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University of Silesia in Katowice
The University of Silesia in Katowice (Poland) (Polish: Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach, US) is one of the largest and most dynamically developing public universities in Poland. Founded in 1968, the University of Silesia quickly established a reputation as a vibrant academic institution and an important interdisciplinary research hub. With a tradition of launching new programmes to best meet the needs of rapidly changing labour markets, the University of Silesia offers students a variety of programs and specialized fields of study. With outstanding research teams and well-equipped laboratories, we are an important player in the global research arena. We actively participate in European Commission initiatives focused both on educational and scientific development, and realize projects within the Horizon 2020, Creative Europe, Erasmus +, Interreg, Structural Funds and other. Currently, the University of Silesia is running 1,200 of its own projects, in addition to almost 600 research projects carried out in conjunction with various outside institutions, both domestic and foreign, including business organizations. A substantial part of our research prioritizes innovation and practical applications for the economy. Internationalisation of research and education is one of the priority directions of development of the USF.
BIOPHAM Key Staff
Courses offered and Key Staff at the University of Silesia in Katowice (USK)
At the University of Silesia in Katowice, the courses offered for Track 3 "Molecular biophysics of pharmaceuticals” in the 2nd and 3rd semesters of the BIOPHAM Master Program focus on applying biophysical approaches to drug discovery and pharmaceutical development. The program integrates biophysics with material science, molecular biology, and computational science to equip students with specialized knowledge and experimental skills essential for modern pharmaceutical research. Students will explore key topics in molecular biophysics, soft matter physics, and polymer science. They will gain knowledge in the field of pharmacology and drug action, learn about innovative drug formulation strategies, and gain a solid foundation in preclinical research, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of the translational aspects of drug development. Hands-on experience will be developed in state-of-the-art laboratories specializing in cell culture, molecular biology, and pharmaceutical biophysics. Students will gain in-depth knowledge of computational modelling techniques, along with machine learning and data-driven approaches for analyzing and interpreting biological data. At the heart of the program is learning about physical characterization and biophysical methods, essential to the early stages of drug discovery. Students will have access to cutting-edge research equipment housed in the specialized laboratories of the Institute of Physics, including an X-ray diffractometer, rheometer, 5 calorimeters, 5 dielectric relaxation spectrometers, several high-pressure setups, 2 infrared and Raman spectrometers, several spectrofluorometers and UV-VIS spectrometers, XPS and TOF-SIMS spectrometers among others. The Institute of Physics also has an equipment necessary to conduct research on the drug formulation, including rheometers, extruders and 3D plotters for designing and testing pharmaceutical formulations. Additionally, students will benefit from the advanced infrastructure of the Center for Microscopic Matter Research (SPIN-Lab). Scientists from the University of Silesia work closely with industry partners. A distinctive feature of the University of Silesia is the large number of patents that serve as a driving force for cooperation with industry (Prof. M. Paluch is one of the leaders with over 20 patents concerning pharmaceutical applications). The region hosts a growing number of pharmaceutical companies interested in BIOPHAM Master’s degree graduates (e.g. Physiolution, Selvita, Ryvu Therapeutics S.A., Celon Pharma S.A.). They create a dynamic cluster focused on drug development, manufacturing, and commercialization in which the university plays an important role. As a result, the training program offered by USK partner emphasizes industry-relevant skills and remains highly adaptable to the rapidly evolving demands of the international and local pharmaceutical sector.
The BIOPHAM program is supported by a diverse team of professors, researchers, and administrative staff from the Institute of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology. The institute employs researchers with diverse backgrounds which allows for conducting research at the intersection of physics, pharmaceutical sciences, and materials science. One of the key research priorities of the institute is the development of innovations in drug discovery and drug formulation. This multidisciplinary approach forms the foundation for ongoing study programs like biophysics and medical physics. The core of the project team is formed by researchers from Prof. Marian Paluch’s group. Their research activity is closely aligned with the objectives of the BIOPHAM Master’s program. For over a decade they have been at the forefront of research aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of poorly water-soluble drugs by modifying their physical forms. Their research has gained international recognition, attracting significant interest from the global scientific community and leading to numerous publications in prestigious journals. The second key part of the project team is a group of experts conducting research aimed at developing novel anticancer therapeutics and understanding molecular mechanism of their anticancer action. Their research interests among others include cancer biology, gene expression, cell signalling. The team is further strengthened by specialists in computational modelling and data-driven analysis, who use advanced simulations and AI-driven insights to support the research.
Project teams and staff | |||
Name and function | Organisation | Role/tasks | Professional profile and expertise |
M. PALUCH ProfessorInstitute of Physics | USK | Teacher in Track 3 (Courses on dielectric and vibrational spectroscopy and soft matter physics) Member of the Programme board Member of the Selection board | Molecular dynamics at ambient and elevated pressure, phase transitions, physical stability of amorphous drugs Head of research group investigating the structure, dynamics and phase transitions of complex molecular systems and nanosystems PI of several research projects |
M. RAMS-BARON Associate ProfessorInstitute of Physics | USK | Local contact point at USK Teacher in Track 3 (in charge of course: molecular biophysics) | Broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) Amorphous drugs PI of project on molecular rotors |
Ż. WOJNAROWSKA Associate ProfessorInstitute of Physics | USK | Teacher in Track 3 (in charge of course: hot melt extrusion: from theory to pharmaceutical formulation) Member of the Programme boardMember of the Selection board | Mechanical spectroscopy and rheodielectric measurements Ionic pharmaceuticals PI of several research project |
K. BALIN Associate ProfessorInstitute of Physics | USK | Teacher in Track 3 (in charge of specialized laboratory 1) Member of the Selection board | X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Nano and biomaterials Deputy Director of Biophysics, Physics, Medical Physics, Micro and Nanotechnology at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology |
W. NOWAK Associate ProfessorInstitute of Physics | USK | Teacher in Track 3 (in charge of course: animal models in contemporary pharmacy) | Modern therapies, stem cells, cell cultures Head of the Cell Biophysics Group |
J. STELMASZAK Head of the Project Department at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology | USK | Administrative support/Project implementation | Expert in managing international and national projects including innovative, educational, didactic and infrastructural ones |