Researchers of the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology at Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University made a working visit to Jagiellonian University.
Professor Volodymyr Lushchak of the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology and Victoriia Hurza, a leading specialist at the educational biotechnology laboratory, visited the Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology at Jagiellonian University (Kraków, Poland). The visit was carried out within the framework of the agreement on scientific and cultural cooperation between Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University and Jagiellonian University. Professor Volodymyr Lushchak stayed at Jagiellonian University from November 22, 2025, to December 3, 2025, and Victoria Hurza from November 22, 2025, to December 10, 2025. The purpose of the trip was to establish scientific contacts, discuss prospects for joint projects, and familiarize themselves with modern methods of molecular biology research, particularly Real-Time PCR and Western Blot analysis.
Our researchers were kindly received by Professor Józef Dulak, Head of the Department of Medical Biotechnology, and Professors Alicja Józkowicz and Jacek Międzobrodzki. Professor Józkowicz gave a tour of the Department of Medical Biotechnology and its laboratories, and spoke about the main research areas of the department. At the invitation of Professor Józkowicz, the staff members of Precarpathian National University attended lectures given by Associate Professors Agnieszka Jaźwa-Kusior and Anna Grochot-Przęczek, and were also present at the defense of a PhD thesis.
Within the framework of the visit, Professor Volodymyr Lushchak and Victoria Hurza visited the Institute of Material Science at the University of Silesia in Katowice at the invitation of Professor Witold Nowak. There, the researchers familiarized themselves with the work of a confocal microscope, which allows for obtaining high-quality 3D images and analyzing the dynamics of intracellular processes. Also, under the guidance of Professor Nowak and his PhD student Izabella Sambak, Victoria Hurza underwent practical training in conducting Real-Time PCR, Western Blot analysis, and learned about the method of flow cytometry.
Our researchers also visited the vivarium of the Faculty of Biology. Professor Paweł Koteja gave a tour of the laboratories where animals are housed and various tests are conducted, and spoke about the main research areas of his team. Professor Koteja showed various devices used to analyze the physiological parameters of experimental animals and explained their working principles.
On Tuesday, December 2, Professor Lushchak gave two lectures for colleagues at Jagiellonian University. The first presentation took place at 9:00 a.m. and was aimed at the audience of the Department of Medical Biotechnology. Its goal was to familiarize Polish colleagues with the main research areas of the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology at Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University. The next lecture, “Methodological pitfalls and solutions in modern gene expression analysis,” took place at 6:15 p.m. at the Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research and was presented to the general public. The report highlighted modern approaches to gene expression analysis, with an emphasis on the relationship between metabolism and oxidative stress. The results of experimental studies on the effect of broccoli sprouts on metabolic disorders in experimental animals were also presented, and the relevance of research on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was emphasized.
The visit was an important step in strengthening international scientific cooperation, opened new opportunities for the implementation of joint educational and research projects, and contributed to raising the scientific qualifications of the department’s staff.
