Research, education, applications
Institute of Physical Chemistry
Polish Academy of Sciences
10.08.2026
Inspiring young minds through chemistry: IChF science outreach activities in the second quarter of 2026
Hands-on chemistry demonstrations, visits to schools and preschools, and...
7.08.2026
IChF Interdisciplinary Center for Translational Research included in the Polish Roadmap for Research Infrastructures
The Interdisciplinary Center for Translational Research in Advanced Medical...
4.08.2026
The Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS awarded the highest scientific category A+
The Minister of Science and Higher Education has awarded the Institute of...
27.07.2026
A new way to examine the cornea. Nine points at once
Researchers at the International Centre for Translational Eye Research (ICTER)...
15.07.2026
The 16th Gold Medal of Chemistry competition opens for applications
The 16th edition of the Gold Medal of Chemistry competition, organized by the...
13.07.2026
Second admission round for the Warsaw-4-PhD Doctoral School: the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS invites applications until August 7
The Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences (IPC PAS) offers...
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Added 29 Jun 2026
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PUBLIC DEFENCE OF THE PHD THESIS
Warsaw, June 29, 2026. SRN.431.6.2026 NOTICE the public defence of the Ph.D....
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Added 25 Jun 2026
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PUBLIC DEFENCE OF THE PHD THESIS
Warsaw, June 22, 2026. SRN.431.3.2026 NOTICE the public defence of the Ph.D....
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Added 12 Jun 2026
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PUBLIC DEFENCE OF THE PHD THESIS
Warsaw, June 12, 2026. SRN.431.1.2026 NOTICE the public defence of the Ph.D....
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Added 1 Jun 2026
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PUBLIC DEFENCE OF THE PHD THESIS
Warsaw, May 29, 2026. SRN.431.2.2026 NOTICE the public defence of the Ph.D....
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Added 22 May 2026
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PUBLIC DEFENCE OF THE PHD THESIS
Warsaw, May 21, 2026. SRN.431.19.2025.2026 NOTICE the public defence of the Ph.D....
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Added 25 Mar 2026
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PUBLIC DEFENCE OF THE PHD THESIS
Warsaw, March 25, 2026. SRN.431.15.2025.2026 NOTICE the public defence of the Ph.D....
10.08.2026
Inspiring young minds through chemistry: IChF science outreach activities in the second quarter of 2026
Hands-on chemistry demonstrations, visits to schools and preschools, and...
7.07.2026
Interview with the Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship, Adam Struzik, MD, PhD, marking the co-organization of the 5th International Photonics and Quantum Job Fair
The 5th International Photonics and Quantum Job Fair brought together...
18.06.2026
IChF at the 29th Science Picnic at the National Stadium in Warsaw
On Saturday, June 13, 2026, the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy...
3.06.2026
From Dreams and Crossroads to Scientific Success. Prof. Joanna Niedziółka-Jönsson Inspires Students at Multischool International School
On June 2, 2026, students of Multischool International School in Warsaw had a...
7.05.2026
The Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences becomes Poland’s National and Regional Hub in the COALESCE project
Our Institute has joined the European COALESCE project (Coordinated Opportunities...
29.04.2026
Collaboration between IChF and Leibniz IPHT – job shadowing visit and an interview with a member of the institute’s leadership in Jena
Deepening cooperation with a strategic partner in Europe was the focus of a...
19.12.2025
Dream Chemistry Award 2025: visionary scientific ideas celebrated in Prague
The final of the Dream Chemistry Award (DCA) 2025 took place on December 1–2,...
8.12.2025
Launch of the project "WelcomeIChF: Support and Integration of Foreign Employees at IChF PAS"
On 1 October 2025, the Institute of Physical Chemistry PAS (IChF)...
29.10.2025
"From ideas to instruments": Prof. Jürgen Popp on the power of strategic partnerships, AI-enhanced photonics, and citizen science
In late October 2025, the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of...
27.10.2025
European Commission representatives visit IChF and ICTER: making impact with EU funds
On October 13, 2025, the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of...
11.04.2024
Strategic partnership with the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology
The extension of partnerships with top European research institutions is part of...
14.02.2024
Overseas partnerships: participation in the BERSTIC network and signature of a Memorandum of Understanding with Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia
An important aspect of our activities is building global alliances to drive...
Get to know the Institute of Physical Chemistry,
Polish Academy of Sciences
The Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IPC PAS) in Warsaw is one of the best Polish scientific units dealing with chemistry in the broadest sense of the word and in its category it is ranked among the highest in the rankings of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
The Institute was established on 19 March 1955 as the first chemical institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
At present, the IPC is strongly connected with the latest world directions of physical chemistry and chemical physics development.
The entity has the right to confer the academic degree of doctor and doctor habilitated in chemistry. We employ over 200 researchers, including 20 with the title of professor.
Lecture and seminars
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28 Aug 2026
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Understanding Age-Related Macular Degeneration Through iPSC Modelling and Extracellular Vesicle Analysis
- Marzena Kurzawa-Akanbi, PhD Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, United Kingdom
- ICTER Seminar, NHT8 Conference Room, Ground floor, Building 4A and online
- See more
Understanding Age-Related Macular Degeneration Through iPSC Modelling and Extracellular Vesicle Analysis
- Date: 28 Aug 2026, 14:00
- Lecturer: Marzena Kurzawa-Akanbi, PhD Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, United Kingdom
- Institution: ICTER Seminar, NHT8 Conference Room, Ground floor, Building 4A and online
- Place:
ICTER Seminar, NHT8 Conference Room, Ground floor, Building 4A and online
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_795gp_cfS6KPhfKjBffIhw#/registration
- Abstract:
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of blindness, arising from progressive damage to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptors and in some cases from pathological retinal and choroidal angiogenesis. Despite its strong genetic and environmental components, many of the molecular events driving disease progression remain unresolved.
Marzena Kurzawa-Akanbi, PhD, will present work exploring the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in AMD using patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell-derived RPE carrying the high-risk Y402H complement factor H polymorphism. By combining iPSC disease modelling with multi-omics analysis, her research examines how EV secretion and cargo may reflect and potentially contribute to pathological changes in the retina.
AMD-derived iPSC-RPE cells showed enhanced and polarised EV release, with vesicles enriched in RNA, protein and lipid signatures linked to oxidative stress, cytoskeletal dysfunction, angiogenesis and drusen-associated processes. Importantly, EVs from diseased cells were able to induce structural and molecular abnormalities in control RPE cells. Parallel analysis of plasma EV-enriched samples from AMD patients revealed related alterations in proteins and lipids associated with oxidative stress, immune dysregulation and disturbed lipid metabolism.
Taken together, the results point to extracellular vesicles as both potential mediators of disease progression in the outer retina and carriers of systemic molecular signatures of AMD. This work provides new mechanistic insight into disease biology and highlights possible directions for biomarker development and precision medicine.Biography
Marzena Kurzawa-Akanbi, PhD, is a Lecturer in Regenerative Medicine and Principal Investigator at the Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University. She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biotechnology and Molecular Biology from the University of Warsaw and completed her PhD in Medical Genetics at Newcastle University in 2011.
During more than 12 years as a Research Associate and Senior Research Associate, supported in part by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, she developed an independent research focus on extracellular vesicles in neurodegenerative disease. Working in Prof. Majlinda Lako’s laboratory, she gained expertise in induced pluripotent stem cell disease modelling and applied these approaches to investigate extracellular vesicle-mediated mechanisms in age-related macular degeneration.
Appointed Lecturer in 2024, Kurzawa-Akanbi. PhD, now leads research examining the roles of extracellular vesicles in neurological and ocular diseases, their potential as biomarkers and bioengineering strategies to improve their detection. She also co-founded a Newcastle University spin-out company established to translate liquid-biopsy diagnostic approaches for Parkinson’s disease and dementia, developing experience in commercial translation and academic–industry collaboration.
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10 Sept 2026
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From Cu Migration to Twin Morphology: Annealing Effects in Pd-Chalcogenide Nano-heterostructures and High-Entropy Metal Telluride Nanocrystals
- Dr. Suvodeep Sen, University of Limerick, Ireland
- IChF Aula
- See more
From Cu Migration to Twin Morphology: Annealing Effects in Pd-Chalcogenide Nano-heterostructures and High-Entropy Metal Telluride Nanocrystals
- Date: 10 Sept 2026, 11:00
- Lecturer: Dr. Suvodeep Sen, University of Limerick, Ireland
- Institution: IChF Aula
- Abstract:
Heterostructuring nanocrystals into a modular metal-semiconductor configuration enables tunable and novel functionalities. Such combinations at the nanoscale equip hybrid structures with unique electronic, optical, and catalytic properties unobserved in single-phase materials. We designed the temperature-guided synthesis of Pd-Cu3Pd13S6.65Te0.35 nanoheterostructures from PdCu nanoalloy seeds by the hot-injection method. This strategy enables controlled semiconductor domain formation and targeted metal migration. The NHCs showed efficient and stable electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution with low Tafel values in acidic media, outperforming conventional nanoelectrocatalysts.
High-entropy materials, composed of five or more principal elements evenly distributed in a crystal lattice with near-equimolar ratios, exhibit unique synergistic properties. Their distinctive compositions drive growing interest in incorporating high-entropy chalcogenides (HEChs) into colloidal nanoparticles. This effect is pivotal in advancing modern science and technology, enabling advancement in ion exchange, catalysis, and energy storage. Driven by this motivation, we present the colloidal synthesis of mixed chalcogenide high-entropy materials (CuFeCdInGa)XTey with controlled size dispersity. The key reaction variables, such as precursor reactivity, capping ligands, reaction temperature, and reaction time, have been shown to influence the morphology of the NCs, highlighting the flexibility of wet chemical synthesis method. However, before drawing conclusions and reporting high-entropy chalcogenides, it is essential to reconsider the role of entropy in colloidal synthesis. Our current study focuses on deciphering the specific criteria that colloidally synthesized nanocrystals must satisfy to be legitimately classified as high-entropy nanocrystals.
