We are pleased to announce that Damian Mikulski, a member of our Department, is among the 40 recipients of research scholarships awarded in the 4th edition of the Walczak NAWA program. Starting in February 2025, Dr. Mikulski will spend five months working with Professor Robert Orlowski, M.D., Ph.D., at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. During this time, Dr. Mikulski will participate in a project entitled “Analyzing Multi-Omic Features of Myeloma Cells and the Tumor Microenvironment in High-Risk Multiple Myeloma.”
Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematologic malignancy, with 160,000 new cases annually. Recent advances with medications like monoclonal antibodies, bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs), and chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells have improved outcomes, but high-risk (HR) patients still face poor progression-free and overall survival. Research into the molecular and immunologic mechanisms affected by myeloma and the tumor microenvironment (TME) could uncover new biological features of HR MM. This project aims to use a multi-omics strategy on bone marrow patient samples, including single-cell RNA sequencing, proteomics, and whole-genome sequencing, to understand better the factors influencing response and resistance to immune-based therapies in HR MM. These insights may help identify predictive biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, one of the world’s leading cancer centers, focuses on cancer care, research, and prevention. Its Lymphoma and Myeloma Department is one of the largest multidisciplinary programs in the U.S. for these blood cancers. The MD Anderson laboratory’s translational research program aims to develop effective therapies based on fundamental science, including genetics and molecular science. Professor Robert Orlowski, M.D., Ph.D., a distinguished leader in multiple myeloma research with an h-index of 90 (Scopus), serves as chair ad interim of the Lymphoma/Myeloma Department.
Read more about Walczak NAWA program: https://www.nawa.gov.pl/nawa/aktualnosci/wyniki-naboru-do-ostatniej-edycji-programu-walczak-nawa.