Prof. Jacek Jemielity has been appointed Director of the Centre of New Technologies at the University of Warsaw. On 4th October, the act of appointment was handed to him by Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, Rector of the University of Warsaw.
The Act of Appointment as Director of the Centre of New Technologies at the University of Warsaw was presented by Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, Rector of the University of Warsaw, during a ceremony held in the Golden Hall of the Kazimierzowski Palace.
The UW’s Centre of New Technologies (CeNT) brings together scientists from various fields to conduct interdisciplinary projects together. Activities of CeNT are based on the work of teams that are formed to carry out specific scientific or educational projects. The formula of the unit makes it open to new ideas and concepts, so the scope of research conducted there will constantly evolve and be enriched by new fields. The key to understanding the idea of CeNT is interdisciplinarity – the multidimensional treatment of problems from the perspective of different disciplines. Basic and applied research is carried out here, the results of which expand knowledge but also have practical applications. The works are related to such areas as:
- molecular biology of particular relevance to medicine and environmental protection, structural analysis of chemical compounds and materials;
- synthesis and development of new functional materials and biomaterials;
- applications of physics to modern engineering and technology;
- information technologies and their applications.
Students and doctoral candidates also participate in the Centre’s scientific projects and their cooperation results in doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s theses. Young scientists can also undertake postdoctoral internships at CeNT.
Moreover, the Centre of New Technologies at the University of Warsaw conducts didactic activities by organising regular seminars.
Distinguished chemist
Prof. Jacek Jemielity specialises in organic and bioorganic chemistry and biochemistry. He directs the Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry at CeNT UW. He is the founder of the UW spin-off company ExploRNA Therapeutics, which has received funding of more than $813,000 from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to further develop its proprietary mRNA modification technology in 2022. This technology could be used to treat viral diseases as well as cancer.
Prof. Jemielity is one of the most important researchers in the field of mRNA in Poland. His research focuses on the synthesis of mRNA cap analogues and their medical applications, as well as the synthesis of nucleotide analogues. Prof Jemielity has published in prestigious scientific journals of worldwide circulation, including: “Journal of the American Chemical Society”, “Nature Communications”, “Chemical Science”, “Nucleic Acid Research”, “Organic Letters”, “New Journal of Chemistry”, and “Molecular Cell”. He is also the author of nine patents or patent applications. He was nominated for the European Inventor Award 2018 in the Research category. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Prize of the Foundation for Polish Science.