The aim of Oskar Ciesielski's PhD thesis is to explore the role of a poorly characterised post-translational modification, citrullination, in the regulation of the metabolism of endothelial cells, which lining the inside of blood vessels, and whose dysfunction can lead to many cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and hypertension. The research is mainly focused on demonstrating whether the citrullination process, also in communication with other modifications, can be responsible for the regulation of angiogenesis - a process important, among other things, in cancer progression, involving the formation of new blood vessels from existing ones. The thesis is realised as part of the 8th edition of the 'Diamond Grant' programme, financed by the Ministry of Education and Science; the supervisor and scientific supervisor is Aneta Balcerczyk, PhD, Professor at the University of Lodz.
The subject of the doctoral thesis of Michał Rakowski, M.Sc., is the elucidation of the mechanism of the neuroprotective action of ergothioneine on a cellular model of Parkinson's disease. Ergotioneine is a natural substance that supports therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. The PhD student's research work focuses on issues concerning the regulation of signalling pathways at the cellular level. His interests include neurodegenerative processes and modulation of lipid metabolism in organisms. His supervisor and scientific supervisor is Agnieszka Grzelak, PhD.