A Report on the 26th Polish Peptide Symposium

CONFERENCE REPORT
26^th Polish Peptide Symposium
Stare Jabłonki, Poland, 3 – 7 September 2023

On September 3-7, 2023 26^th Polish Peptide Symposium was held at Hotel Anders in Stare Jablonki, next to Ostróda in picturesque lake district Masuria in Poland. It was organized by employees of the Department of Molecular Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry University of Gdańsk. The co-chairs of this symposium were Dr. Agata Gitlin-Domagalska and Dr. Natalia Ptaszyńska. The Polish Peptide Symposia (https://www.ppc.univ.gda.pl/symposia.php) have a long tradition and have been organized every two years for over 50 years by various Polish academic groups. The last meeting took place in 2019 because of the pandemic. The 26^th Polish Peptide Symposium was attended by 108 participants from Poland and abroad related to peptide research, including representatives of all significant academic centers and institutes, representatives of the chemical and related industries, as well as students.

During the symposium, 37 speeches were given, including 9 lectures of outstanding, appreciated worldwide Polish and international scientists: Prof. Norbert Sewald from University of Bielefeld, Prof. Christian Becker from University of Vienna, Prof. Piotr Stefanowicz from University of Wrocław, Dr. Wioleta Rut (replacing Prof. Marcin Drąg) from Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Prof. Marcin Sieńczyk from Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Prof. Paula Gomes from University of Porto, Prof. Michael Gütschow from University of Bonn, Prof. Elżbieta Jankowska from University of Gdańsk and Prof. Galia Blum from Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Eight topical sessions were accompanied by two poster sessions, and Young Scientists Minisymposium for PhD students. In addition, some sponsors and exhibitors presented innovative solutions and applications of their products in peptide and protein research.We are pleased to inform you that during the meeting Dr. Emil Taszner award (founded by Chemat) for the best oral presentation for people with a doctoral degree was established. This will be awarded periodically at subsequent symposia. The meeting was accompanied by an unofficial part, although equally important for future cooperation – participants had the opportunity to get to know each other better during events such as barbeque, the cruise to Ostróda, the kayaking trip, beach volleyball games and the gala dinner.The scientific part of the symposium ended with the announcement of six winners of the oral and poster award competition. In this year’s winner of The Emil Taszner Award was given to Dr. Monika Kijewska from the University of Wrocław. Additionally, the following were awarded for poster presentations: Dr. Natalia Miodowska (first prize, Wrocław University of Science and Technology), Dr. Paweł Noceń (award, Wrocław University of Science and Technology) and Dr. Mikołaj Śleziak (award, University of Wrocław). During the Young Scientist Mini Symposium, the scientific committee decided to award the First Prize to Uladzisława Tsylents (Center of New Technologies of the University of Warsaw), and a Second Prize to Aleksandra Czerchawy (Wrocław University of Science and Technology).After the Award Ceremony the EPS President, Prof Norbert Sewald had a short presentation on the activities of the Society Then, the next organizer of 27^th Polish Peptide Symposium ,Prof. Marcin Sieńczyk (Wrocław University of Science and Technology), revealed the next symposium time and place, which will be the second or third week of September in 2024 in Szklarska Poręba.

We would like to express our gratitude to our patrons, sponsors and exhibitros whose support made the 26^th Polish Peptide Symposium possible. Without their generous financial support, all this would not take place!

Contributed by Natalia Ptaszyńska and Agata Gitlin-Domagalska