Centre for Innovation and Social Education IBCH PAS

Prof. Marek Figlerowicz, PhD, DSc
Coordinator

marek.figlerowicz@ibch.poznan.pl
ext. 1103, office 107 CIES

The formation of the Center for Innovation and Social Education serves as tangible evidence of the scientific evolution of the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences (IBCH PAS) – transitioning from classical molecular research on nucleic acids and proteins toward the systemic analysis of complex biological systems. The 2015 decision to purchase a long-neglected Art Nouveau villa at 21/23 Wieniawskiego in Poznan was driven by a strategic need to create a new space for science that would integrate the Institute’s expanding research activities with its social mission.

The concept of this Center crystallized as a direct response to the challenges outlined in the pan-European LifeTime initiative, co-founded by the Institute. In line with its objectives, implementing the paradigm of interceptive medicine required the establishment of a new type of interdisciplinary hub capable of integrating advanced bioimaging technologies, multi-omic analyses, and artificial intelligence. The revitalized villa became the ideal location for this innovation ecosystem.

A key stage in realizing this vision was securing external funding. On April 2, 2019, the Institute entered into investment agreement No. IJ18-04951 with Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego for a loan to implement the project titled: "Remodeling and change of use of a long-vacant multi-family residential building into the Center for Innovation and Social Education of the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences." This was carried out under the Financial Instruments of the Wielkopolska Regional Operational Program for 2014–2020, Priority Axis 9: "Infrastructure for human capital," Action 9.2: "Revitalization of cities and their districts, rural, post-industrial, and post-military areas", Sub-action 9.2.3: "Revitalization of cities and their districts, rural, post-industrial, and post-military areas – financial instruments." In the following years, the building underwent a spectacular metamorphosis, culminating in the official opening of the Center in September 2024.

This transformation has enabled moving to the new building Institute’s strategic technological platforms: the European Center for Bioinformatics and Genomics (ECBG), the Center for Chemical Biology (part of POL-OPENSCREEN and EU-OPENSCREEN ERIC), and the Poznan Center for Archaeogenomics. Furthermore, in collaboration with Polpharma – the largest Polish pharmaceutical company – the RNA Technology Center is currently being established, focused on the design, synthesis, and testing of various types of therapeutic RNAs.

These platforms offer access to state-of-the-art research methods currently employed in the life sciences, in particular: (i) nucleic acid sequencing, including long RNAs and spatial transcriptomics; (ii) large-scale parallel single-cell analysis; (iii) super-resolution microscopy; (iv) high-throughput screening; and (v) the development of personalized disease models and organoids.

Another key mission of the Center is science outreach and building bridges between researchers, entrepreneurs, and the local community. To this end, the building features seminar rooms and demonstration laboratories where numerous educational and outreach initiatives are conducted, including activities within the Wielkopolska Organic Work Trail. All these efforts aim to promote the latest scientific achievements while highlighting the importance of knowledge, collaboration, and innovation for social and economic development.

Offer

The Center for Innovation and Social Education IBCH PAS provides a wide range of opportunities for collaboration and participation in scientific and educational projects, including:

• Access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure and technological platforms: ECBG, POL-OPENSCREEN, Poznan Center for Archaeogenomics
• Access to IBCH PAS infrastructure and expertise within science-industry partnerships
• Advisory support in innovation and R&D projects
• Educational and outreach programs for pupils, students, and adults: workshops, lectures, and meetings with scientists and experts presenting the achievements of the science
• Rental of modern, fully equipped seminar rooms for conferences, workshops, and science outreach events

Several departments and laboratories of IBCH PAS are located in the building of the Center for Innovation and Social Education IBCH PAS. Detailed information on the research profile and offer of individual teams is available on their respective websites.

Department of Molecular and Systems Biology

Department of Computational Biology of Non-coding RNA

Department of Cancer Genetics

Department of Biomedical Proteomics

Laboratory of Single-Cell Analyses

Laboratory of Genomics

Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Culture

Laboratory of Molecular Assays and Imaging

Projects

The Center for Innovation and Social Education IBCH PAS hosts numerous research, implementation, and educational projects of both national and international importance. Among the most significant current initiatives are:

Infrastructural projects

• ECBG – European Centre for Bioinformatics and Genomics – MOSAIC 3D (FENG.02.04-IP.04-0012/24). The project is co-funded through the European Funds for Smart Economy 2021-2027 Programme, Action 2.4 Smart Economy Research Infrastructure. Project duration: 2025-2028.

• POL-OPENSCREEN 2.0 (2024/WK/06) – Maintenance, development, and access to the Polish Screening Infrastructure Platform for Chemical Biology in the context of participation in the EU-OPENSCREEN ERIC consortium. Funded by the Ministry of Science programme “Support for the participation of Polish research teams in international research infrastructure projects.” Project duration: 2024-2028

• POL-OPENSCREEN – Polish Screening Infrastructure Platform for Chemical Biology (FENG.02.04-IP.04-0010/24-00). Co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under Action 2.4 Smart Economy Research Infrastructure of the European Funds for Smart Economy Programme.

R&D projects

• Jump in with a splash: exploring long noncoding RNA import into mitochondria and its biological implications (2024/53/B/NZ3/03975). Funded by the National Science Centre, OPUS 27 call. Project duration: 2025-2029.

• INTERCEPT – Targeted single-cell technology for cancer diagnostics – towards cell-oriented interceptive medicine (UoF/02-WIB-3/2023-004). The project is funded under the Virtual Research Institute Programme from the Polish Science Fund. Project duration: 2024-2028.
• At the dawn of Central European statehood: Dynasties – elites – societies (end of 9th-11th century). Funded by the National Science Centre, OPUS 26 LAP. Project duration: 2024-2027.

• Ultrasensitive profiling of cancer-driving mutations in hereditary syndromes associated with tumor suppressor gene inactivation. Funded by the National Science Centre, OPUS 25. Project duration: 2024-2028.

• Algorithm for personalizing ovarian cancer treatment based on a spatial transcriptomic model of tumor tissue with single-cell resolution (FENG.02.02-IP.05-0361/23). FIRST TEAM FNP. Project co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the European Funds for a Modern Economy 2021-2027 programme. Project duration: 2024-2028.

• Functional or non-functional? Analysis of positionally conserved long non-coding RNA orthologs in vertebrate genomes at subcellular resolution. The project is co-funded by the National Science Centre under the SONATA BIS 11 call. Project duration: 2022-2027.

• Study of a novel therapeutic strategy aimed at reducing mutant protein in SCA3/MJD. The project is co-funded by the National Science Centre under the OPUS 21 call. Project duration: 2022-2026.

• Computational platform for optimizing cell developmental pathways to obtain homogeneous populations. Funded by the National Centre for Research and Development, Lider XIII. Project duration: 2022-2026.

• Development of a universal RNA-based rapid response platform to ensure national drug and epidemiological security (2021/ABM/05/00004-00). Co-funded by the Medical Research Agency. Project duration: 2021-2027.

• Molecular mechanisms of nutritional therapeutic approaches in neurodegeneration. Co-funded by the Joint EU Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND). Project duration: 2011-2030.

Educational and outreach projects

• Micro-worlds of imagination: biology, chemistry, and physics in one frame. The project is co-funded under the Discoverers Programme of the Ministry of National Education. Project duration: 2025.

• Science on the Trail. Implemented under the “Organic Work – Heritage of Greater Poland” programme, coordinated by the General Dąbrowski Palace in Winna Góra. Funded by the Wielkopolska Region.