Poster presentation award for our scientist

Aleksandra Tobolska, PhD, Eng., won the award for the best poster presentation at the European Biological Inorganic Chemistry Conference 18 (EuroBIC 18), held in Groningen, the Netherlands. The results she presented stem from research into the molecular mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease development.
During the conference, Aleksandra Tobolska, PhD presented a poster entitled "The effect of phosphorylation on the redox activity of Cu(II) complexes with amyloid-β peptides exhibiting high affinity towards Cu(II)", which was awarded a prize sponsored by the publisher Taylor & Francis. The presented findings concern the impact of amyloid-β peptide phosphorylation on the redox properties of their complexes with copper(II) ions. The research aligns with the ongoing search for the molecular mechanisms underlying the Alzheimer's disease, focusing on how post-translational peptide modifications influence their interactions with metal ions and oxidative stress-related processes. The authors of the awarded poster are: Aleksandra Tobolska, PhD, Eng.; Katarzyna Biernat, MSc, Eng.; and Assoc. Prof. Nina E. Wezynfeld, PhD, DSc, Eng. The study was conducted as part of a project funded by the National Science Centre (NCN) – SONATA grant no. 2023/51/D/ST4/00401, led by Assoc. Prof. Nina Wezynfeld.

Participants of the EuroBIC 18 conference

Aleksandra Tobolska, PhD is also a co-author of a second poster presented at the conference by Katarzyna Biernat, MSc, Eng. – "The effect of phosphorylation on the redox activity of Cu(II) complexes with amyloid-β peptides exhibiting moderate affinity towards Cu(II)". Both posters were prepared as complementary presentations of findings from the same research project, highlighting two mutually reinforcing aspects of the effect of phosphorylation on the properties of Cu(II) complexes with amyloid-β peptides. The topic presented by Aleksandra Tobolska, PhD focused on Aβ forms with high affinity for Cu(II) ions, whereas Katarzyna Biernat, MSc, Eng., presented the results for Aβ peptide forms with moderate affinity for Cu(II) ions. Furthermore, the posters shared a unified visual design, emphasizing that they showcase research conducted by a single team.
"I am delighted to have had the opportunity to represent the Faculty of Chemistry at Warsaw University of Technology during the EuroBIC 2026 conference. Receiving the poster presentation award is a great honour for me and serves as strong motivation to develop further my research on the role of metal ions in neurodegenerative diseases. I am also grateful for the opportunity to carry out this research within the BioPep MINDS team led by Assoc. Prof. Nina Wezynfeld, and I view this recognition as a success for our entire team," says the laureate. "Participating in the international European Biological Inorganic Chemistry Conference 18 was an inspiring experience that demonstrated how dynamically modern bioinorganic chemistry is developing–ranging from fundamental research on the role of metal ions in living organisms to designing novel compounds with therapeutic potential and innovative cancer treatment strategies. During the event, I had the opportunity to engage in discussions with researchers from various institutions and learn about the latest trends in our discipline," emphasizes Aleksandra Tobolska, PhD, Eng., from the Faculty of Chemistry at Warsaw University of Technology.

Aleksandra Tobolska, PhD also participated in other conference activities, including engaging and inspiring lectures
"I was particularly interested in the lectures by Prof. Petra Heffeter from the Medical University of Vienna, which focused on novel ruthenium and platinum prodrugs utilizing albumin as a natural transporter for anticancer drugs; Prof. Peter Faller from the University of Strasbourg, who presented research on the redox properties of copper and iron complexes and the mechanisms leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species; and Dr. Sina Katharina Götzfried from the University of Groningen (from the team of Prof. Ben Feringa, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry). This last presentation demonstrated the potential of combining molecular machines with platinum complexes to develop light-activated cancer therapies. All these presentations illustrated how fundamental research can lead to the development of modern treatment methods, aligning closely with my own scientific interests," notes Aleksandra Tobolska, PhD.