Assoc. Prof. Danuta Witkowska is the Director of the Institute of Health Sciences at the University of Opole, Poland. As a biochemist specializing in bioinorganic chemistry, protein-protein interactions, and biophysical characterization of biomolecular systems, her research focuses on antimicrobial peptides, cancer drug resistance, and metalloprotein interactions.
Dr. Witkowska has contributed to understanding the role of heavy metals in human health, the thermodynamics of biomolecular interactions, and peptide-based biotherapeutics. Her studies have also provided insights into SARS-CoV-2 interactions with the ACE2 receptor. She has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Frontiers in Pharmacology, Scientific Reports, and Dalton Transactions, with approximately 1,000 citations. She has presented her work at international conferences across Europe and Asia, including as an invited speaker. She has successfully led and contributed to multiple research projects and has undertaken several research stays at universities in the EU and North America, fostering valuable collaborations.
Assoc. Prof. Hayarpi Simonyan is the Head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy of the Yerevan State University, Armenia. She is an expert in Bioorganic Chemistry, with a primary focus on the asymmetric biomimetic synthesis of unusual amino acids
featuring diverse side chains, including aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic etc. Those amino acids and peptides based on them have shown different biological and physiological activities. Her academic output includes over 20 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals such as Amino acids, Biomolecules, Tetrahedron: Asymmetry, Pharmaceuticals, etc.
Hayarpi Simonyan has shared her research at leading conferences throughout Europe. Additionally, Prof. Simonyan has been actively involved (both as a member and coordinator) in several research grants, including the VolkswagenStiftung, Swiss National Science Foundation(SNSF), International Sciene and Technology Centers (ISTC), Higher Education and Science Commettee of Republic of Armenia (HESC) etc.
Dr. Giovanni Roviello, 1st level Researcher at 1BB holds a Master’s degree with honors in Chemistry and a PhD in Biotechnology. He works as a senior researcher at the Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging (IBB) of the Italian National Council for Research (CNR) in Naples, Italy. He has been a visiting researcher in Germany (IMB Jena, Georg-August University, FAU University Erlangen), the UK (University of Greenwich), and Ireland (UCD Dublin), specializing in biorganic chemistry. He has strong academic ties with AMU University of Poznan (Poland), where he lectured on nucleic acids for Ph.D. students in 2021, and with YSU (Armenia) and Geomedi University (Georgia), where he was appointed honorary professor in medicinal chemistry in 2012. Dr. Roviello is the principal investigator for CNR on various international projects, including EU- and the Royal Society (UK)-funded projects. He serves as an academic editor for several international journals and has authored more than 130 scientific papers. He is listed among the top 2% of scientists in Stanford University’s 2023 Author Database (Ioannidis, J. P. A., 'Updated Science-Wide Author Databases’, 2024).
Assist. Prof. Chiara Gamberi is at the Biology Department and Disease Modeling Research Collective at Coastal Carolina University, South Carolina, United States. A molecular biologist by training, she became interested in how molecular interactions and RNA affect the whole organism and embraced developmental biology to study how gene expression is regulated in space and time in living organisms in health and disease.
Gamberi and her group employ the genetically tractable fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to model human pathologies such as polycystic kidney disease (PKD), kidney cancer, and TANGO2 Deficiency Disorder. They combine genetics, molecular and biochemical assays, ’omics’, and pioneering whole-animal, pharmacological assays for chemical probing and drug discovery. An innovator, Gamberi has developed new technology and original inclusive pedagogy that yielded undergraduate coauthored publications that have been well-received in the field. Gamberi has over 40 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and has led two high impact Frontiers in Genetics Research Topics on RNA Regulation in Development and Disease. Gamberi spearheaded the foundation of the Disease Modeling Research Collective at Coastal Carolina University. Gamberi is the US partner in the PurHumanDrome (Horizon-MSCA-2023-SE-01) project. Research in the Gamberi laboratory has been supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (SC-INBRE DRP Program), the Tango 2 Research Foundation, and the Horry County Higher Education Commission among others.
Gamberi has a strong record of collaborative and interdisciplinary research, large investigative endeavors, and attention to diversity and inclusion.
Dr Jessica Holien, Senior lecturer research career to date has allowed her to bridge the chemistry-biology divide, incorporating medicinal chemistry, biology and computational modelling. In short, whilst completing her PhD in medicinal chemistry (Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences), she used her computational modelling skills to design molecules which reached Phase II clinical trials (CRC Ctx, FAK inhibitors). Her postdoctoral positions, were chosen to give her practical commercial experience in drug discovery, working with biotech (Biota), and large pharma (Servier).
In 2018, she was promoted to Team leader at St Vincent’s Institute, and in 2020 was recruited to RMIT University under the Vice Chancellor’s Fellowship Scheme. Her laboratory at RMIT University uses cutting-edge, machine learning methods to enrich traditional bioinformatic analysis and improve high-throughput chemistry screens, leading to faster small molecule chemical hit identification. She has a particular interest in understanding the mechanisms behind protein-protein interactions developing tools to design small molecule inhibitors to modulate them. She continues to consult extensively with start-up/biotech companies, resulting in productive, long-term collaborations. This has led to significant outcomes including >30 patent applications, publications (>80 publications, h-index 27), licensing/ Venture Capital investment and three compounds currently in clinical trials.
Assoc. Prof. Anna Mkrtchyan is the Director of the Institute of Pharmacy at the Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia. With extensive expertise in asymmetric stoichiometric and catalytic synthesis of biologically active compounds, including non-protein amino acids, peptides her research has significantly advanced the field of synthetic organic chemistry. Her investigations also focus on developing novel methods for asymmetric catalysis, particularly through modulating charged catalytic systems, contributing to the broader applications in bioorganic, organic and pharmaceutical chemistry.
Mkrtchyan’s research encompasses a broad spectrum of topics, including the development of novel catalytic systems and the asymmetric stoichiometric and catalytic synthesis of unnatural amino acids. She has authored over 25 peer-reviewed publications in prestigious journals such as Amino Acids, European Journal of Organic Chemistry, and New Journal of Chemistry, amassing approximately 220 citations. Her work has been showcased at numerous international conferences.
In addition to her academic contributions, Dr. Mkrtchyan has successfully secured and managed multiple local and international research grants, including funding from the ISTC and the Higher Education and Science Committee of the Republic of Armenia, underscoring her leadership in advancing innovative research initiatives.Committed to interdisciplinary collaboration, her research bridges chemistry, biology, and medicine, driving molecular innovation with translational applications.
Dr. Rosanna Palumbo holds a Master’s degree with honors in Biological Sciences and a postgraduate specialization in Microbiology. She was also a visiting scientist at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (NY, USA). Currently, she is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council of Italy (CNR). Dr. Palumbo has also served as a contract professor (untenured position) in Biochemistry and Cell Cultures at the University of Naples „Federico II”. In 2018, she obtained the National Scientific Qualification (pursuant to Art. 16 of Law No. 240, December 30, 2010) as a professor in Biochemistry. Her research focuses on the use of preclinical models, including cell lines derived from solid tumors and leukemias, to study the biological effects of treatments with natural or synthetic molecules. Specifically, her work investigates the biochemical pathways involved in the modulation of cell growth and differentiation, regulation of the cell cycle, apoptosis, autophagy, and cellular senescence. Dr. Palumbo has authored over 65 articles in international peer-reviewed journals, with more than 1,550 citations of her work. In terms of public health, her research findings may contribute to understanding the impact of natural or synthetic molecules in the prevention of cancer and other degenerative human pathologies.
Assoc. prof. Karolina Chilicka-Hebel is an employee at the University of Opole, Poland. She is a cosmetologist specializing in cosmetic equipment, skin bioengineering, and the impact of modern cosmetic treatments on acne-prone skin. She has published many scientific articles in high-impact journals. She is the author and editor-in-chief of the book „Cosmetic Equipment and Treatment Methodology.” She collaborates with many journal editorial boards as a scientific reviewer, including Frontiers in Medicine, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, and Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. She has participated in numerous national and international scientific conferences, where she presented the results of her scientific research. She is a member of the Horizon-MSCA-2023-SE-01 grant team (PurHumanDrome).
Dr. Przemysław Domaszewski is the Deputy Director of the Institute of Health Sciences at the University of Opole, Poland. With over 20 years of professional experience, dr. Domaszewski is a highly experienced expert in sports nutrition, dietary supplementation, and physical fitness, having worked extensively with athletes. He is also a certified strength and conditioning coach, personal trainer, and instructor in fitness, Pilates method, and CrossFit.
His research interests focus on dietary supplements, the health benefits of probiotics, intermittent fasting in the elderly, optimizing caffeine intake, and the diagnosis of nociceptive pain. He earned his doctorate in physical culture with a dissertation titled Evaluation of Selected Blood Biochemical Indices in Men Practicing “CrossFit” and Taking Herbal Supplements, for which he received a distinguished award.
Dr. Domaszewski has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications in prestigious journals such as Nutrients, Scientific Reports, Experimental Gerontology and Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases Nutrition, garnering approximately 250 citations to date. His research embodies a multidisciplinary approach, bridging biochemistry, nutrition, and dietary supplementation in sports and recreational contexts.
Beyond academia, dr. Domaszewski is passionate about strength training, motorcycling, and sailing, reflecting his commitment to an active and adventurous lifestyle.
Dr. Agnieszka Rombel-Bryzek is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Opole, Poland. Her research interests encompass a wide array of topics, with a particular focus on the impact of natural and synthetic compounds on the biological activity of human, bacterial, and plant cells. Dr. Rombel-Bryzek’s academic achievements include over 27 peer-reviewed publications in esteemed scientific journals. She has presented her research findings at numerous international conferences, highlighting her contributions to the scientific community. Additionally, she has served as a co-investigator in the research projects, including the Horizon-MSCA-2023-SE-01 initiative (PurHumanDrome) and a National Science Center grant dedicated to studying betacoronaviruses.
Dr. Agnieszka Szebesczyk is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Health Sciences at the University of Opole, Poland. She specializes in interactions of metal ions with molecules of biological importance, such as peptides and metal ion chelators. Together with the chemo-physical characterization of the biological systems studied, defined in terms of coordination and thermodynamic behavior, the research undertaken by her contributes to the field of health sciences.
Dr. Szebesczyk in her research work dealt with structures related to the metabolism of iron ions in various organisms, currently refining the subject matter to peptides and modifying their properties by coordinating metal ions. She was the PI of a grant from the National Science Center concerning the interaction of iron (and other metals) ions with heat shock protein and its peptide fragments. The subjects of recent studies are the antimicrobial and antiproliferative properties of peptides constituting fragments of larger structures enriched by various structural modifications. The interdisciplinary nature of the research is revealed in the combination of the disciplines of medical chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, and biomedical research, which fits into the field of health sciences.
Dr. Paweł Lenartowicz
Msc Joanna Słowik is the an assistant in the Institute of Health Sciences at the University of Opole, Poland. Her interests include the impact of heavy metals on human health.
Current research focuses on the impact of mercury detected in hair and nails on health, with particular emphasis on colon and breast cancer. As a microbiologist, she also deals with the impact of peptides on microorganisms in the context of anti-cancer activities.
She is a co-author of 3 peer-reviewed publications with high-impact journals. She has participated in conferences, including an international one. She is a thematic editor of the journal Medical Science pulse. She has provided technical supervision for two master’s theses.
Her extensive interests combine microbiology, chemistry and human health.
Msc Monika Rusztowicz is a lecturer at the Institute of Health Sciences, University of Opole, Poland. Her expertise encompasses aesthetic cosmetology, anti-aging therapy, and the utilization of advanced cosmetic equipment. She is particularly skilled in modern skin measurement methods, diagnostics, and imaging. Ms. Rusztowicz has an extensive research portfolio, authoring 12 scientific publications with 118 citations.
Notably, she co-authored the article „The role of the beautician in reducing striae,” published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology in May 2024. Her research interests include the skin microbiome, therapies for scars and stretch marks, and autologous treatments.
In addition to her research, Ms. Rusztowicz actively participates in scientific conferences, presenting her findings to the broader scientific community. She is also a member of the Horizon-MSCA-2023-SE-01 grant team for the project „PurHumanDrome,” coordinated by the University of Opole.
Msc Justyna Sokołowska is a PhD student at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Opole. Her research focuses on peptides and their interactions with metal ions, conducted in collaboration with Prof. Danuta Witkowska, as well as on the impact of these peptides on cancer cell growth, as part of joint research with Dr. Agnieszka Rombel-Bryzek. In her laboratory work, she primarily utilizes isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), UV-VIS spectroscopy, and cell cultures. She is the author of a publication in Frontiers and has presented her findings at two scientific conferences. Daily, she works in a medical diagnostic laboratory. Outside of science, she is passionate about mountain trekking, cycling, and literature.