Animal Breeding PAS, the Polish  Ethological  Society and the Nencki Institute. The conference was attended by 43 participants from Poland (Bydgoszcz, Olsztyn, Rzeszów, Warszawa and its surroundings, and Wrocław) and other European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Macedonia, Serbia, Switzerland  and  Ukraine). 

On June 6th, the Polish Science Picnic in Stockholm took place. The event was initiated and organized for the first time in Stockholm, by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland. Four Polish scientific institutions participated in the picnic, including the Nencki Institute Experimental Biology PAS.

On June 21, 2018, the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, handed over professorial nominations. In the group of nominated academic workers of science and art, was prof. Jolanta Ejsmont-Karabin from the Nencki Institute. 

On 19-20 June 2018, the Nencki Institute hosted a two-day conference entitled „Polish Science Towards EMBL”. The conference was co-organized by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education. It gathered an audience of nearly 170 participants, 14 lecturers and a dozen distinguished guests from Poland and abroad.

On Friday 15th June 2018, the annual Scientific Picnic of the Nencki Institute took place. From a scientific focus, the Nobel Prize laureate - Sir Tim Hunt gave a lecture entitled "A crooked path in science: stumbling on the secret of cell division".  Afterwards, participants enjoyed a picnic, organized in cooperation with the Nencki Alumni Club, at the patio of the Institute. Discussions over a grill and coffee lasted until the late evening.

We are pleased to announce, that dr Paulina Podszywałow-Bartnicka from the Laboratory of Cytometry, has been awarded with a 1-year New Investigator Grant from the Leukemia Research Foundation. The aim of the project is to create a mouse model of humanized bone marrow niche and investigate the influence of leukemia microenvironment on the effectiveness of anti-cancer therapies.

The 22^nd Scientific Picnic of Polish Radio and the Copernicus Science Centre was held at the National Stadium on June 9th 2018. This year’s motto was: MOVEMENT. The Nencki Institute prepared numerous events in two thematic blocks: Ants - small, but busy (Work of Ethology) and Brain - our individual trainer (PhD students of the Nencki Institute).

On June 5th at the Nencki Institute, in cooperation with the Marceli  Nencki Foundation for the Support of Biological Sciences, a workshop entitled "Biological imaging" for non-hearing and deaf youth from CXXXIX High School and Technical School No. 31 (Łucka str. in Warsaw), was organized. Young people during classes and shows learned "How does our brain work?" (Laboratory of Brain Imaging); "What can we see in a cell?" (Laboratory of Imaging Tissue Structures and Functions), and "What do you need an electron microscope for?" (Laboratory of Electron Microscopy).

On Monday 14^th May 2018, the Nencki Institute hosted a scientific session „Biology of  behaviour  of the domestic dog”, organized as a part of the celebrations of its 100^th anniversary. The session was organized by Anna Gadomska and Katarzyna Patej („Z PSEM W PEŁNI”), Polish Ethological Society and Nencki Institute. 

For the 26^th time, the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) has awarded the START scholarships to 100 most talented young Polish scientists. Among the laureates are 3 scientists from the Nencki Institute:

- Ilona Kotlewska-Waś - Laboratory of Psychophysiology
- Katarzyna Łepeta - Laboratory of Neurobiology
- Katarzyna Żółtowska - Laboratory of Preclinical Testing of Higher Standard

The National Science Centre has announced the ranking lists of projects approved for funding in 14th edition of OPUS and PRELUDIUM calls. Scientists from the Nencki Institute received financial support for 12 research projects. 

On 11 May 2018, the Art & Science exhibition was concluded at the Gallery of the Art Department of the University of Rzeszów. The exhibition was previously shown at the Nencki Institute PAS and at the Art Department of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. The exhibition is the result of the Symposium/Art & Science Workshops "Bioimagine: Inspiration of Invisible World”, which took place in 2017 at the Hydrobiological Station of the Nencki Institute PAS in Mikołajki. 

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute foundation, a special issue of KOSMOS [67(1)] "Cytoskeleton and cell motility" was prepared under the edition of Hanna Fabczak, Maria Jolanta Rędowicz and Dorota Włoga. The issue contains 16 review articles written by the Institute scientists and alumni, as well as a historical draft on the studies within the issue research field performed in the Institute (authored by M.J. Redowicz and Leszek Kuźnicki), It also contains a translation (made by Stanisław Fabczak) of the chapter of the monography "Biochemistry in the Institute of Experimental Medicine. 1890-2015" describing activities of Marceli Nencki in Sankt-Petersburg (1890-1901) which was published in 2015 on the 125th anniversary of this Institute

On May 9th at the Nencki Institute, there was an organized Open Day. The event opened with dr hab. Monika Liguz-Lęcznar, deputy Director for scientific research. Information on doctoral studies was presented by prof. Daniel Wójcik, Head of PhD Studies, and representatives of the Nencki’s PhD Students Council. The guests also listened to a lecture by dr Paweł Boguszewski entitled 'The brain - the biggest puzzle?' and Karolina Stępniak’s presentation 'Genome-wide profiling of open chromatin in gliomas'

The Nencki Institute welcomes candidates to apply for  PhD  studies. Become part of an already established international  teams  of scientists, who work within prestigious research projects. The PhD program at the Nencki Institute will open new and exciting opportunities to develop within your scientific career.

On April 26, 2018,  celebration  was held at the Nencki Institute for Prof. Katarzyna Łukasiuk, Prof. Wiesława Leśniak  and  Prof. Anna Nowicka, who received Professorial Nominations signed by the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda.

On April  17th  2018, in the Didactic Center of the Medical University of Warsaw, a symposium was held, co-organized by the Nencki Institute, devoted to cooperation between science and business. The aim of the  conference,  was to enable discussions on improving the cooperation between science and business, and the presentation of scientific projects with a high application value, developing Polish innovation in biomedicine. These were conducted by the researchers of the Center for Preclinical Research and Technology - CePT.

Professor Bożena Kamińska, head of the Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, is a co-author of a paper entitled: "Machine Learning Identifies Stemness Features Associated with Oncogenic Dedifferentiation”, published in Cell Journal

On March 28th 2018 at the Nencki Institute, Prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyn and prof. Salem Chouaib (representing THUMBAY Institute for Precision Medicine, the Gulf Medical University- GMU, Emirate of Ajman, United Arab Emirates), have signed a memorandum of understanding. The two Institutions have agreed to undertake joint efforts in promoting and developing cooperation in the field of Biomedical research, innovation and education. 

From 12th-17th March 2018, the Nencki Institute PAS hosted a series of popular science events, taking place as part of Brain Awareness Week 2016 in Warsaw. The organisers were Polish Neuroscience Society (PTBUN), the Committee of Neurobiology PAS and the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS. Sponsored by the Polish Academy of Sciences, along with media promotion provided by the Nauka online (portal of the magazine ACADEMIA, Polish Academy of Sciences), informational scientific blog Neuropsychologia.org, service Nauka w Polsce, filmoterapia.pl, monthly magazine Charaktery, publisher Marginesy, Gazeta Wyborcza, the radio Kampus and GEOMYS services for science. Additional support was provided by : Neurodevice, Neuroforma, BrainTech, Titanis, Lightcraft (producer of the PHOTON film) and the Centre of Eye Tracking Research (OBOswps)

On 31^st January 2018, the European Patent Office granted a European patent, numbered 2 976 433, for the invention entitled "METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF BIOLOGICAL AGE IN HUMAN BEINGS". This patent is the result of discoveries made by an international consortium, which in 2008-2013, under the leadership of prof. Alexandra Burkle, implemented the European Union FP 7 project entitled "European Study to Establish Biomarkers of Human Ageing-Mark-Age".

On Thursday, March 15^th, the Board of Directors, prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyń, prof. Krzysztof Nieznański and dr hab. Monika Liguz-Lęcznar, invited the Nencki Institute’s researchers and faculty members to set new goals for 2018-2022. During the meeting a new strategy of the development of the Nencki Institute was discussed.

On March 12^th 2018, the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland granted a patent (number P.416041), for an invention entitled: “Application of naringenin and a naringenin-containing product and a method of slowing down, counteracting and preventing the process of vitiligo problem”.

On 1^st March 2018, the Inauguration Ceremony of Multidisciplinary Phd Studies Tri-Bio-Chem ‘Chemistry and BioInnovation for Better Life’ took place in Marie Sklodowska-Curie hall at the Faculty of Chemistry of the Warsaw University (UW). The Tri-Bio-Chem PhD studies were established, based on the partnership agreement between the Nencki Institute, the Faculty of Chemistry of the Warsaw University (UW), and Faculty of Chemistry of the Technical University of Warsaw (PW), within POWER 3.2. programme, financed by the National Center for Research and Development.

On 5th-9th March 2018, thirty scholarship holders from the National Children's Fund visited the Nencki Institute. On the opening day, guests listened to lectures given by dr hab. Monika Liguz-Lęcznar - The history and achievements of the Nencki Institute; dr hab. Dorota Włoga - Cytoskeleton, structure and function

Dr. Monika Bijata from the Laboratory of Cell Biophysics at the Nencki Institute, headed by Jakub Włodarczyk, became the laureate of the HOMING program, financed by The Foundation for Polish Science. Dr Bijata is working on interplay between serotoninergic signaling and extracellular matrix in synaptic plasticity. 

On 3th of March 2018, Winter Workshops for biology and geography teachers were held at the Nencki Institute’s Hydrobiological Station in Mikołajki. The participants took part in the following 4 scientific sessions:

"Neurons facing the time - how aging affects the nervous system" – Monika Liguz-Lęcznar, Assoc. Prof.
"Arctic" – Tomasz Janecki, PhD
"Good science and bad science" – Paweł Boguszewski, PhD
"Medicine, pseudomedicine and charlatans" – Paweł Boguszewski, PhD

A meeting of the Board of Directors and the Nencki Institute’s Group Leaders was held on Tuesday, February 27th, at the Golden Floor Plaza conference center in Warsaw. During the meeting the leaders discussed main areas of research carried out at the Institute and created new strategic goals to assure dynamic development of the Institute in 2018-2022.

From March 12-17th 2018, the latest edition of Brain Awareness Week will be held at the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS in Warsaw. Through the course of the event (March 12-16th), the most recent, groundbreaking achievements in the field of neuroscience, psychology and psychiatry will be presented, referring to scientific and practical aspects of brain development. We invite adults and students of all levels of higher education to participate. 

On Friday 23^rd of February 2018, The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, The Institute of Physical Chemistry, The Institute of Physics and The Institute of Organic Chemistry, signed a partnership agreement to join together in establishing a PhD School. 

After publishing a ranked list of projects which have qualified for funding, based around competitions announced by the NSC on June 15^th 2017, scientists from The Nencki Institute have received financial grants for 5 major research projects. The competitions were  MAESTRO 9, HARMONIA 9, SONATA Bis 7 and SONATA 13.

On Friday, Febrary 9th 2018, the Nencki Institute welcomed Professor Zafra M. Lerman, who was met by the Director of the Institute Professor Agnieszka Dobrzyn, the president of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Professor Jerzy Duszynski, and the former director of the Institute, Professor Maciej Nalecz. Discussions were focused on a possibility of organizing in November 2018, an international conference on Science Diplomacy around activities commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Nencki Institute.

Prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyń, Director of the Nencki Institute, has appointed dr. hab. Krzysztof Nieznański and dr. hab. Monika Liguz-Lęcznar as the deputy directors for scientific affairs. Both deputy directors were endorsed by the Scientific Council of the Nencki Institute on February 2nd, 2018. Also, Dr. hab. Hanna Fabczak has been appointed as Director’s Proxy for Field Station in Mikolajki, and dr. Pawel Boguszewski is now Director's Proxy for IT and Media.

The Scientific Council reporting session, based on Nencki Institute activities, took place on February 2nd, 2018. Prof. Andrzej Wrobel opened the meeting, welcoming guests and beginning the session with selected scientific achievements of the Nencki Institute in 2017 presented by:

The Nencki Institute welcomes candidates to apply for PhD studies. Become part of an already established international teams of scientists, who work within prestigious research projects. The PhD program at the Nencki Institute will open new and exciting opportunities to develop within your scientific career.

On February 1st, 2018 Prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyń was nominated for the position of the Director of the Nencki Institute. The nomination was signed by the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Prof. Jerzy Duszyński, which came about as a result of an open recruitment procedure. Prof. Dobrzyń’s scientific interest is focused on regulation of gene expression and signaling pathways that have far-reaching implications on cell metabolism and human metabolic diseases, i.e. type 2 diabetes and related dysfunctions. She is a co-author of 77 scientific publications that were cited 2329 times (h=27) to date.

The director of the Nencki Institute, prof. Adam Szewczyk, in recognition of special merits for the development of the Institute, has awarded medals for the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute to prof. Zbigniew Brzózka, former dean of the Faculty of Chemistry of the Warsaw University of Technology, prof. Paweł Kulesza, former dean of the Faculty of Chemistry at the Warsaw University, co-founders of the POWER interdisciplinary PhD programme TRI-BIO-CHEM "From chemistry to bioinnovation for a better life", and Dr Irena Eris, whose company, which was based on the jointly implemented NCBiR project and patent application, providing the first implementation of a product, carried out in the history of the Nencki Institute.

The day of January 30th , 2018 was the last day of the exhibition "Bioimagine: Inspiration of Invisible World?” at the Nencki Institute PAS. However, on January 17th , 2018 the Director of the Institute prof. Adam Szewczyk, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute PAS, established a new library collection under the name: "Nencki Art Collection".

On January 24th, 2018, during the solemn scientific meeting of the Department of Neurophysiology of the Nencki Institute, the Institute Director, prof. Adam Szewczyk, gave thnaks for the many years of cooperation and special services for the development of the Nencki Institute, donated the Medal of the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute to the President of the Polish Neuroscience Society (PTBUN), prof. Jan Celichowski. 

On January 24th, 2018 on the fence of the Nencki Institute PAN off Pasteur Street, an exhibition of photographs to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the Institute was set up. 14 pictures presented paintings from the 1930s and 1950s, and contemporary ones from the laboratories of the Nencki Institute PAS.

We present a series of three posters that will be used during various conferences, meetings and events related to the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute in 2018.

On January 23th, 2018, a ceremony took place during which the Director of the Nencki Institute, prof. Adam Szewczyk, in appreciation for the special services for the development of the Nencki Institute, handed out medals to the directors of the Nencki Institute: Hanna Fabczak and Witold Konopka, the administrative director Anna Jachner and the chief accountant Hanna Michalska.

On January 17th, 2017, a ceremony was held, during which the Director of the Nencki Institute, prof. Adam Szewczyk, in acknowledgment of special merits for the development of the Nencki Institute, handed out the medals to prof. Jerzy Puchalski and prof. Wiesław Bogdanowicz. 

The Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) has settled competition for core facilities, which offers funds for designing and developing research services using the advanced research equipment. The winner of the Core Facility PLUS programme is Dr. Katarzyna Piwocka, head of the Laboratory of Cytometry at the Nencki Institute.

In connection with the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute, we ask you to send photos from private resources of the Institute's employees to the Multimedia Archive administered by the Library of the Nencki Institute.

On  January 17^th, 2018, at the Center of Neurobiology Hall of the Nencki Institute PAS, took place the vernissage of the exhibition entitled Art and Science - "Bioimagine: Inspiration of Invisible World?” " The meeting highlighted the year of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute.

Dear Sir or Madam, I cordially invite you to the opening of the ART & SCIENCE exhibition "Bioimagine: Inspiration of Invisible World?” organized on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute PAS. The opening will take place on January 17^th, 2018 at. 13.13 in the exhibition hall of the Nencki Institute.

On January 10th, 2018, in the course of an extended Board of Directors Meeting, a ceremony took place, during which the Director of the Nencki Institute, prof. Adam Szewczyk, in his thanks for special contributions to the development of the Institute, awarded the Medal for the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute

The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS began its activity in 1918 and is now one of the largest non-university centers of biological research in Poland. The year 2018 is therefore a special date in the Institute's history: we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Nencki Institute! Celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute were initiated in 2016 by organizing several scientific conferences, including: Bilateral Meeting Nencki/University of Portsmouth, EMBO Imaging the Brain, Brain Tumors - from Biology to Therapy, Future of Aging and 4th MITOCHONDRION Meeting.

As of 1st January 2018, the Nencki Foundation Council, chaired by prof. Lech Wojtczak, entrusted the function of the President of the Foundation of Marceli Nencki, Biological Sciences Support to dr hab. Hanna Fabczak. 

In the autumn of 2018, in the Institute's building there will shown an exhibition of photographs and documents from the history of research stations at our facility. The impact of the Nencki Institute on the development of biological sciences in Poland has always been significant, and the materials collected at the exhibition document this influence in a special way.

On December 21st, 2017 a ceremony took place during which the Director of the Nencki Institute, prof. Adam Szewczyk, in acknowledgment of special merits for the development of the Nencki Institute, handed the medal to Dr. Marcin Szumowski. 

On December 21st, 2017 a ceremony took place during which the Director of the Nencki Institute, prof. Adam Szewczyk, in acknowledgment of special merits for the development of the Nencki Institute, handed the medal to prof. Ryszard Górecki.

On December 20th, 2017 at the Hydration Station of the Nencki Institute in Mikołajki a traditional Christmas Eve meeting was held with the Institute's Directorate: prof. Adam Szewczyk, prof. Hanna Fabczak and dr Anna Jachner-Miśkiewicz. Station employees received medals and diplomas from the director commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute PAS.

The Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) has settled competition for core facilities, which offers funds for designing and developing research services using the advanced research equipment. One of the winners is Dr. Witold Konopka from the Laboratory of Animal Models, Neurobiology Center at the Nencki Institute, who received a grant in the TEAM-TECH Core Facility PLUS programme. 

On December 13th, 2017 at the headquarters of the Polish Academy of Sciences in the Palace of Culture and Science, a ceremony of awarding scholarships by the President of the PAS for outstanding achievements to participants of PhD Programs at the PAS institutes took place. 

On December 14th, 2017 at the Staszic Palace in Warsaw, the award ceremony of the faculties of the Polish Academy of Sciences was held. Among the distinguished by the Department II of Biological and Agricultural Sciences PAS was the team of prof. Ewa Sikora consisting of: dr hab. Anna Bielak-Żmijewska, dr hab. Grażyna Mosieniak, dr Małgorzata Piechota and prof. Ewa Sikora.

On December 1st, 2017, a ceremony took place during which the Director of the Nencki Institute, prof. Adam Szewczyk, in acknowledgment of special merits for the development of the Nencki Institute, awarded the medal of the 100th anniversary of prof. Joan Guinovart. Professor Joan Guinovart is the director of the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), with whom the Nencki Institute has a signed scientific cooperation agreement. 

An exhibition entitled Soul Comes to Mind was opened on the 15^th December, 2017 in the Exhibition Hall of the Nencki Institute (Neurobiology Centre). The exhibit shows 21 photographs by Łukasz Bożycki, PhD candidate from the Laboratory of Biochemistry of Lipids at the Nencki Institute, prepared as part of an Artistic Scholarship from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage. The exhibition can be visited until the 30th September 2017, between 8.00 am. and 4.00 pm.

On November 22nd, 2017, the ceremony took place during which the Director of the Nencki Institute, prof. Adam Szewczyk, in acknowledgment of special merits for the development of the Nencki Institute, handed the medal of the 100th anniversary to prof. Leszek Pączek.

On December 5th at the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology we hosted 23 high school students from Piła. The meeting was opened with lecture of prof Leszek Kaczmarek who runs the workshops of neurologia. During the lecture the guests familiarized themselves with the history of the institute as well as the subject matter of research being conducted in the Laboratory of Neurobiology.

Just like every year, the Nencki Institute participated in the Christmas aid campaign. Gifts donated by employees went to the Orphanage in Piotrków Trybunalski and to the Homeless Animal Shelter in Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki.

On Tuesday, December 12^th, in a beautifully decorated Konorski Conference hall of the Nencki Institute the annual Christmas party for Nencki senior citizens took place. On behalf of the Institute management Prof. Hanna Fabczak wished all a Merry Christmas and the best of luck in the New Year. Visitors enjoyed themselves in cheerful Christmas atmosphere and had a very nice time.

On December 8th, 2017 at the Faculty of Biology of Adam Mickiewicz University, the sixth conference MITOCHONDRION took place. The conference, which was attended by nearly 80 people, was organized by the Department of Bioenergetics to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the creation by prof. Jan Michejda of the bioenergetics group in Poznań. 

Under the agreement concluded between the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, the Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology and the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, PAS, a four-year interdisciplinary PhD programme TRI-BIO-CHEM has been launched. The programme will be implemented between 01. 03. 2018 and 28. 02. 2023 within a project funded by the National Centre for Research and Development  (NCRD) under the Knowledge Development Education Operational Programme.

On December 9th, 2017 XVI Scientific Meeting for Biology Teachers was organized by the Nencki Institute and the Centre for Innovative Bioscience Education. More than 20 people took part in the event from all over Poland. The guests listened to 5 very interesting lectures (2 of them presented by Nencki Institute employees), which stimulated a heated discussion.

The prof. Sikora’s team consisting of dr hab. Anna Bielak-Zmijewska, dr hab. Grazyna Mosieniak, dr Małgorzata Piechota and prof. Ewa Sikora, received the distinction of the Department II of Biological and Agricultural Sciences  Polish Academy of Sciences for a series of papers published in 2014-2016 entitled: "Reactive oxygen and damage to double-stranded DNA in cellular senescence - breaking paradigms":

On December 1th, 2017, during an open sitting of the Nencki Institute Scientific Council meeting, a ceremony took place, during which the Director of the Institute, prof. Adam Szewczyk, in his thanks for special contributions to the development of the Institute, awarded the Medal for the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute:

Małgorzata Wierzba from Laboratory of Brain Imaging is among the recipients of a scholarship for outstanding achievements awarded by President of the Polish Academy of Sciences to participants of PhD Programs. Małgorzata Wierzba performs her PhD studies under the supervision of prof. Anna Grabowska and dr Artur Marchewka.

On October 10^th the United State Patent and Trademark Office granted a patent (number P30805USPC) for an invention entitled: “Genetically encoded FRET –based MMP-9 activity biosensors and use thereof”. Patent application was submitted to the Patent Office by the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology. The authors of this invention are Dr. Michal Stawarski, Dr. Jakub Wlodarczyk and Prof. Leszek Kaczmarek from the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology.

On November 22^nd, 2017, during the sitting of the Scientific Council meeting of The Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry PAS in Poznan, a ceremony took place, during which the Director of the Nencki Institute, prof. Adam Szewczyk awarded a Medal for the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute to prof. Andrzej Legocki as a thank you for his special contributions to the development of the Institute. In the 1990s professor Andrzej Legocki together with prof. Maciej Nalecz from the Nencki Institute created the UNESCO/Polish Scientific Network of Molecular and Cell Biology. 

The Nencki Institute invites candidates for the new group leader position to be hired and funded through Dioscuri competition (https://www.ncn.gov.pl/dioscuri/). Dioscuri is a programme initiated by the Max Planck Society (MPG) and jointly managed with the National Science Centre in Poland (NCN). Positions are mutually funded by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MNiSW) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). 

Alumni Club run at the Nencki Institute by dr. hab. Joanna Szczepanowska from the Laboratory of Bioenergetics and Biological Membranes, from November 20th, 2017 has a new coordinator, dr. Rafał Czajkowski, head of the Laboratory of Spatial Memory.

On Friday, November 17, 2017, the SCIENCE FESTIVAL was held at the Hydrobiological Station of the Nencki Institute in Mikołajki, organized in collaboration with the Mazurian Landscape Park. This year we have extended the educational program by including archaeological workshops led by archaeologists from the Warsaw University (the “Terra Desolata” group). About 230 children from 7 schools in our region (Mikolajki, Giżycko, Ryn, Dabrowka, Okartowo, Nawiady and Hejdyk) took part in this event.

On November 15th, 2017, in the Copernicus Science Centre, a celebration of the Diamond Grant awards was held. Prizes were funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. One of prizes was awarded to Krzysztof Bielski, a student at the Faculty of Psychology of Warsaw University. He  has received funding for the project: Changes in functional brain networks arising under the influence of social interactions in the prisoner's dilemma game.

The National Science Centre has published ranking lists of projects which have qualified for financial backing within the limits of the competitions announced by the NSC on 15th March, 2017. Scientists from the Nencki Institute received financial backing for the 4 research projects they worked on in OPUS13 and PRELUDIUM13 competitions.

On 6 November 2017, in the Hall of the Center of Neurobiology of the M. Necki Institute, was held the ceremony of awarding the Necki Prize by Professor Claudio Franceschi, who currently works as Professor Emeritus at the University of Bologna and at the Institute of Neurological Sciences in Bologna, at the Bellaria Hospital.

On October 27th, 2017, in the Hall of the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology Neurobiology Center an annual celebration of the Polish Biochemical Society awards was held. Three prizes were awarded.

In a ceremony at the Presidential Palace on October 26th 2017, President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda handed professorial nominations. In the group of nominated academics, workers of science and art was prof. Wioletta Waleszczyk from the Nencki Institute.

On September 27-29th at the Nencki Institute Hydrobiological Station in Mikolajki, mini scientific symposium took place "Modern Methods in Neurobiology". During the lecture session the participants of the symposium - representatives of four IBD laboratories (Laboratory of Neurobiology of Emotion, Laboratory of Molecular Behavior, Laboratory of Spatial Memory and Animal Model Laboratory,) and special guest - prof. Marek Konarzewski, presented topics and research methods of their current studies. The meeting was an opportunity to exchange experiences and to discuss the possibilities of cooperation.

On September 22^nd the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland granted a patent (number P.410049) for an invention entitled: “A method for detecting an increased risk of developing skin cancer and a use of a genotype variant of the GRHL3 gene”. Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology is the exclusive owner of this patent. 

On September 21^st the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland granted a patent (number P. 414785) for an invention entitled: “Application of 3-(dodecylsulfanyl)-butanoic acid as a medicine for prevention of insulin resistance and pharmaceutical composition containing 3-(dodecylsulfanyl)-butanoic 3-(dodecylsulfanyl)-butanoic acidacid  as an active ingredient”.

An exhibition entitled Japan anew – for the first time discovered was opened on the 16^th October, 2017 in the Exhibition Hall of the Nencki Institute (Neurobiology Centre). The exhibit shows 57 photographs by Ludmiła Kot i Romuald Zabielski. The exhibition can be visited until the 30th November 2017, between 8.00 am. and 4.00 pm.

The Nencki Institute cooperates with the Foundation of Advanced Technologies, whose flagship project is the Educational and Scientific Program E(x)plory, which organizes internships and workshops. On October 5-6th, the Institute was visited by a group of scholars (9 people).

On September 30th, 2017 at the Hydrobiological Station in Mikolajki a ceremony took place naming the conference hall prof. Jan Bohdan Dembowski (1889-1963) - Polish biologist, physiologist, etologist, Director of the Nencki Institute (1947-1961), head of the Department of Cell Biology (1945-1961), initiator of the creation of the Hydrobiological Station in Mikolajki in 1951

On September 29th, 2017 the Hydrobiological Station in Mikolajki hosted the first meeting of the Station Advisory Team.

On September 29th, 2017, during an open sitting of the Nencki Institute Scientific Council meeting, a ceremony took place, during which the Director of the Institute, prof. Adam Szewczyk, in his thanks for special contributions to the development of the Institute, awarded the Medal for the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute

The 21^st edition of the Science Festival took place in Warsaw between 22^nd September till 1^st October, 2017. For this year’s edition Nencki researchers and PhD students prepared an interesting and rich program.

On September 10th 2017, during the opening ceremony of FEBS (Federation of European Biochemical Societies) in Jerusalem, FEBS Executive Committee honored prof. Adam Szewczyk an Honorary Diploma. This diploma is awarded by the FEBS for outstanding contributions to the Federation. Professor Adam Szewczyk served for 9 years as the Congress Counselor (FEBS Congress Counselor). The Honorary Diploma was handed out by the FEBS Secretary-General prof. Vaclav Paces.

Mgr Monika Riegel from the Laboratory of Brain Imaging lead by dr hab. Artur Marchewka has become a laureate of the 5th edition of "Mobility Plus" program financed by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education. 

On September 17th, 2017, at the Nencki Institute Hydrobiological Station in Mikołajki, the "Art and Science" Symposium entitled "BIOIMAGINE: INSPIRATION BY INVISIBLE WORLD?" was held. The meeting, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Institute, was aimed at finding new artistic inspirations based on microscopic imaging of cellular structures and aquatic microorganisms.

In reference to the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute, a new edition of the Nencki Institute's Guidebook "100 years 1918-2018" has been published. Apart from the historical feature, the Guide contains information on the current activities of the Departments, the Labs and the supporting units as well as of the Hydrobiological Station in Mikolajki.

An educational meeting “Evening With Insects” open to the wide public was held at the Hydrobiological Station of the Nencki Institute PAS in Mikolajki on the afternoon of 5^th September 2017 as the opening part of the entomological workshop „World of insects around us” held on 5^th-11^th September 2017, and as a contribution to the celebration of the 100^th anniversary of the Nencki Institute.

The entomological workshop „World of insects around us” was held at the Hydrobiological Station of the Nencki Institute in Mikołajki on 5^th-11^th September 2017. The main aims of the workshop consisted in popularization of various aspects of entomology, modern methods of behavioural research, and principles of sustainable development. The workshop also provided a contribution to the celebration of the 100^th anniversary of the Nencki Institute. 

On September 1^st professor Remigiusz Tarnecki passed away. He committed all of his professional life to the Nencki Institute. He initiated his research work under the guidance of professor Jerzy Konorski when the Institute still operated in Łodź where he conducted research on brain physiology. As a student and long-time colleague of Jerzy Konorski he addressed the functional importance of motor-sensory region of the cerebral cortex for generation of instrumental conditioned responses.

The 13th International Congress of the Polish Neuroscience Society (PTBUN) was held on August 28th-31st, 2017, at the Ochota Campus in Warsaw. The Conference was held under the patronage of the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS and the Faculty of Physics, Warsaw University, and was organized as part of the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute.

On August 20th, 2017, as part of a series of meetings “Wildlife Travels” at the Hydrobiological Station in Mikołajki, Maciej Karpowicz PhD from the University of Bialystok, talked about trips to the world’s coral reefs and the biodiversity of these unique and fabulously colourful marine ecosystems. The lecture was accompanied by a demonstration of diving equipment. About 30 people attended the meeting.

An exhibition entitled The Gardens of the World  was opened on the 8^th August, 2017 in the Exhibition Hall of the Nencki Institute (Neurobiology Centre). The exhibit shows 30 photographs by the winners and the laureates  of the 8th International Competition "International Garden Photographer of the Year". The exhibition can be visited until the 30th September 2017, between 8.00 am. and 4.00 pm.

Can we decrease craving in alcohol addicts? Studies conducted in the Laboratory of Neurobiology lead by professor Leszek Kaczmarek are aiming at better understanding of molecular and neurobiological events behind addiction. It was shown that motivation to alcohol is connected with the level of one particular enzyme – matrix metalloproteinase nine (MMP-9).

The article Massive cortical reorganization in sighted Braille readers by Katarzyna Siuda-Krzywicka, Łukasz Bola, Małgorzata Paplińska, Ewa Sumera, Katarzyna Jednoróg, Artur Marchewka, Magdalena W. Śliwińska, Amir Amedi, Marcin Szwed, which appeared last year in Elife, 2016 Mar 15; 5:e10762. doi. 10.7554/eLife.10762 was awarded the prestigous Jerzy Konorski Award, funded by the Polish Society for the Research on the Nervous System and the Neurobiological Comitte of the Polish Academy of Science.

Summer Holiday Brain Days, entitled BRAIN ON VACATIONS (third edition), organized by the PhD students and staff of the Nencki Institute, took place at the Institute's Hydrobiological Station in Mikołajki on July 27^th 2017. The event was hosted by about 70 people.

You will be part of international team of scientists and will get to know prestigious research projects. PhD program at the Nencki Institute opens the doors to your scientific career. See the list of available projects: http://www.nencki.gov.pl/wszystkie-projekty

On July 20^th, 2017, 25 participants of the innovative science camp for talented school children, organized by the Adamed Group Foundation under the Adamed SmartUP program visited the Nencki Institute. The visits to the labs were organized by the Marceli Nencki Foundation for the Biological Sciences Fosterage. The aim was to familiarize young people with the research carried out at the Institute.

PhD student from the Laboratory of Lipid Biochemistry, Łukasz Bożycki, won the Birds category of the Asferico 2017 International Photography Competition organized by the Italian Association of Nature Photographers - AFNI (founded in 1989). He is the only Pole to win a prize in the group of 70 of the best photographers from 21 countries.

On June 26-27 an annual report session of PhD students of The Department of Biochemistry took place. We had an opportunity to listen to 30 very interesting and good presentations.

On June 12th and 13th the hydrobiological workshops for school youth were held at the Station. We organize this event twice a year (summer and winter edition) together with the Foundation for the Protection of Great Masurian Lakes from Giżycko.

On June 26-27th at the Hydrobiological Station in Mikolajki an annual reporting  session of PhD students of the Department of Cell Biology took place.

Every year students from the Polish Children’s Fund participate in a neurobiology workshop at the Nencki Institute. Starting from June 5, the students spent 5 days attending lectures lectures given by Dr. Marzena Stefaniuk, Dr. Rafał Czajkowski, Dr. Ksenia Meyza, Prof. Ewa Godzińska and Dr. Ewelina Knapska

5^th International Symposium „Mechanisms of animal behavior” took place at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences on 26^th May 2017. The Symposium was organized by several institutions based in Wrocław, Warsaw and Cracow:

The 21. Scientific Picnic of Polish Radio and the Copernicus Science Centre was held at the National Stadium on June 3th, 2017. This year’s motto was: EARTH. At tent A32 the Nencki Institute prepared two presentations: Earth and its little inhabitants: ants (Lab. of Ethology) and Earth - the only known place where the brain has evolved... (PhD Students Nencki).

On May 25-26, the Second Annual Symposium "Neurons in Action" was held at the Nencki Institute. Eight outstanding foreign lecturers were invited. Leaders of the research teams of the Nencki Institute and Ochota Campus presented their last achievements.

On Saturday, May 27th at the University of Warsaw Main Campus, the Children’s University Foundation celebrated its 10^th anniversary. Since 2007 over 20.000 kids from 6 cities took part in the activities of the University. They were taught by over 500 scientists and professionals.

III International Conference of Cell Biology took place on 26-27.05.2017 at the Institute of Zoology of the Jagiellonian University in Cracow. At this conference, Marek Zorawski received a diploma for the best presentation titled: “The impact of specific single nucleotide polymorphisms on the phosphorylation and function of the GRHL3 transcription factor”.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute, together with the Marceli Nencki Foundation for Support of Biological Sciencesis, we have initiated a creation on the You Tube service, the Nencki Edu Tube channel

The conference "Nuclear Landscapes 2017" held on May 18-20, 2017 at the Nencki Institute Hydrobiological Station in Mikołajki gathered 28 researchers studying the structure and function of the interphase cell nucleus. During three sessions, 14 oral presentations and 4 posters were presented.

On May 24th, the hydrobiological workshop including lectures, field and microscopic classes took place at the Nencki Institute Hydrobiological Station in Mikołajki for high school students from Łomża (70 people). This youth stay in Masuria with the Green School organized by Kusznierewicz Academy (TJ).

More than 600 foreign researchers have come to Poland in the last decade. Mostly from Ukraine, Germany and India. Within the framework of the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) program, 34 scientists from around the world have accepted the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology

Łukasz Bożycki, PhD candidate from the Laboratory of Biochemistry of Lipids at the Nencki Institute, received an Artistic Scholarship from the Minister of Culture and National Heritage. The project  entitled "Soul Comes to Mind" is a creative combination of two environments: artistic and scientific. This venture is part of the Art and Science and Bio-art.

On April 24th, 2017 in the Nencki Institute was hold the Second Meeting of the Heads and Administration of Phd Studies from the PAS Institutes . The honorary guest of the gathering was prof. Paweł Rowiński, Vice-President of Polish Academy of Sciences. Institutes from all over the country were represented by about 60 patricipants of the meeting.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute, on Friday, 19th May 2017, in the Neurobiology Centre Conference Room  a scientific meeting "POPULARIZATION OF SCIENCE - SCIENCE OF POPULARIZATION", combined with the awarding of the Jan Dembowski prize for science popularization in 2016, was held.

The National Science Centre has published ranking lists of projects which have qualified for financial backing within the limits of the competitions announced by the NSC on 15th September, 2016. Scientists from the Nencki Institute received financial backing for the 15 research projects they worked on in OPUS12, PRELUDIUM12, SONATA12 and POLONEZ3 competitions.

The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS and the Hydrobiological Station in Mikołajki announces the Contest for the "Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program in Academic Year 2017/2018".

For the 25^th time, the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) has awarded the START scholarships to 100 most talented young Polish scientists. One of the laureates was Monika Riegel, a Ph.D. student at the Laboratory of Brain Imaging, Neurobiology Center.

The Director of the Nencki Institute has the pleasure to invite all the employees and PhD students to participate in a scientific meeting entitled: "POPULARIZATION OF SCIENCE - SCIENCE OF POPULARIZATION", to be held in the Neurobiology Centre Conference Room on Friday, May 19 at 2 pm. During the meeting the Jan Dembowski prize will be awarded for science popularization in 2016.

2nd Bilateral Conference between the Nencki Institute and the Science Faculty University of Portsmouth was held in Portsmouth (UK) on April 20th. It was organized within a frame of bilateral scientific collaboration between both Institutions. The conference enjoyed the honorary patronage of the Polish Ambassador to the UK, Prof Arkady Rzegocki.

On April 28th, 2017 sixty pupils from the Social School in Mikolajki visited the Nencki Institute. The guests listened to a lecture by dr Paweł Boguszewski entitled The evolution of the nervous system. Next, the young visitors familiarized themselves with the research carried out at 6 selected Nencki Institute labs

You will be part of international team of scientists and will get to know prestigious research projects. PhD program at the Nencki Institute opens the doors to your scientific career. See the list of available projects: http://www.nencki.gov.pl/wszystkie-projekty

OPEN DAY 12th May 2017. Candidates for PhD Studies are invited to discover the Nencki Institute

The Commemorative Medal for the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute was presented to Prof. Zofia Szweykowska-Kulińska, the Director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan.

During the week 13-18 of March 2017, world Brain Awareness Week events took place at the Nencki Institute. This year we organized five lectures under motto: “Brain: facts and myths”. The lectures approached the topics that are controversial and raise wide public interest.

The Laboratory of Molecular and Systemic Neuromorphology headed by Professor Grzegorz Wilczyński has been awarded a prestigious intercontinental HFSP grant (Human Frontiers Science Program). Within the project, the team of  Professor Wilczyński, and their colleagues from USA and Spain, will investigate the higher-order chromatin structure of neurons.

On Saturday, March 18th, 2017 at the Hydrobiological Station in Mikolajki took place the underwater movie show The Magic of Big Blue by Darek Sepioło. Our guests have watched four films about the underwater world of: Australia and Oceania, the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica and Africa.

Every year scholarship holders from the National Children’s Fund visit the Nencki Institute. On March 6th, 2017 a presentation of the Institute took place. The guests listened to two lectures

During the session of the Scientific Council of February 24th, 2017, which presents the achievements of the Nencki Institute PAS in 2016, director prof. Adam Szewczyk honored dr hab. Ewelina Knapska, prof. Leszek Kuźnicki and prof. Lech Wojtczak, for special merits in aid of the development of the Institute, the Commemorative Medal for the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute.

The project of the National Research and Development Centre PBS1/B8/1/2012, the beneficiaries of which were the Nencki Institute PAS (Laboratories prof. Jerzy Duszyński and prof. Adam Szewczyk) and the Dr Irena Eris Scientific and Research Centre was finished in the Autumn of 2015.

The session of the Scientific Council devoted to the 2016 Annual Report took place on February 24th, 2017. Prof. Andrzej Wrobel commenced the meeting by welcoming the guests.

The Brain Awareness Week is the global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. This year it will be held between March 13 -18 2017 at the Nencki Institute. We plan to concentrate on the problem that neurobiologists in Poland observe for some time already that is, spreading of disinformation and pseudoscience across society, mostly through the internet.

On 11th of February 2017, the Workshops for Teachers of nature, biology and geography was organized at the Nencki Institute Hydrobiological Station in Mikołajki. The guests listened to 4 very interesting lectures.

The National Science Centre has published ranking lists of projects which have qualified for financial backing within the limits of the competitions announced by the NSC on 16th June, 2016. Scientists from the Nencki Institute received financial backing for the 5 research projects they worked on in HARMONIA 8 and SONATA BIS 6 competitions.

The conference will be held on February 27, 2017 in the Educational Centre of Medical University of Warsaw, 2a Trojden Str., Assembly Hall, 1^st floor. The conference will be devoted to cooperation between science and business in the area of bio-innovations and challenges related to commercialization of research.

You will be part of international team of scientists and will get to know prestigious research projects. PhD program at the Nencki Institute opens the doors to your scientific career. 

Prof. Mariusz Więckowski, member of the consortium working on non-invasive profiling of mitochondrial function in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), among the winners of the UE HORIZON 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange programme.

On 29th November 2016 at the Nencki Institute, PAS, the conference MITOCHONDRION 2016 „Frontiers in Mitochondrial Research” was held to Celebrate Lech Wojtczak’s 90th Birthday. During the conference the latest scientific techniques and the latest research on cell bioenergetics and mitochondria were discussed.

Prof. dr hab. Jerzy Duszynski, a head of the Laboratory of Bioenergetics and Biomembrane of the Nencki Institute, received Honorary Medal of Jan Evangelista Purkyne awarded by the Czech Academy of Sciences for outstanding contribution to Biomedical Sciences. The Jan Evangelista Purkyne Medal ceremony took place in Prague on January 25^th 2017. Laudation for prof. Jerzy Duszynski was given by prof. Jan Kopecky, the director of the Institute of Physiology, CAS and by prof. Jiri Drahos, the President of the Czech Academy of Sciences. Prof. Jerzy Duszyński currently serves as the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Marek Dominick Zorawski, a graduate of Pomona College (Claremont, California, USA), received a prestigious scholarship from the Fulbright Commission. US Student Research Award is a scholarship for American citizens to carry out research at the best Polish Universities and research centers.

Ilona Kotlewska-Waś, PhD student in the Laboratory of Psychophysiology (supervisor:  Anna Nowicka), received a prestigious Fulbright scholarship: Fulbright Junior Advanced Research Award.  This is an award for doctoral students of Polish research institutions who will conduct research at American universities.

Łukasz Bożycki, a PhD student in the Laboratory of Biochemistry of Lipids received the Theophrastus Award for the best popular science psychological book of the year. The award was established and awarded by the editors of the magazine "Characters" under the patronage of the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences prof. Jerzy Duszyński.

On December 1st, 2016 the General Assembly of the Polish Academy Sciences (PAS) elected new members. In Division II (Biological and Agricultural Sciences) prof. Małgorzata Kossut, head of the Laboratory of Neuroplasticity was elected a full member, while Prof. Bożena Kamińska-Kaczmarek, head of the Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute Neurobiology Centre was elected a corresponding member.

Piotr Dzwiniel, a doctoral student in the Laboratory of Neurobiology of Vision was selected to the short list of finalists of the competition Technotalent 2016 in the special category Inspirations 2016 and in the category Business. In the category Inspirations 2016 his project "Specvis - free and open source software to study visual field" took first place.

On Wednesday, December 14^th, in a beautifully decorated Konorski Conference hall of the Nencki Institute the annual Christmas party for Nencki senior citizens took place. On behalf of the Institute management Prof. Hanna Fabczak wished all a Marry Christmas and the best of luck in the New Year.

Prof. dr hab. Agnieszka Dobrzyń, a head of the Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Metabolic Disorders of the Nencki Institute, received an Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievements granted by the Minister of Science and Higher Education.

On December 6^th, 2016, in the conference hall of the Nencki Institute Neurobiology Centre another meeting in the framework of the initiative "Ochota na Naukę" took place, adressed mostly to university students and secondary school students.

On December 3th, 2016 XV Scientific Meeting for Biology Teachers was organized by the Nencki Institute and the Centre for Innovative Bioscience Education. More than 50 people took part in the event from all over Poland.

The PAS Student Government Council in cooperation with the National Representation of the PhD students announced the results of another edition of the competition for the most prodoctoral college and Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences ProPAN2016.

The National Science Centre has published ranking lists of projects which have qualified for financial backing within the limits of the competitions announced by the NSC on 15th March, 2016. Scientists from the Nencki Institute received financial backing for the 12 research projects they worked on in OPUS11, PRELUDIUM11 and SONATA11 competitions.

On Saturday 19^th November 2016 Nencki Institute hosted a scientific session „Ethology: an interesting, increasingly interesting science” organized to celebrate the jubilee of 50 years of the Ethological Seminars in the Nencki Institute (1966-2016) [as a part of the celebration of 100 years of the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology (1918-2018)] and 25 years of the Polish Ethological Society (1991-2016).

On November 29^th a conference MITOCHONDRION 2016 will be held at the Nencki Institute. The conference program will include the scientific presentations of the metabolism of the cells bioenergy which will be delivered by the representatives of various scientific centers of Poland. The highlight of the conference will be a solemn session on the beautiful 90th anniversary of Professor Lech Wojtczak's birthday.

On October 26th 2016, Andrzej Duda, the president of Republic of Poland, handed professorial nominations to academic teachers and workers of science and arts. Among the nominees, there was prof. Grzegorz Wilczyński, the head of the Laboratory of Molecular and Systemic Neuromorphology.

On November 27th, 2016 the inauguration of the 2016/2017 academic year of the PAS Ochota BioCentre PhD Programme was celebrated in the lecture hall of the Nałęcz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering PAS.

In October 2016, the Nencki Institute hosted scientific workshop organized together with the Children University Foundation. The classes entitled How does the memory work? were taught by Dr Rafał Czajkowski and Edyta Balcerek at the Laboratory of Animal Models.

The 2016 Nencki Award was presented on October 17^th  to prof. Angelo Azzi of the Vascular Biology Laboratory, Human Nutrition Research Centre on Aging, Tufts University in Boston, USA. The Award Ceremony took place in the conference hall of the Nencki Institute Neurobiology Centre.

On Saturday, 8th October, the 3th Educational Workshop was organized on the Hydrobiological Station - Mikołajki by the BioCentrum Scientific Education and the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS.

Prof. Urszula Wojda is a member of an international consortium that has received a EU Horizon 2020 grant in the FETOPEN: Research & Innovation Action, Novel Ideas for Radically New Technologies competition. The aim of the consortium’s research is to develop new strategies for the treatment and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease based on studies of glycobiological alterations in AD. The “ArrestAD” project received the highest possible evaluation of reviewers (15/15).

On 23th September, 2016 Professor Sir John Burn, eminent geneticist, visited the Nencki Institute. He participated in the specialized seminar on Human Variome Project, of which he is the global coordinator, organized by the Institute of Experimental Biology PAS and the Institute of Human Genetics PAS in Poznan.

The 20^th edition of the Science Festival took place in Warsaw between 24.09.-2.10.2016. For this year’s edition Nencki researchers and PhD students prepared an interesting and rich program. Under the YOUTH CLUB series high school students could attend lectures on biology, which greatly helped those students who are taking advanced biology for their high school exam:

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education Scholarship for dr Michał Bola. Dr Michał Bola from Laboratory of Brain Imaging, Neurobiology Center of the, Nencki Institute is among 168 winners or this edition.

On September 23rd-24th, 2016 in the Nencki Institute Neurobiology Center Hall the international conference “Future of Aging” was held, which was the joint event of the 10^th Congress of Biogerontology of European International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics and the 6^th Biogerontological Meetings at the Nencki Institute. The Conference was organized by the members of the Laboratory of the Molecular Bases of Aging headed by prof. Ewa Sikora.

Prof. Mariusz Więckowski, member of the consortium investigating the role of mitochondria in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), among the winners of the UE HORIZON 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks Programme.

On September 23th, together with Mazurian Landscape Park, SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2016 in the Hydrobiological Station in Mikolajki was organized. Station was  visited by 250 young people from high schools, middle schools and primary schools from the entire region (Mikolajki, Mragowo, Pisz, Baranowo, Woznice), for which the lectures and presentations have been prepared:

On 26^th-28^th August 2016 the Nencki Institute Hydrobiological Station in Mikołajki hosted the International Workshop „Biological roots of prosociality and rescue behaviour”.

In September 2016 the 500th issue of The Nencki Weekly was published. Since January 3rd, 2005 the paper has provided information on current events at the Institute: seminars, prestigious grants, Scientific Council proceedings and new publications.

From the 1^st to 4^th September, 2016 the Copernicus Science Centre hosted a “Festiwal Przemiany” The Nencki Institute and the Copernicus Science Center have signed a cooperation agreement whereby the Laboratory of Molecular Bases of Aging got tegether to organize a temporary  exhibition entitled “Temptation of Immortality”, which deals with various aspects of longevity and with scientific research devoted to the ageing process.

There will be many attractions waiting for all those who will be taking part on September 10th-11th in the event "Europe is changing Warsaw", presenting the way in which the European Union affects the contemporary image of the capital. During the seventh edition, which will take place on Pola Mokotowskie one cannot miss the Nencki Institute.

Ewelina Knapska, head of Neurobiology of Emotions Laboratory, received a prestigious Starting Grant of European Research Council.

On 19th August, 2016  the educational event entitled DAY OF THE AQATIC INSECTS took place at Hydrobiological Station in Mikołajki. Guests could take part in lectures, films, as well as in the field and microscopic classes.

Dr. Anna Suska from the Laboratory of Neurobiology at the Nencki Institute, headed by Professor Leszek Kaczmarek, became the laureate of the HOMING program, financed by The Foundation for Polish Science.

Summer Holiday Brain Days, organized by Laboratory of Neuroplasticity at the Nencki Institute Hydrobiological Station in Mikołajki, took place  from July 21st to 22nd.  Dr Pawel Boguszewski talked about emotions and dr Katarzyna Jednorog gave a lecture on dyslexia. Workshops were run by young scientists from Laboratory of Neuroplasticity.

The National Science Centre published the ranking list of five projects recommended for financing under calls for SYMFONIA 4 proposals announced by the NCN on the 15th November, 2015.

The Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) has announced the results of the first competition in the TEAM programme, which is aimed at funding teams of researchers led by distinguished scientists from all over the world pursuing groundbreaking scientific research. Among 9 winners selected out of 68 applicants is Prof. Leszek Kaczmarek from the Nencki Institute.

Among the laureates of the ETIUDA4 competition for PhD scholarships, announced by the NCN on 15th December, 2015, three students from the Nencki Institute were included:

On the 27^th-28^th of June the Annual Reports of PhD students from the Biochemistry Department took place, at the „Rancho pod Bocianem” recreation centre near Tarczyn.

On June 20th-21th an annual reporting session of PhD students of the Department of Cell Biology took place. This year the session was held at the Hydrobiological Station in Mikolajki.

The annual PhD student reports of the Department of Neurophysiology took place on 10th-11^th June 2016 during the session organized in the  Kormoran Centre in Mierki, lake Pluszne.

On 18th June 2016, the General Assemble of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences (PAU) elected new members.

Apply for a Marie Skłodowska - Curie Actions (MSCA) Individual Fellowship choosing the Nencki Institute as your Host Institution.

15-18 June 2016, a summer school 4th Baltic-Nordic Summer School on Neuroinformatics (BNNI 2016).

On 7th May, 2016, Nencki Institute Hydrobiological Station in Mikolajki and Mazurian Landscape Park (MLP) co-organized Educational picnic on the water. The meeting guests participated in the workshops and listened to the interesting lectures.

On 10th June, 2016 at the Neurobiology Center conference hall a scientific meeting "Nencki Institute bioinnovations life changing" was held. The theme of this year's meeting was the presentation of research performed at the Nencki Institute in cooperation with bioinnovation companies.

In autumn last year, the project of the National Research and Development Centre PBS1 / B8 / 1/2012 was completed, whose beneficiaries were the Nencki Institute PAS (Laboratory of Jerzy Duszyński and Laboratory of Adam Szewczyk) and the Scientific and Research Centre Dr IRENA ERIS.

On 22nd May this year on the anniversary of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences the Senate passed a resolution to honor the Nencki Institute PAS Medal "200 Years - From the Institute of Agronomy in Marymont to Warsaw University of Life Sciences".

The Scientific Committees of the Polish Academy of Sciences have finished their election campaign. The Committee of the Cell Molecular Biology operating within the Division II of Biological and Agricultural Sciences PAS was one of these committees. 

The "Brain Tumors Meeting 2016 - From Biology to Therapy" will take place in the Nencki Institute on June 27-29, 2016 in Warsaw, Poland. The conference is organized by The Nencki Institute in collaboration with the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, and Foundation of Clinical and Experimental Oncology.

For the seventh time the Crystal Brussels Prize Chapter revealed a shortlist for the prize among the Polish participants in Horizon 2020 Framework Programme - the largest European Union Framework Programme in the history, which is intended to strengthen scientific excellence and increase the economic competitiveness of the EU Member States.

Dr Paulina Podszywalow-Bartnicka from the Laboratory of Cytometry awarded fellowship from the Kosciuszko Foundation, to perform studies at the Laboratory of prof. Tomasz Skorski, Temple School of Medicine in US.

You will be part of international team of scientists and will get to know prestigious research projects. PhD program at the Nencki Institute opens the doors to your scientific career. 

On May 12th at the Nencki Institute the Open Day for the PhD candidates was organized. The event was open by Dr Witold Konopka, deputy director for scientific research. Information on doctoral studies was presented by prof. Daniel Wójcik, Head of PhD Studies, and representatives of the Nencki’s PhD Students Council.

On 5-6th May 2016 in Nasielsk in the vicinity of Warsaw a conference was held organized by the Faculty of Chemistry of Warsaw University of Technology and the Department of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, creating KNOW consortium in the field of chemical sciences, as well as the Nencki Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Participants of TRI-BIO-CHEM-2016 listened to 25 presentations on biology and chemistry.

To celebrate 100th Anniversary of Nencki Institute the EMBO Conference on Imaging the Brain, co sponsored by ZEISS Poland will be held on 18-19 May in the Institute

The National Science Centre has published ranking lists of projects which have qualified for financial backing within the limits of the competitions announced by the NSC on 15th March, 2015. Scientists from the Nencki Institute received financial backing for the 9 research projects they worked on in OPUS10, PRELUDIUM10 and SONATA10 competitions.

Director of the National Centre for Research and Development has published the lists of projects which have qualified for financial backing in the III Competition of the programme: „Prevention and treatment of civilization diseases” – STRATEGMED. Among the projects selected for funding are 4, in which members of the consortium carrying out the research are employees of the Nencki Institute:

The 20. Scientific Picnic of Polish Radio and the Copernicus Science Centre was held at the National Stadium on May 7th, 2016. This year’s motto was: HEALTH. The Jubilee Picnic was attended by a record number of participants from home and abroad, presenting shows in various fields of science.

In March of this year, Professor Maciej Nałęcz, longtime director of the Nencki Institute PAS, returned to the Institute after nearly 15 years of activity in the UNESCO in Paris. On May 1^st, 2016 prof. Maciej Nałęcz was appointed Proxy of the Institute Director for the European Union Strategic Programs.

For the 24^th time, the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) has awarded START stipends to the most talented young scientists throughout Poland. In 2016 stipends will go to 121 young researchers including:

Paweł J. Mazurkiewicz, a Ph. D. student of the Inter-faculty Interdisciplinary Doctoral Studies in Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Warsaw carrying out his Ph. D. thesis in the Laboratory of Ethology of the Department of Neurophysiology of the Nencki Institute and the Department of Animal Physiology of the Faculty of Biology of the University of Warsaw, became one of the winners in the finals of the competition FameLab Poland 2016 which took place in the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw on 16th April 2016.

Candidates for PhD Studies are invited to discover the Nencki Institute. 12th of May 2016, 12 PM

Plan of the meeting:

• the most important informations about the Instutute and research
• meeting with the representative of the PhD Students Council
• questions and answers
• individual conversations
• walk through the Institute

Nencki Institute curries out the International PhD Studies co-funded by a grant from the prestigious European Union Marie Sklodowska-Curie COFUND program since October 2015.

Alumni Club run at the Nencki Institute by prof. Jolanta Barańska, from  April 1st, 2016 has a new coordinator dr. hab. Joanna Szczepanowska from the Laboratory of Bioenergetics and Biological Membranes.

Nencki Institute has received a grant "Toddler Program 2016" of the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy. This finansing allows the creation of Point of Care, which begins its operations in September this year.

An exhibition entitled 3 x Polish clawed birds was opened on the 30th March, 2016 in the Exhibition Hall of the Nencki Institute (Neurobiology Centre). The exhibit shows 32 photographs by Marek Fijałkowski. The exhibition can be visited until the 6th May 2016, between 9.00 am. and 3.00 pm.

On March 11^th, 2016 the Nencki Institute hosted a delegation (Ms. Yuko Tsuda and Mr. Izumi Yamashita) of the Center for Research and Strategy Develompment/Sapan Science and Technology Agency of Japan.

During the period 14th-20th March 2016 the Nencki Institute PAS hosted a cycle of popular science events „Brains For Brains” taking place as part of the Brain Awareness Week 2016 in Warsaw.

On March 9^th The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology hosted a team of eight scientists from the University of Portsmouth who arrived for (participated in) the Bilateral Conference organized as a part of collaboration between our Institutions and held at the Nencki Institute.

On March 8th, 2016 in the Nencki Institute the First Meeting of the Heads and Administration of Phd Studies from the PAS Institutes was held. The honorary guest of the gathering was prof. Paweł Rowiński, Vice-President of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Institutes from all over the country were represented by about 70 participants at the meeting.

Every year scholarship holders from the National Children’s Fund visit the Nencki Institute. On February 29th, 2016 a presentation of the Institute took place. The guests listened to two lectures by dr W. Konopka - The history and achievements of the Nencki Institute and by mgr Alicja Puścian Fear - how to make it disappear?

On February 27th, 2016 the Nature Film Festival BIO-FILM was held at the Hydrobiological Station in Mikolajki, organized by the Nencki Institute and Educational Film Studio in Lodz.

The session of the Scientific Council devoted to the 2015 Annual Report took place on February 26th, 2016.

The National Science Centre has published ranking lists of projects which have qualified for financial backing within the limits of the competitions announced by the NSC on 16th June, 2015. Scientists from the Nencki Institute received financial backing for the 4 research projects they worked on in HARMONIA 7 and SONATA Bis 5competitions.

Two professors from the Nencki Institute, prof. dr hab. Agnieszka Dobrzyn and prof. dr hab. Mariusz Więckowski, were awarded the highest professional degrees, that of Professors of Biological Sciences, by the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, in a ceremony at the Presidential Palace on 26^th January 2016.

In 2015, Polish Academy of Science Division of Biological and Agricultural Sciences, awarded the team led by Dr. Jakub Wlodarczyk (Laboratory of Cell Biophysics, Nencki Institute), Dr. Magdalena Dziembowska (Laboratory of Neurobiology, Nencki Institute) and Prof. Leszek Kaczmarek (Laboratory of Neurobiology, Nencki Institute), and including as well Prof. Leszek Kaczmarek,  Dr. Alexandra Janusz, Dr. Michal Stawarski, Dr. Zsuzsanna Szepesi for outstanding scientific achievements. The awarded series of works is entitled "The role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in synaptic plasticity."

A photo exhibition of Plants and Gardens was opened on the 12th of January, 2016 in the Exhibition Hall of the Nencki Institute (Neurobiology Centre). The exhibit shows more than 60 photographs by winners and laureates of the international competition "International Garden Photographer of the Year competition 5, 6, 7". The exhibition can be visited until the 12th of March 2016, between 9.00 am. and 3.00 pm.

On January 14th, 2016 in the Neurobiology Center, Nencki Institute was hold the scientific conference “Dr Neuronowski® – the idea for the sharp brain and fluent speech” organized by the Laboratory of Neuropsychology. In the conferrence took part ca. 200 participants.

A popular science calendar „An ant for each day” (authors: Paweł J. Mazurkiewicz, Jarosław Szczepanik, Alex Wild, Maciej Nielubowicz i Ewa J. Godzińska, Warsaw, Script, 292 pp.) is a non-profit educational publication published thanks to the financial suport of the Foundation for Polish Science (programme SKILLS-eNgage „Awesome world of ants”, project manager: Paweł J. Mazurkiewicz) and the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS.

You will be part of international team of scientists and will get to know prestigious research projects. PhD program at the Nencki Institute opens the doors to your scientific career. 

A group of scientists from the Nencki Institute participated in an advanced study on chromatin topology and its impact on the gene transcription.  The work was published in the top biological journal Cell on December 17th.

On December 8, 2015 the chairman of the interim board of Euro-BioImaging (EuBI), Prof. Benjamin Geiger of the Weizmann Institute, officially announced the results of the ratification of EuBI research Nodes and Hub. Among them, unanimous approval was given to the Polish node project: Advanced Light Microscopy Node Poland. It is coordinated by the Nencki Institute in collaboration with the Mossakowski Institute of the Polish Academy of Science and the Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology of the Jagiellonian University. It constitutes one of the 28 initial research sites that are forming this European infrastructure. In parallel to the nodes, the board also selected the so-called Hub, the central governance and headquarters of the future infrastructure.

On Wednesday, December 16^th, in a beautifully decorated Konorski Conference hall of the Nencki Institute the annual Christmas party for Nencki senior citizens took place. On behalf of the Institute management Prof. Adam Szewczyk i Prof. Hanna Fabczak wished all Marry Christmas and the best of luck in the New Year. Visitors enjoyed themselves in cheerful Christmas atmosphere and had a very nice time.

On the 12-13th November 2015 the 4th IRB Barcelona PhD students symposium „Science fights back: Tackling disease to recover homeostasis” took place. Katarzyna Konarzewska, Tomasz Bednarski and Tomasz Lebitko, PhD students from the Nencki Institute, were invited by Institute for Research in Biomedicine in Barcelona (IRB) to present their recent data during the symposium.

On 5th of December 2015 XIV Scientific Meeting for Teachers was organized by the Nencki Institute, the Centre for Innovative Bioscience Education and the Fundation of BioEducation. About 60 people took part in the event from all over Poland. The guests listened to 5 very interesting lectures (3 of them presented by Nencki Institute employees), which stimulated a heated discussion.

Nencki Institue received the award for most pro-PhD institution during the PRODOC and PROPAN 2015 Gala held on 19th November 2015 in the Staszic Palace.

The National Science Centre has published ranking lists of projects which have qualified for financial backing within the limits of the competitions announced by the NSC on 15th March, 2015. Scientists from the Nencki Institute received financial backing for the 23 research projects they worked on in OPUS7, PRELUDIUM6 and SONATA7 competitions.

The opening of newly renovated and equipped rooms of the Laboratory of Psychophysiology inaugurated with a lecture of prof. A. Grabowska and dr K. Jednoróg entitled “Searching for the mechanisms of dyslexia” took place on the 6^th of November. The team led by prof. A. Grabowska starts a comprehensive research programme on the neurobiological bases of developmental dyslexia financed by National Science Centre within the MAESTRO funding scheme.

On 4th November, 2015 the prof. Joan Guinovart, director of the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) in Barcelona visited the Nencki Institute. For a year prof. Guinovart has also been serving as the president of the International Union for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB).The Nencki Institute together with the IRB co-operate in research projects.

On November 4th, 2015 the inauguration of the 2015/2016 academic year of the PAS Ochota BioCentre PhD Programme was celebrated in the lecture hall of the Nałęcz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering PAS.

On Saturday, 3^th October, the 2^nd Educational Workshop was organized on the Hydrobiological Station - Mikołajki by the BioCentrum Scientific Education and the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS. About 120 students from high, middle and primary schools from Mikołajki and the surrounding area participated in this workshop.

On 30th October 2015 Minister of Science and Higher Education awarded the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS scientific category A+. This decision ends more than two years of efforts of the Nencki Institute investigation in fair assessment of scientific activity of the institute. In recent months, not only the Committee for Evaluation of Research, but also the Regional Administrative Court in Warsaw pointed to the soundness of the position of the Ministry of Science and Education from the year 2013.

It is our great pleasure to announce 2^nd PhD Student Conference of the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology that will take place on 27-29^th of October. This is a big event organized every two years that gathers all PhD students from our Institute.

On 7th October 2015 during the Forum for Development of Mazovia Nencki Institute declared its participation in the Mazovia Chemical Cluster. Cooperating entities within the Mazovia Chemical Cluster decided to continue its activity in the legal form of the association.

On 13th October 2015 Nencki Institute hosted a meeting of CePT project beneficiaries applying for funding for ventures of R & D sphere.

On Saturday, 3^th October, the 2^nd Educational Workshop was organized on the Hydrobiological Station - Mikołajki by the BioCentrum Scientific Education and the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS.

The National Science Centre of Poland (NSC) presented a summary of all scientific and research units taking part in NSC competitions settled in 2013-2014 together with the categories of the Committee for Evaluation of Research Units.

We have the pleasure to announce that on 28th September 2015 the Central Commission for Academic Degrees and Titles awarded the Nencki Institute the right to confer the degrees of doctor of biological sciences in the discipline of biochemistry.

The 19^th edition of the Science Festival took place in Warsaw between 19-27th September, 2013. For this year’s edition Nencki researchers  and PhD students prepared an interesting and rich program.

On 31^th August - 13^th September 2015 the Nencki Institute Hydrobiological Station in Mikołajki hosted the Myrmecological Workshop for young people organized as a part of the project of the Foundation for Polish Science

Dr. Mayank Chaturvedi (working in laboratory of neurobiology lead by prof. Leszek Kaczmarek) has been awarded “Mobility Plus” IV edition from Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

On September 15th, 2015 in Portsmouth (United Kingdom), an agreement was signed on the bilateral co-operation between the Faculty of Science at the University of Portsmouth, represented by the Dean Prof. Taraneh (Tara) Dean, and the Nencki Institute, represented by Prof. Adam Szewczyk.

Please be advised that on Wikipedia updated and expanded information has appeared about the Nencki Institute, the people associated with it, its history and present achievements.

On 1 September, 2015, dr Tomasz Janecki, polar explorer, hydrobiologist, hydrocele, scuba diver, was appointed to the position of the Chead of Nencki Institute Hydrobiological Station in Mikołajki

On August 22nd, 2015 the Marceli Nencki Foundation for Support the Biological Sciences and the Nencki Institute organized the holiday workshops  "Summer in the biologist laboratory". The Nencki Institute researchers and graduate students invited children and young people to participate in the adventure of life sciences:

In May 2015 the Nencki Institute prepared a report for the European Commission concerning the internal evaluation of compliance with the provisions units that have received logo HR Excellence in Research. In August, the report has received a positive opinion from the Commission. The next evaluation will take place in 2017.

The 40th FEBS Congress was held in Berlin from the 4th to 9th of July. During the congress the Council of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies chose prof. Adam Szewczyk for a 3-year term of office to the Finance Committee FEBS.

Summer Holiday Brain Days, organized by Laboratory of Neuroplasticity at the Hydrobiological Station of The Polish Academy of Sciences in Mikołajki, took place  from July 21st to 23rd.  Lectures about brain function, diseases and behavior were given by Prof. Anna Członkowska, Prof. Ewa J. Godzińska, mgr Aleksandra Kołodziej, Dr Monika Liguz-Lęcznar and  Prof. Andrzej Wróbel. Workshops were run by young scientists from The Nencki Institute - Anna Bartkowiak-Kaczmarek, Maria Bierzyńska, Weronika Dębowska, Katarzyna Giertuga, Aleksandra Różycka, and Małgorzata Suszek.

At the Nencki Institute Hydrobiological Station in Mikołajki a new campsite was created. It is located in the forest area of the station, not far from the main buildings. It has access to bathrooms and toilets.

On July 23rd, 2015, 28 participants of the scientific camp for talented youth, organized by the Foundation Adamed Group under the Adamed SmartUP visited the Nencki Institute. The visits at the labs were organized by the Marceli Nencki Foundation for Support the Biological Sciences. Its aim was to familiarize young people with the research carried out at the Institute.

The National Science Centre published the ranking list of six projects recommended for financing under calls for proposals announced by the NCN on the 15th November, 2012.

You will be part of international team of scientists and will get to know prestigious research projects. PhD program at the Nencki Institute opens the doors to your scientific career. See the list of available projects: http://studia.nencki.gov.pl/?trg=can&lang=en&a=pg_proj

Come to Summer Brain Awareness Days in Mikolajki! From 21.07 till 23-07, each day at 16.00 hrs,  lectures on selected topics of neurobiology will be presented. After the lectures, workshops on brain anatomy and function will be organized by PhD students of The Nencki Institute.

On the 1st July, 2015  the first meeting of the Organizing Committee of the celebrations of the centenary of the Nencki Institute took place. During the next few years, until 2018, various events highlighting the achievements of the Nencki Institute in biological sciences are being planned. We recommend hashtag memory information relating to the 100th anniversary of the Nencki Institute

On the 27th June, in Olsztyn's old town the Scientific Picnic "Science is also Art" was held. Picnic was organized by the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research PAS. The purpose of the picnic was to promote Polish Academy of Sciences. Nencki PhD students conducted a series of workshops under the heading "Biology in the kitchen".

In June,  the Nencki Institute has signed an agreement for an internship for children with outstanding talent with the Polish Children’s Fund and the Foundation for Advanced Technology.

On 29-30 June interviews for PhD positions at the Nencki Institute were held. From 116 candidates 36 were invited  for interviews out of which 23 were offered to start the studies on October 1st. Note that recruitment for the remaining graduate projects at the Nencki Institute will start in the first half of July. More information available on pages of the graduate school http://studia.nencki.gov.pl/

The Young Scientists Forum will be held on 2-3 July 2015 in Warsaw. It will be organized under the auspices of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO). EMBO is a pan-European institution bringing together more than 1,700 most eminent scientists in the field of molecular biology, including 79 Nobel Prize winners. The Forum will be hosted by the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, 3 Pasteur St.

On 6th June, 2015, at the Nencki Institute Hydrobiological Station in Mikolajki the naming ceremony of Wanda and Andrzej Szczepańscy Avenue was held. Professor Andrzej Szczepański and Dr Wanda Szczepańska were the organizers of the Hydrobiological Station. They came to Mikołajki in September 1951 and devoted their lives to the research of Mazurian lakes.

On 29 th May, 2015, Hanna Nencka, great-granddaughter of  Marcel Nencki's  brother Hipolit, was a guest at the Nencki Institute. She is currently  preparing a monograph about professor Marcel Nencki, her great-grandfather's brother. 

Prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyn form the Nencki Institute has been appointed as a chairwoman of the "Mobility Plus" interdisciplinary expert panel of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

The interview and selection process for the position of a Group Leader at the Nencki Institute has been completed. 43 applications were submitted for the competition. Six best suited candidates were invited for personal interviews which took place on 25^th and 26^th of May 2015. Laureates of the Group Leader Competition at the Nencki Institute are: dr hab. Dorota Włoga and dr Rafał Czajkowski.

Dr Anna Suska from the Laboratory of Neurobiology at the Nencki Institute, headed by Professor Leszek Kaczmarek was awarded the START Scholarship of The Foundation for Polish Science. Dr Suska is an electrophysiologist working on synaptic plasticity associated with learning and memory processes.

You will be part of international team of scientists and will get to know prestigious research projects. PhD program at the Nencki Institute opens the doors to your scientific career. 

4^th International Symposium „Behavioural mechanisms in animals and options of their modelling” took place at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences on 15^th May 2015. The Symposium was organized by several institutions from Wrocław and Warsaw: the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences (Department of Reproductive and Clinic of Farm Animals and Department of Immunology, Pathophysiology and Veterinary Preventive Medicine), the Lower Silesian Chamber of Medical and Veterinary, and Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS.

On Monday, May 25th, we will host scientific session, during which the candidates shortlisted for the second stage of the Group Leader competition will present their achievements, as well as their plans for the future. The session is open and will take place in the Neurobiology Centre Conference Hall, at the Nencki Institute.

On May 15 th at the Nencki Institute was organized the Open Day for the PhD candidates. The event was open by Dr Witold Konopka, deputy director for scientific research.

On 11th May, 2015, prof. Iain W. Matt, the General Director of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg was a guest at the Nencki Institute. The possibilities of bilataralnej cooperation in research and PhD studies were discussed.

The 19. Scientific Picnic of the Polish Radio and the Copernicus Science Centre was held on the National Stadium on May 9th, 2015. This year’s motto was: LIGHT. More than 200 scientific institutions from Poland and abroad held various science demonstrations.

We have pleasure to invite you to participate in the 3rd Baltic Stem Cell Meeting (BSCM) conference which is taking place in Warsaw, Poland, at the Nencki on June 18-19, 2015.

On 2-3 July, 2015 EMBO Young Scientists Forum will be organized in Warsaw. The EMBO Young Scientists Forum aims to gather young European researchers in order to provide motivation and inspiration for students to pursue their education and career in the life sciences. The meeting is a great opportunity for PhD students, postdocs and junior investigators to interact with Europe's most promising young scientists, members of the EMBO Young Investigator Programme.

Dr Katarzyna Jednoróg from the Nencki Institute received funding for mobility costs of bilateral Polish-Austrian co-operation project with dr Fabio Richlan (Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, http://www.uni-salzburg.at/ccns/people/richlan) entitled "Longitudinal neuroimaging study of typical and atypical reading development in German and Polish" for the years 2015-2017.

16-17 April 2015 at the Nencki Institute took place Nodes Workshop of the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF; http://www.incf.org), of which Poland is a member. The goal of INCF is support of the global development of neuroinformatics, or development of theoretical and computational support for neurosciences.

The Warsaw Innovation Centre (WIC) is a new research consortium, a joint initiative of the four institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences: Institute of Physics, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry and the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology.

On 15^th April, 2014 a plenary meeting of the Biology and Agricultural Science Faculty II PAS was held at the Conference Hall of the Neurobiological Centre at the Nencki Institute. The meeting was opened by prof. Jerzy Duszyński, President of the Polish Academy of Sciences. One of the main items on the agenda was the evaluation of the candidate and the election of the new Dean of the Faculty II, which was prof. Leszek Kaczmarek, head of the Laboratory of Neurobiology at the Nencki Institute.

On 17-19th the Nencki Institute was visited by Prof. Pal Ahluwalia, pro-rector of the University of Portsmouth UK, Prof. Taraneh (Tara) Dean, Dean of the Faculty of Science, and Professor Dariusz Górecki (School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences).

Monika Riegel, PhD student from the Laboratory of Brain Imaging, Neurobiology Centre (http://lobi.nencki.gov.pl/) obtained funding from the Foundation for Polish Science (program SKILLS – INTERNSHIPS) for a 4-month internship at the Swiss National Center of Competence in Research in Geneva under supervision of Prof. Partik Vuilleumier (https://medweb4.unige.ch/labnic/).

The Nencki Institute is actively involved in professional and social stimulation of people with disabilities. Prof. Krzysztof Zabłocki, head of the Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism, allowed the holding of a 5-month internship and training of one person from the Foundation for Active Rehabilitation of Lublin.

On 19th March, 2015 Prof. Jerzy Duszyński was choosen for the position of the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences by members of the PAS General Assembly. Jerzy Duszyński will serve this position for four years until 2018. Congratulations!!!

On 17th March, 2015 representatives of major research institutions and pharmaceutical companies signed an agreement at the Nencki Institute for the creation of the first Polish Innovative Neuromedicine Platform "InnoNeuroMed" The agreement increases the chances of obtaining EU funds for the implementation of projects related to the development neuromedicine, the development of new drugs and diagnostic methods.

In the digital repository of the scientific institutes (RCIN) the thousandth publication from the Nencki Institute Library collection was. It is: The Universe and man. The history of wildlife research and use its forces for the benefit of wildlife, collective work edited by Hans Kraemer, translated by Stanislaw Kramsztyk. The book was edited in Warsaw, 1905, by the famous encyclopedia publishing house S. Orgelbrand and Sons. The richly illustrated volume contains mainly a collection of chapters on geology and geophysics.   

The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences has been awarded with an EU Horizon2020 Marie Curie COFUND grant to create the International PhD Studies, Bio4Med: Biology for Medicine, International Doctoral Programme in Biological Bases of Human Diseases.

Paweł Jarosław Mazurkiewicz, M. Sc., a student of the Inter-faculty Interdisciplinary Doctoral Studies in Mathematics and Natural Sciences at theUniversity of Warsaw (MISDoMP UW), carrying out an interdiciplinary Ph. D. thesis in the Laboratory of Ethology of the Department of Neurophysiology of the Nencki Institute (head prof. Ewa J. Godzińska) and in the Department of Animal Physiology of the Faculty of Biology of the University of Warsaw, became one of the 11 laureates of the 3^rd edition of the competition of the Foundation for Polish Science organized as part of the programme SKILLS – eNgage.

Every year scholarship holders from the National Children’s Fund visit the Nencki Institute. On March 2^nd, 2015 a presentation of the Institute took place. The guests to listened to two lectures by

Each Spring, the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF; http://www.incf.org), holds the INCF Nodes Workshop. This is the main event bringing representatives from each Node country together to present their activities, begin and continue collaborations, and inspire the future directions of INCF:

On the decision of the Regional Board of Mazowieckie Voivodeship the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS received support for the amount of more than 3 mln zł for the project: “Increase of Mazovia innovation by building integrated preclinical positions involving radiopharmaceuticals"

We are pleased to inform that film Nencki Institute PAS Neurobiology Center on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTse2TLOLS4) was watched by over 1,000 spectators. Congratulations!!!  

In 2015, Brain Awareness Week (BAW), which is a global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research, will take place in Warsaw on March 16th-22nd.

On 25^th February 2015 r. a passage was opened between the Nencki Institute and the Faculty of Chemistry of Warsaw University. Prof. Adam Szewczyk, Director of the Institute, and prof. Paweł Kulesza, the Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry took part in the ceremony.

The session of the Scientific Council devoted to the 2014 Annual Report took place on February 27th, 2015. The honorary guests of the gathering were Professor Stefan Malepszy, Chair of the Council of Provosts of the second department for Biological and Agricultural Sciences PAS, the directors of the institutes: prof. Dorota Pijanowska (IBIB PAN), prof. Janusz Szczepański (IPPT PAN), prof. Barbara Zabłocka (IMDIK PAN) and the deans: prof. Zbigniew Stojak (Faculty of Chemistry WU), prof. Teresa Rząca-Urban (Faculty of Physics WU).

Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology and Department of Physics, University of Warsaw decided to create a joint interdisciplinary seminar, in which we will hear presentations understandable for both scientific environments. A proposed series of lectures are aim at strengthening cooperation between scientific units and to provide with the latest research in the field of biology, medicine and physics. We believe that this initiative will help scientists to search for topics of joint research and contribute to the creation of interesting, interdisciplinary grant projects.

The National Science Centre (NCN) and The National Centre for Research and Development have published ranking lists of projects that have qualified for financial in the frame of TANGO competition. The aim of the TANGO program is to facilitate scientific institutions the practical application of basic research. The project, led by group of Dr. Jakub Wlodarczyk, entitled “In vivo testing of MMP-9 activity sensor“ was classified the first place of the ranking list. The aim of the project is to confirm the FRET based biosensor selectivity to MMP-9 and its functionality in in vivo studies.

Prof. Jerzy Duszyński and prof. Miroslaw Marody are applying for the position of the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences for a 4-year term from 2015-2018. One of these candidates will be chosen by members of the Academy's General Assembly on 19th March 2015.

On January 21st, 2015 Bronisław Komorowski, President of the Republic of Poland, handed professorial nominations to the academic teachers and workers of science and art. In the group of nominees was prof. Małgorzata Skup, a researcher in the Laboratory of Reinnervation Processes and Head of the Department of Neurophysiology at the Nencki Institute.

On the 30^th of January 2015 the Nencki Institute and the Warsaw University of Technology signed a scientific cooperation agreement.

The first session of the Scientific Council at the Nencki Institute (term 2015-2018) took place on January 23th 2015. The session was opened by Prof. Adam Zięcik, the Vice-President of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

The National Science Centre announced a FUGA 4 competition on national internships after obtaining a PhD degree. The competition will consider the projects carried out by people starting a career in science and who have obtained a doctoral degree no earlier than 5 years before the year of application. 

Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences is inviting applications in an open competition for the position of a Group Leader.

We invite you to view the current images of the Nencki Institute Hydrobiological Station in Mikołajki. Night photos done by Łukasz Bożycki, a PhD student from the Laboratory of Biochemistry of Lipids, awarded many national and international awards.

PhD students from Nencki Institute: Anna Bot, Kinga Borzęcka, Małgorzata Hall, Joanna Wojsiat and Jarosław Walczak have been invited by Institute for Research in Biomedicine in Barcelona (IRB) to  participate in 1^st IRB PhD Retreat conference which took place between 14^th and 15^th of  November 2014.

On December 16th, 2014 the Conference Hall of the Neurobiology Center of the Nencki Institute held a meeting "Neurobiology Center and Hydrobiological Station in Mikołajki 12 months after …."

The activities of the Neurobiology Centre in the past year were presented by representatives of each laboratory (see agenda). While prof. Adam Szewczyk presented the achievements of the last 12 months and plans for the future regarding the Station in Mikolajki.

On Friday, December 12^th, in a beautifully decorated Konorski Conference hall of the Nencki Institute the annual Christmas party for Nencki senior citizens took place. On behalf of the Institute management Prof. Hanna Fabczak wished all Marry Christmas and the best of luck in the New Year. Visitors enjoyed themselves in cheerful Christmas atmosphere and had a very nice time.

On 10th December the Nencki Institute was visited by 3rd year Biotechnology students from the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn.

We cordially invite all interested persons for the participation in the symposium „Biological roots of altruism and pro-social behaviour” organised by Polish Ethological Society and Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAS in the Conference Hall of the Neurobiology Center of the Nencki Institute on 13th December 2014.

The 2014 Award of the Division of Biological and Agricultural Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, for the scientific achievements for the set of papers concerning the discovery of new mechanisms crucial for pathobiology and therapy of gliomas was granted to the research team: Dr Małgorzata Sielska, Dr Iwona Ciechomska, Dr Aleksandra Ellert-Miklaszewska, Dr Konrad Gabrusiewicz, Dr hab. Michał Dąbrowski, led by Prof. dr hab. Bożena Kamińska-Kaczmarek (Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki InstituteNeurobiology Centre).

On 6th of December 2014 XIII Scientific Meeting for Teachers was organized by the Nencki Institute, the Centre for Innovative Bioscience Education and the Fundation of BioEducation.

The Nencki Institute and the Hydrobiological Station in Mikołajki joined the Association of Local Action Group "Masurian Sea". This group was created to allow residents of the six municipalities located around the lake Śniardwy use of EU funds available under axis 4 LEADER Agriculture and Rural Development Programme. The main purpose of the action is to stimulate local communities and promotion of the region.

We are pleased to inform that more than 1000 people liked the Facebook social network of the Nencki Institute. Congratulations!!! https://www.facebook.com/ibdnencki?v=wall

Iwona Ciechomska, Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Laureate of XIVth edition of L’Oreal Polska-UNESCO FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE organized with partnership of Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

We are pleased to invite everyone interested in studies linking the neurobiology and psychology to participate in BILATERAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING organized by the Nencki Institute and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. The meeting will take place on December 9, 10.30 am-14.45 pm, the conference hall, Neurobiology Center of the Nencki Institute. The aim of the meeting is to present results of common investigations performed by the two institutions.

We are pleased to invite Ph.D.' students and young research fellows/investigators to participate in the Winter School focusing on modern methods for imaging macromolecules, cells, tissue, and organs. Our School will take place on December 15-16, 2014 in the Nencki Institute.

An exhibition entitled Kaua'i – green island of Hawaii was opened on the 26th November, 2014 in the Exhibition Hall of the Nencki Institute (Neurobiology Centre). The exhibit shows 51 photographs by Prof Andrzej K. Tarkowski and Monika Tarkowska-Carter taken during their tour of Hawaii in 2013. The exhibition can be visited until the 31st December 2014, between 9.00 am. and 3.00 pm.

The PAS Student Government Council in cooperation with the National Representation of the PhD students announced the results of the 7th edition of the competition for the most prodoctoral college and institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences in the country. Among the categories to be evaluated include: the impact on the process of doctoral education, social conditions, self-management, support the existence of a young scientist, support PhD students with disabilities.

We invite you to watch a film presenting Educational Workshops, which took place at the Hydrobiological Station of the Nencki Institute in Mikołajki. The workshops were organized by BioCentrum Science Education and the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology. https://www.youtube.com/v/hezmuFou-kk&list=UUQ6tUGCY46A0srd__f_zniA

The National Science Centre has published ranking lists of projects which have qualified for financial backing within the limits of the competitions announced by the NSC on 17th March, 2014. Scientists from the Nencki Institute received financial backing for the 9 research projects they worked on in OPUS7, PRELUDIUM6 and SONATA7 competitions.

On the 6th of November (Thursday) at 9.30 a.m., in the Conference Room of the Nencki Neurobiology Centre the Reporting Seminar of MSc Graduate Students from the Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences of the University of Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, Warsaw will take place performing experiments for their Master theses at the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology.

On October 17th, 2014, at the invitation of prof. Danuta Koradecka, director of CILP/PIB, prof. Adam Szewczyk, director of the Nencki Institute, and prof. Ewa Sikora, head of the Laboratory of Molecular Bases of Aging,  visited the Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute to sign an agreement on cooperation.

On 21-22 October 2014  the final meeting of the BIO-IMAGINE Project International Advisory Board and the External Evaluators appointed by the European Commission to assess the results of the Project was held at the Nencki Institute.

On October 17th, 2014 the inauguration of the 2014/2015 academic year of the PAS Ochota BioCentre PhD Programme was celebrated in the lecture hall of the Nałęcz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering PAS.

On Saturday, 4th October 2014, the Centre for Innovative Bioscience Education (BioCen) and the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology Polish Academy of Sciences organized educational workshops at the Hydrobiological Station of the Nencki Institute in Mikołajki.

The 1^st Congress of the Polish Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Biophysics and Bioinformatics BIO 2014 took place in Warsaw from 9th till 12th  September 2014, at the main campus of the Warsaw University, adjacent to the Old Town district.

Second edition of the book (in polish) entitled Discover the Nencki Institute, put together by Nencki PhD students was published in September 2014. This book is a perfect source of historical data and information about the Nencki Institute today. It also provides easy to read information about selected Nencki labs.

The 18th edition of the Science Festival took place in Warsaw between 19th-28th September, 2014. As usual the Nencki researchers had prepared an interesting and rich program. Under the YOUTH CLUB series high school students could attend lectures on biology, which have broadened the knowledge of those students who are taking advanced biology for their high school exam:

Nencki Institute and the Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona (IRB, Barcelona) have signed an agreement on scientific cooperation.

On the 19th September 2014 The Nencki Institute Hydrobiological Station held a Science Festival in Mikołajki called MYSTERIOUS WORLD OF WATER CREATURES.

Mayank Chaturvedi (PhD student from the Laboratory of neurobiology lead by prof. Leszek Kaczmarek) was awarded for the best oral presentation at 14th FEBS Young Scientists' Forum (YSF), which was held in Paris from 27-30 August 2014. The title of his talk was: “TIMP-1 loaded nanoparticles: a therapeutic strategy for neuroprotection".

On 18 July 2014, Director of the Nencki Institute (IBD), Prof. dr hab. Adam Szewczyk and Dr Przemysław Fochtman, Manager of the Institute of Industrial Organic Chemistry, Branch Pszczyna (IPO) signed a Cooperation Agreement in the field of joint research projects and teaching activities.

A PhD student from the Laboratory of Biochemistry of Lipids, Łukasz Bożycki, has won an award in an international photo competition Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2014 (WPY 2014) which was organized by the BBC and the Natural History Museum (NHM) in London.

Four Polish Scientific Societies: the Biochemical Society, the Society for Cell Biology, the Biophysical Society and the Bioinformatics Society, for the first time organize in Warsaw, on 9-12 September 2014, the common Congress BIO 2014.

In her research, dr Knapska tackles problems of great importance for contemporary societies: dysfunctions in processing of emotions or dysfunctions of interactions between individuals.

National Centre for Research and Development awarded the Applied Research Project "A new, complex and highly specific glioblastoma therapy" invented by the consortium of GLIA s.a. and Nencki Institute.

Applied research project "MMP-9 inhibitors as novel drugs blocking epileptogenesis" was awarded  by National Centre for Research and Development to the Nencki Institute, together with OncoArendi Therapeutics.

Anna Ćmoch (PhD student from The Laboratory of Biochemistry of Lipids lead by prof. Slawomir Pikula) was awarded for the best poster presentation at The Gordon Research Seminar & Conference "Protein Processing, Trafficking & Secretion", 19-25th of July in New London, USA. Poster entitled "Distribution of TRPV5/6 calcium channels in osteoblast-like cells undergoing mineralization" is co-authored by prof. K. Zablocki, dr P.Groves and prof. S.Pikula.

We invite candidates for doctoral studies at the Institute of Experimental Biology PAS for applications. Projects are available on http://studia.nencki.gov.pl/?lang=en&a=pg_proj

The Nencki Institute cordially invites all the researchers and students to the inaugural meeting of a series of trainings on HORIZON2020, the largest EU research and innovation programme ever. The aim of the training sessions and open info-days held by the experts from the National Contact Point for Research Programmes of the European Union and the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education is to give the research community an overview of ongoing activities and support the search for the right call for proposals and project partners, as well as application for research funding and individual fellowships. More information and free registration: http://h2020.evenea.pl

Horizon 2020 is the EU framework program for research and innovation. Its seven-year budget for 2014-2020 will amount to almost 80 billion euros. The key task of "Horizon 2020" is to create a coherent system of financing of innovation: from scientific concepts through the research stage right up till the implementation of new solutions, products and technologies.

In June 2014 at the Nencki Institute the investment phase of the project of the Neurobiology Centre (CN) was completed as part of the Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), coordinated by the Medical University of Warsaw. CePT is a key project of the Innovative Economy Operational Programme co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

On 25th June, 2014 Bronislaw Komorowski President of the Republic of Poland handed professorial nominations to the academic teachers and workers of science and art. In the group of nominees was prof. Krzysztof Zabłocki, head of the Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism at the Nencki Institute.

Among the laureates of the ETIUDA competition, announced by the NCN on 19th December, 2014, two PhD students from the Nencki Institute were included: mgr Maria Bierzyńska from the Laboratory of Neuroplasticity, headed by prof. Małgorzata Kossut; mgr Marcel Falkiewicz from the Laboratory of Psychophysiology, headed by prof. Anna Grabowska

On June 23-24th, 2014 at the Nencki Institute were held the interviews with the candidates for the PhD studies. 54 candidates submitted the applications. 35 was invited for the interview. 20 was accepted for the Phd programme at the 2014/15 academic year. Congratulations for the new PhD students. We invite you to participate in the next calls.

On June 24th, 2014, at the Nencki Institute (Conference hall of Neurobiological Centre) an awards ceremony was held for the best science popularizing text to winners of the sixth edition of the Sabath Competition.

On the YOUTUBE website a videocast dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the Nencki Institute counted (from the autumn of 2013) over 1000 views. Congratulations to Anna Mirgos the videocast author.

Link to the videocast

Dr. Artur Czupryn and the REGENNOVA consortium (Pharmacological Stimulation of Endogenous Regeneration) have been awarded in the first edition of the scientific competition “Prevention practices and treatment of civilization diseases – STRATEGMED” at the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR). 

On the 14th July 2014 (Saturday) the Nencki Institute management held a meeting with the representatives of the scientific institutions interested in the continuation of scientific cooperation at the Hydrobiological Station in Mikolajki. 

On June 9th, 2014, at the Nencki Institute the last screening of the nature films was shown under the BIO-FILM. 

In the recent STRATEGMED competition the EPTHERON Consortium (EPigenetic THerapies in ONcology) composed of Selvita, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology PAN,  Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology and Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Wrocław University of Technology has been awarded. Altered activity of enzymes regulating epigenetic modifications is a frequent feature of different tumors. 

Brain Tumors 2014 - from Biology to Therapy Conference will be held on June 26-28th at the Nencki Institute, Neurobiology Center. This is the second international conference focused on recent findings and achievements in brain  tumor therapy organized in Warsaw by prof. Bożena Kamińska and co-workers.

On the 30th May, 2014 at the Nencki Institute PAS (Conference hall of Neurobiology Centre) a May science meeting was held called “The Nencki Institute Closer To Nature”.

Konorski Awards Committee, appointed by the Committee of Polish Academy of Neurobiology and the  Polish Neuroscience Society represented by prof. Leszek Kaczmarek, prof. Bartosz Karaszewski, prof. Urszula Sławińska, prof. Maria Stankiewicz, prof. Joanna Lewin-Kowalik, prof. Marian H. Lewandowski (Chairman) awarded the prize for the best publication Calcyclin binding protein and Siah-1 interacting protein in Alzheimer's disease pathology: neuronal localization and possible function, published in Neurobiology of Aging 34 (2013) 1380-1388 by authors: Urszula Wasik, Gabriela Schneider, Anna Mietelska-Porowska, Marcin Mazurkiewicz, Hanna Fabczak, Serge Weis, Claudia Zabke, Charles R. Harrington, Anna Filipek and Grazyna Niewiadomska.

The 18. Scientific Picnic of Polish Radio and the Copernicus Science Centre was held on May 31th, 2014. This year’s motto was: TIME. As every year more than 200 scientific institutions from Poland and abroad presented various science demonstrations. Nencki’ PhD students at tent A45 presented two demonstrations: BRAIN ON TIME and LITTLE CHEMIST TODAY AND TOMORROW - HOW TO MAKE MAGIC POTIONS NOW?

On 2 June, 2014 at the Exhibition Hall of the Nencki Institute (Center for Neurobiology) an exhibition will be held entitled Animals in the lens. The exhibition will present the best works submitted to the competition which was organized to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Polish Ethological Society. The exhibition can be visited until 30 June 2014, between 9.00 am. and 3.00 pm.

It is a pleasure to announce that the PhD thesis by Monika Kusio-Kobialka has been honoured by the Polish Biochemical Society and Merck Sp.z o.o. with the W. Drabikowski Award for the best thesis in 2013. The thesis entitled: “Prosurvival mechanisms activated by BCR-ABL in chronic myeloid leukemia cells; role of the PERK-eIF2alpha signaling pathway and acetylation of p53 protein” has been done under scientific supervision of dr hab. Katarzyna Piwocka  with supervisor prof. Ewa Sikora

On June 9, 2014, the Nencki Institute will present the fifth of a series of screenings of nature films under the BIO-FILM project. During this session we will show the French movie "Forest Lands” directed by „Żubry Collective” formation. This film won the Prize for the promotion of the motto "Remember the gardens" during the 15 International Wlodzimierz Puchalski Festival of Nature Films in Lodz. More information: http://nenckibiofilm5.evenea.pl/

Between 3-5 of June 2014 Nencki Institute of Developmental Biology will be hosting “VII Meeting of Confocal Microscopes Users”. The main goal of the workshop is to introduce the participants to the capabilities and handling procedures of the confocal systems available in the Laboratory of Imaging Tissue Structure and Function in Neurobiology Center Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology: laser scanning confocal microscope Zeiss  LSM 780, multiphoton microscope LSM 7 MP, spinning disc confocal microscope Cell Observer SD, field emission scanning electron microscope SIGMA 3 View, as well as novel systems provided by Zeiss: Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy (LSFM) with Lightsheet Z.1., Fluorescence Stereo Zoom Microscope for Large Fields Axio Zoom.V16 and laser scanning confocal microscope LSM 700.

The National Science Centre evaluated the activity of institutions applying for grants in 2013. Most of the funds went to the Universities: in Warsaw, Krakow and in Poznan. NSC also presented the success rate, ie the ratio of the number of proposals retained for funding to the number of applications submitted. First place went to the Institute of Physics PAS with 60 per cent and second place with a score of 55 per cent – went to the Nencki Institute.

On 28-31 May 2014 Microscopy Workshop will be held at the Nencki Institute. The workshop is focused on cutting edge microscopy techniques and their applications in biomedical sciences. The speakers are world experts in the field, coming from renowned microscopy centers: European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL, Heidelberg), University of Hannover, Nicolaus Copernicus University (Torun) and Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology.

 

On the 25th anniversary of Poland regaining its full sovereignty, The Ministry of Science and Higher Education has announced a plebiscite "Science is Freedom" to select the most significant achievement in the last 25 years. Among the twenty-five nominees is Professor Leszek Kaczmarek from the Nencki Institute for his achievements in neurobiology.

On the 1st May 2014 Prof. Adam Szewczyk, the director of the Institute appointed reader Hanna Fabczak and Witold Konopka as deputy directors.

On the 11^th April 2014 The Scientific Council of the Nencki Institute had a meeting and at the request of the Division of Biological and Agricultural Sciences PAS, passed a resolution concerning the Institute's strategy and ways of realization the strategy.

The state agency of Atomism has given its permission for the renovated izotope laboratory to begin its funtioning. There can be found in the Laboratory positions where one can work with isotopes having alot of radiation energy (phosphorus, sulphur) as well low energy radiation (with tryt and coal). The Laboratory has emitting positions for the breeding of cells as well as a scintillation meter on the plates.

The National Science Centre has published the ranking lists of projects which have qualified for financial backing within the limits of the competitions announced by the NCN on 16th September, 2013. Scientists from the Nencki Institute received financial backing for the execution of 4 research projects in OPUS 6 and PRELUDIUM 6 competitions.

Weronika Dębowska from the Laboratory of Neuroplasticity Nencki Institute, headed by prof. Małgorzata Kossut, is a winner of the START Programme competition from the Foundation for Polish Science.

On May 19, 2014, the Nencki Institute will present the next in a series of screenings of nature films under the BIO-FILM project. During this session we showed the French movie "Life in Hell – Survivors of Darkness”. More information: http://nenckifilm.evenea.pl/

The workshop „MITOCHRONDRION2014-Mitoimaging”, which will be held on the 12th May at the Nencki Institute PAS ,will be devoted to technicians of mitochondria imaging. The co-organizers of the meeting are: The Polish Network of Mitoimaging Mitonet.pl as well as the Section of Polish Bioenergetics of the Biochemical Society.

8th May 2014, 12PM Candidates for PhD Studies are invited to discover the Nencki Institute

The minister of science and higher education Prof. Lena Kolarska-Bobińska has appointed a new set up of science policy committee. This team will be made up of the representatives of various fields of science and socioeconomic life creating an advisory minister. Among the newly appointed members of the committee will be Prof. Jerzy Duszyński from the Nencki Institute, who from 2008-2009 served as viceminister in the ministry of science and higher education. Prof. Duszyński was elected as the Chairman of the Committee

From April 9th-10th, 2014 there was a session of the Schooling Council and plenary meeting of the Biology and Agricultural Science Faculty II held at the Nencki Institute.

Up till now the digital repository activitiy of the scientific institutes(RCIN) has been financed through the resources of the POIG (program of the innovative economy), which was presented during the conference “Platform RCIN in Open Science” taking place on the 4th April and held in the hall of the Staszic Lustrzany Palace in Warsaw.

On 11 April, 2014 at the Exhibition Hall of the Nencki Institute (Center for Neurobiology) has open an exhibition entitled Different points of view. The exhibition presents ca.50 photographs made by Tadeusz Bednarczyk, Witold Mikulski and Piotr Umiastowski.

On April 14, 2014, the Nencki Institute presented the next in a series of screenings of nature films under the BIO-FILM project. During this session we showed the French movie "Astonishing European Butterflies and Moths”. More information: http://nenckifilm.evenea.pl/

On 31.03.2014, the Intergovernmental Working Group of the Euro-BioImaging consortium met in Brussels. This is a priority ESFRI project (European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures), of which Poland is a signatory. The Interim Board was constituted during the meeting.

On March 31, 2014, the Nencki Institute presented the first in a series of screenings of nature films under the new BIO-FILM project. During the first session we showed the German movie “Finland (Wild Scandinavia)”, directed by Oliver Goetzl. This film won the Grand Prix during the 15 International Wlodzimierz Puchalski Festival of Nature Films in Lodz.
Merck is the media patron of the BIO-FILM project.

Session of the Scientific Council devoted to the 2013 Annual Report took place on February 28th, 2014. Professor Stefan Malepszy, Chair of Council of Provosts of Division Two for Biological and Agricultural Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences was the honorary guest of the gathering.

Every year scholarship holders from the Polish Children’s Fund visit the Nencki Institute. Between March 4-7 12 peoples participated in the activities organized by 8 labs at the Institute.

The Nencki Institute is present on the PINTEREST social network. We will published there information about Nencki’s activities at the internet, television and radio. A shortcut to the portal is on the Nencki Institute main web page. The Nencki Institute is also present also on other social networks like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter and Flickr.

Dr Bruce Conway will give a lecture at the Nencki Insitute on „The evolving role of pre-clinical pharmacology in drug discovery: A case study for the development of SGLT Inhibitors for Type II Diabetes”. The lecture will take place in the Neurobilogy Center Conference Hall on the 14th of March at 11.30-12.30.

From 10th to 16th of March we are hosting World Brain Awareness Week in Warsaw. Brain Awareness Week (BAW) is the global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. In Warsaw BAW has been organized for the last 15 year from the initiative of the Polish Neuroscience Society, philanthropic Dana Foundation committed to brain research and education, the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Student Neurobiology Society at the University of Warsaw, and supported by BIO-IMAGINE program and weekly magazine POLITYKA.

National Science Centre of Poland announced the ranking of leaders of basic research, who were awarded funding in 14 competitions announced by the National Science Centre in 2013. Nencki Institute was ranked 5th on the presented list.

The grand gala of the Populariser of Science 2013 Awards, which has been organized for 9 years by the PAP Science and Scholarship in Poland website and the Ministry of Science and Education, took place on 29th January 2014 in the PAP Press Center. The Nencki Institute won the prestigious title of the Populariser of Science 2013 in the Science Institution category.

On Jan 23-25, 2014 the Nencki Institute hosted two External Evaluators, Prof. Joaquin Guinea and Dr. Orfeu Flores, on the second BIO-IMAGINE Project Review Meeting.

We invite you to see the videocast prepared to celebrate 95 anniversary of the Nencki Institute. It was unveiled for the first time (15th November, 2013) during the opening ceremony of the Neurobiology Centre at the Nencki Institute. The movie was prepared by Anna Mirgos.

On December 13, the Polish Minister of Science and Higher Education, Lena Kolarska-Bobińska, nominated members of the State Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation for the next, four year cadency. Among others, Prof Krzysztof Turlejski and Dr Anna Passini were nominated. K. Turlejski was later elected as the head of the Committee.

The 2013 Award of the Division of Medical Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, for the scientific achievements for the set of papers entitled “Role of the serotoninergic and glutaminergic systems in control of function regulation in the injured spinal cord and peripheral nerves” was granted to research team: dr hab. Henryk Majczyński and dr Anna M. Cabaj, led by prof. Urszula Sławińska (Laboratory of Neuromuscular Plasticity, Nencki Institute).

Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, as the only institution of Polish Academy of Sciences in the field of biological sciences, received the Erasmus University Charter, received the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) 2014-2020. This certificate is a document issued by the European Commission, authorizing institutions to participate in the Erasmus program. The Erasmus Charter allows the international exchange of PhD students and staff, funded by the European Union.

Among 302 laureates of this year edition of the project implemented by the Mazovia Province authorities, entitled “Scientific potential for the economy of Mazovia – scholarships for PhD students”, there are 17 PhD students from the Nencki Institute:

On 7th of December 2013 XII Scientific Meeting For Teachers was organized by the Nencki Institute, the Centre for Innovative Bioscience Education and the Fundation of BioEducation.. In this event took part about 60 peoples from all over Poland.

The Nencki Institute is present on the FLICKR social network. We will publish photos from scientific meetings organized at the Institute. A shortcut to the portal is on the Nencki Institute main web page.

On November 27, 2013 the Nencki Institute hosted a media workshop entitled TO BE, OR NOT TO BE … IN THE MEDIA, during which well known science journalists attempted to answer questions on how to present our dream lecture, how to write a text on science, and how to present yourself behind a microphone and in front of cameras.

On 19-22 November 2013, under the auspices of the National Ethical Committee, the Nencki Institute (NI) conducted workshops entitled “IXth Training for people taking care of experimental animals”. The organizers of the training session were IN, the Faculty of Biology of the University of Warsaw, and the Polish Society for Laboratory Animal Science (pollasa.sggw.pl).

On November 25, 2013, the International Symposium “Images of the Spinal Cord: from Functionally Identified Neurons to Functional Recovery” was organised by Urszula Sławińska, Larry M. Jordan and Anna Cabaj and held in the new Conference Hall of the Neurobiology Centre of the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology in Warsaw.

On 29 October, 2013 in the conference room of the Neurobiology Center of the Nencki Institute Professor Maciej Nałęcz (International Basic Sciences Program, SESAME Council UNESCO) presented a lecture entitled: The role of UNESCO for the scientific community and society at large. Prior to the lecture Professor Andrzej Dżugaj, President of the Polish Biochemical Society (PTB), awarded Prof Nałęcz with PTB honorary membership. Prof Maciej Nałęcz has also been honoured by Professor Adam Szewczyk with a Diplome D’Honneur for services to the Nencki Institute.

We are happy to announce the Confocal Microscopy Workshop which will take place on 15 and 16 November 2013 as part of the Bio-Imaging Poland First Annual Conference. The workshop is organized by The Laboratory of Imaging Tissue Structure and Function, Neurobiology Center of Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology.

On October 16-18th, 2013, the Nencki Institute hosted the 1st Nencki Institute PhD Student Conference “International PhD Program in Neurobiology”. The conference was chiefly directed towards PhD students at the Nencki Institute, who presented the results of their research projects during the oral and poster sessions. With over 50 oral presentations (including parallel sessions) and a poster session, the conference aimed at facilitating interactions between researchers and provoking stimulating discussion.

The Foundation for Polish Science has selected the beneficiaries of the second INTER competition. The aim of competition is to develop science popularisation skills in young researchers. In the finals each of the researchers have had five minutes to present his or her interdisciplinary project. The competition winners will receive prizes in the amount of 100,000 zlotys, including 20,000 zlotys as an individual stipend and 80,000 zlotys to carry out the winning research project.

Dr Malgorzata Zawadzka from the Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology was awarded with the L’Oreal Poland – UNESCO Award for Women in Science, in the 13th edition of this program.

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education announced the results of the VII edition of the competition for scholarships for outstanding young scientists conducting high-quality research and with impressive scientific achievements.

The 17th edition of the Science Festival took place in Warsaw between 20-29 September, 2013. For this year’s edition Nencki researchers prepared an interesting and rich program. Under the YOUTH CLUB series high school students could attend lectures on biology, which greatly helped those students who are taking advanced biology on their high school exam.

The winner of the 5th edition of the Nencki Award is Prof. Bogdan Dreher from the University of Sydney (Australia). Prof. Malgorzata Kossut, the chairmen of Award Council, presented the biography of the laureate. The award was given by Prof. Adam Szewczyk, Nencki Institute Director, during the 1st Nencki Symposium on: Jerzy Konorski contribution to modern neuroscience.

”1st Nencki Symposium on Jerzy Konorski contribution to modern neuroscience” was organized at the Nencki Institute on 19th September 2013 to commemorate outstanding scientific achievements of this world-famous neurobiologist on the 40th anniversary of his death.

In accordance with Art. 28 section 4 item 3) of the Act of 30 April, 2010 on the Polish Academy of Sciences (Dz. U. no 96 item 619) and in view of § 2 section 1 of the Minister of Science and Higher Education Directive of 22 November, 2010 on the competition for the post of director of scientific institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Competition Committee appointed by the Board of Curators of Division Two: Biological and Agricultural Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences opens recruitment for the post of director of the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw.

September 11-15, 2013 in Opalenica near Poznan and international symposium “The Third Annual Conference of COST Action ECMNET: Brain Extracellular Matrix in Health and Disease” was held.