Head of the Centre
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Jakub Mieczkowski, Associate Professor, PhD
Genomics & Multi-Omics Systems Biology
Chromatin organisation, DNA damage response, cancer genomics, multi-omics integration, computational biology, biostatistics
Centre for Space Biomedicine& Radiological Protection
Join UsResearch Centre
Understanding human biology in extreme environments — from Earth to space.
An interdisciplinary centre integrating physiology, molecular biology and clinical science to study adaptation to space conditions.
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About the Centre
A research home for human biology under extreme conditions.
The Centre for Space Biomedicine & Radiological Protection is dedicated to understanding how the human body responds to extreme environments, with a particular focus on spaceflight, radiation exposure and metabolic adaptation.
Human Adaptation & Performance
Physiological responses, exercise countermeasures and recovery in microgravity and extreme environments.
Molecular Stress & Radiological Protection
DNA damage, oxidative stress and cellular defence against cosmic and ionising radiation.
Imaging, Sensing & Predictive Diagnostics
Advanced imaging, biosensors and AI-driven diagnostics for early detection and monitoring.
Biological Challenges in Space
Five frontiers of human resilience.
Muscle atrophy & deconditioning
Loss of mass and function in low-gravity environments.
Radiation-induced damage
DNA breaks and tissue stress from chronic exposure.
Oxidative stress & mitochondrial dysfunction
Disrupted bioenergetics and redox balance.
Metabolic dysregulation
Altered iron, glucose and lipid homeostasis.
Circadian disruption
Loss of natural light cycles and sleep architecture.
Research Domains
Five interconnected programmes of inquiry
Programme 1
Human Adaptation & Performance
Skeletal muscle, mitochondria, iron metabolism and exercise countermeasures to preserve physiology in extreme environments.
Programme 2
Molecular Stress & Radiological Protection
DNA damage response, oxidative stress and cellular defence against cosmic and ionising radiation.
Programme 3
Imaging, Sensing & Predictive Diagnostics
Advanced imaging, biosensors and AI-driven diagnostics for early detection and monitoring of physiological change.
Programme 4
Translational & Extreme Medicine
Clinical models, recovery protocols and translation to medicine in remote and extreme environments.
Programme 5
Experimental & Technology Platforms
Biosampling pipelines, analytical lab workflows and digital tools supporting reproducible science.
From Molecule to Human
A continuum of scale and meaning
Stage 1
Molecule
Stage 2
Cell
Stage 3
Tissue
Stage 4
Organism
Stage 5
Performance
Team
The people behind the science
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Head of the Centre
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Leadership
Our leadership integrates expertise across genomics, radiation biology, extreme medicine and metabolic physiology to study human adaptation in extreme environments.
PJ
Team Leader
Professor Jędrzej Antosiewicz, PhD
Exercise Biochemistry & Metabolic Regulation
Exercise physiology, metabolic adaptation, iron metabolism
PJ
Team Leader
Professor Jacek Kot, MD PhD
Hyperbaric & Extreme Environment Medicine
Hyperbaric medicine, diving physiology, decompression science, environmental physiology, oxygen therapy
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Team Leader
Professor Michał Żmijewski, PhD
Cell Signalling & Molecular Stress Biology
Oxidative stress, vitamin D signalling, cellular stress responses, environmental adaptation
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Experts
WC
Expert
Wojciech Cytawa, PhD
Radiation Oncology & Clinical Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy, cancer treatment, radiation exposure
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Expert
Damian Flis, Associate Professor, PhD
Exercise Physiology & Muscle Metabolism
Skeletal muscle metabolism, exercise adaptation, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, human physiology
UJ
Expert
Ulana Juhas, PhD
Immunology & Metabolic Research
Immunology, metabolic adaptation, exercise physiology, inflammation
JK
Expert
Joanna Kamińska, PhD
Radiation Oncology & Treatment Response
Radiotherapy, radiation exposure, clinical oncology
ML
Expert
Milena Lachowicz, PhD
Psychological Adaptation & Quality of Life
Psychological resilience, stress and coping, quality of life, behavioural responses, adaptation to chronic and extreme conditions
UŁ
Expert
Urszula Ławrynowicz, PhD
Molecular Biology & Translational Omics
Epigenetics, transcriptomics, liquid biopsy workflows, organoid models, radiation response biomarkers
BM
Expert
Brygida Mielewska, Associate Professor, PhD
Medical Physics & Radiation Science
Radiation-biomolecule interactions, nuclear medicine dosimetry, radiological protection, neuroscience
AM
Expert
Agnieszka Misztak, PhD
Bioinformatics & Data Analysis
Bioinformatics, multi-omics data analysis, data integration, computational biology, data-driven science
PN
Expert
Paulina Nastały, PhD
Mechano-Oncology & Nuclear Architecture
Nuclear mechanics, cancer cell adaptation, cellular stress responses, biophysical regulation of cell function
AO
Expert
Anna Olszewska, PhD
Cell Biology & Molecular Stress Responses
Cell signalling, oxidative stress, cancer biology, cellular adaptation, mitochondrial function
MP
Expert
Michał Posiewnik, PhD
Radiation Biology
Ionizing radiation, DNA damage response, oxidative stress, stress signalling
RS
Expert
Rita Sharma, MD
Human Physiology in Extreme Environments
Extreme physiology, cognitive function, environmental stress, human adaptation, hyperbaric medicine
ŁS
Expert
Łukasz Szydłowski, PhD
Bioinformatics & Molecular Biotechnology
Molecular biology, bioinformatics, synthetic biology, data-driven biology
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Early-Career Researchers
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Early-Career Researcher
Adrian Kacperczyk-Perdyan, MD
Computational Oncology & Epigenomics
Epigenomics, chromatin architecture, radiation effects, multi-omics data analysis
AY
Early-Career Researcher
Ayse Yigit, MSc
Molecular Biology & Data Analysis
Experimental workflows, integration of laboratory and computational approaches
JZ
Early-Career Researcher
Julia Zakaszewska, MS
Data Science & Computational Modelling
Data science, applied mathematics, computational modelling, data analysis
Infrastructure
Tools that make the invisible measurable
Analytical Platforms
LC-MS/MS, multi-omics workflows, high-resolution biochemical assays.
Laboratory Capabilities
Cell culture under stress, biosampling pipelines, molecular biology suite.
Clinical Integration
Direct translation through partner clinics and human study protocols.
Applications & Impact
Bridging orbit and clinic
Space
- Astronaut health and performance
- Long-duration deep-space missions
- Radiation mitigation strategies
Earth
- Ageing and longevity
- Chronic and metabolic diseases
- Rehabilitation and recovery
Collaborations
An international research ecosystem
University Partner
Space Agency
Clinical Network
Research Institute
Omics Consortium
Radiation Lab
Translational Hub
Industry Partner
Join Us
Collaborate, contribute, contact
We welcome scientific collaborations, doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers passionate about human biology in extreme environments.