Katarzyna Lechward, PhD

Experience

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  Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research

  Mar 1996 - Sept 1996

  Technician

  l worked for dr Brian A Hemmings on the construction of molecular biology tools to assay the multimeric complexes of protein phosphatase 2A.

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  Medical University of Gdansk

  Oct 1996 - Jun 2001

  Under the auspices of Howard Hughes Medical Institute grant and with dr Stanisław Zolnierowicz I spent time to study the short lived interaction of the nucleoredoxin and the protein phosphatase 2A. I did the experimental work to support the hypothesis of the regulatory role for transient protein-protein associations in the context of the reversible protein phosphorylation.

  • Phd-student (aio)

    Oct 1996 - Jun 2001

  • Scientific Researcher

    Oct 1996 - Jun 1998
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  Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research

  Jun 1997 - Sept 1997

  Visiting scientist

  Upon the joint research project between dr Brian A. Hemmings and dr Stanisław Zolnierowicz. I executed the molecular homology cloning of mouse and human gene encoding for nucleoredoxin, a protein phosphatase type 2A copurifying enzyme.

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  Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research

  Nov 1998 - Mar 1999

  Visiting scientist

  I was taking part in the research on interaction between protein phosphatase 2A and nucleoredoxin. Also, I did technology transfer to establish the mammalian cell lines based assays to detect transient protein-protein interaction.

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  Medical University of Gdansk

  Dec 2001 - May 2002

  I continued to establish the methods to analyse the distribution of human 5' nucleotidase in the tissues originating from patients of surgery departament. I established the molecular biology methods in the field of human cytoplasmic 5'nucleotidase.

  • Technician

    Feb 2002 - May 2002

  • technician

    Dec 2001 - Jan 2002
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  Tokyo Medical and Dental University

  May 2002 - Sept 2002

  Assistant

  I did the work for dr Masatoshi Hagiwara in the field of the RNA splicing related kinases.

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  Tokyo Medical and Dental University via Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

  Oct 2002 - Sept 2004

  Post-doctoctoral researcher

  Under the programme for foreign researchers who wished to executed the research on Japan I joined the Departament of Functional Genomics. I was analysing the roles of the multimeric protein complexes. This focused on protein serine-threonine kinase 4. This enzyme is involved the regulation of the choice making of the RNA splicing machinery on the site of the catalysis of the splicing reaction. This in turn produces the diversity of the single gene sequence into multi protein products and adds to the diversity of the base for the processing of life in the human cells. I used recombinant protein produced in cell line to bait out the short lived, transient interactions of proteins. I sized the protein complexes by gel filtration and purified big assemblies of PRP 4 by affinity chromatography. The components identification took the mass- spectrometry analysis and I did it alone, in cooperation with specialised personnel: Makiko Nawa and Sachiyo Nomura and with an expert professor Kasama.I reported to JSPS and Dr Hagiwara. The other work I pursuit was the initial analysis of the application of chemically caged compound, namely the kinase inhibitor, in the in vitro and in situ assays.I was teamed with Dr Hagiwara and took a role of his post doctoral fellow.The effects of the above comprises the international conference reports and the internal JSPS reports. Show less

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  Medical University of Gdansk

  Feb 2005 - Jul 2005

  Scientific Researcher

  I worked for Polish Japanese bilateral agreement to establish the future cooperation in the field of RNA splicing related protein kinases. Together with the administration personnel of Medical University of Gdansk I gathered the necessary documentation to support the financial requests to Polish Scientific Commitee for the prolongation of the grant R-137. Additionally I wrote a research grant proposal which involved the continuation of my experimental work made at Tokyo Medical and Dental University in the line of the PRP 4 interacting proteins. It took the presentation at the Biochemical Society of Poland and the correspondence with Dr Masatoshi Hagiwara over the details of the future cooperation.I organised the visit of Dr Hagiwara at Medical University of Gdansk and attended this visit as the portable representative of the host, Rector Professor Wiesław Makarewicz. Show less

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  Medical University of Vienna via RTN Flippases EU consortium

  Nov 2005 - Nov 2007

  Experienced researcher

  I exploited molecular biology to approach the ABCA4 interacting proteins network. I was two people team and produced the polyclonal antibodies directed to external loop of the ABCA proteins. Bacteria purified recombinant proteins served as antigens and I purified the IgG fraction of the antibodies. Those I used at every available techniques including the western blotting, the immunohistochemistry and immunopurification to detect ABCA proteins in mouse tissues.I analysed the high throughput data for EST databases and did own molecular maps for ABCA proteins expression in mouse Finally I developed the strategy to capture the ABCA4 protein complexes by chemical crosslinking of the membrane released proteins and immunopurification of ABCA4 directed antibodies. The identity of the proteins present in such assemblies was detected by mass spectrometry based analysis.I wanted to immobilise the external loop of ABCA proteins to support the crystalliation of them and X ray based analysis of obtained crystals to complete the structure of the protein.The work was lab noted and presented as set of internal Flipases network meetings presentations.I cooperated internally with Susanne Falkner and Nuno Andrade on the immunohistochemistry of the ABCA transporters in various mouse tissues. The work was executed under the supervision of Dr Karl Kuchler. Show less

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  Samozatrudnienie

  Oct 2009 - Nov 2015

  I applied for research grants from National Science Centre (NCN) and EU based money with six research projects. To fund myself I became a private investor over the Warsaw Stock Exchange market and used the daily oscillations as a base to earn money. The competitions I took part in were: Maestro. with Gdansk Polytechnics, Chemistry Department on nucleoredoxin and its roles in the transcription and embryonic development of mice. The Harmony over Medical University of Gdansk, Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Masatoshi Hagiwara on protein phosphatase 2A and RNA splicing. The last but not least I together with Poznan Technology and Science Park and Professor Hieronim Wrona we wtorek OPUS grant on protein phosphatase 2A and cancer progression over aberrant cell cycle. Show less I applied for opening of habilitation at University Wroclaw Department of Biology. Dr Dariusz Rakus organised the appropriate lecture and assured that the quality of my experimental work warrant the good outcome. The thesis were on the enzymatic nature of proteins who bind the phosphate group of divergent proteinaceous substrates. It included the protein phosphatase 2A, the cytosolic 5'- cytosolic nucleotidase, the human PRP4 protein serine-threonine kinase and the ABC A family of protein transporters. later on I obtained the information from Dr Rakus that the rules changed and nowadays the habilitation grants only the single enzyme or narrow topics presented in a series of 5-7 research works written as first or last author and published elsewhere. Show less

  • Grant applicant at EU research grants competitions held in 2014 and 2015.

    May 2014 - Nov 2015

  • Party at the Gdansk District Court to sort the intellectual properties rights.

    Nov 2010 - Nov 2014

  • Free lancer biological sciences

    Apr 2010 - Oct 2012

  • Habilitation candidate at University of Wroclaw.

    Oct 2009 - Jun 2010
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  Warsaw School of Life Sciences via EU REGPOT project

  Jan 2012 - Jan 2013

  Adjunkt

  I did one way PCR to read out the sequence of the novel isolated funghi species Fusarium temperatum. In principles I operated on the OPA set of decamers to amplify the semi specifically complementary DNA regions. From the amplification patterns I went into molecular cloning and sequencing of particular bands. I hoped to find the species specific differences in the genetic suit of the funghi and to analyse the roles of the amplified DNA fragments. I had a small working hypothesis that I am amplifying the exon-intron boundaries and am able to manipulate the genome of Fusarium by planned shuttle DNA vectors to promote the interchange of the genetic material. I worked with Professor Wojciech Wakulinski and Professor Elżbieta Cichal-Paduch. Show less

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  VECTRA

  Jun 2016 - May 2018

  Senior consultant at back office of Vectra company Gdynia

  I operated on internal transaction systems to provide the links between sellers and the headquarters. It took telephone and computer literacy as well as ability to communicate with customers, sellers and IT Department.

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  Genloxa

  Jan 2019 - Jun 2020

  R&D coordinator

  I coordinated the R&D projects. Apart from that I was doing deep support for molecular diagnostics products offered by Genloxa and attended the practical side of the troubleshooting of the regular use of the products at the customer site. It included the visits at customer site and addressing the problems at the spot by practical run of the given test and solving out problems. It took the installation of the analytical servers for the high throughput data from DNA related techniques such as NGS and the at spot adjustments at assays procedures and data analysis. The latter was dedicated to various ELISA based tests and applications of the manufacturer guidance over the customer procedures and methods of the analysis of the obtained results.Besides I attended the demonstrations of the abilities of novel tests dedicated to assess the levels of the drug in the treated blood samples. It included the presentation of the instrument, test and addressing the concerns of the putative users by bridging the manufacturer and user experience with detailed problem analysis.My bench work relayed on spectrometry, HPLC and ELISA based tests. At the high of COVID-19 pandemia it took me to test the human biological samples for SARS-COV-2 viral RNA by quantitative real time PCR assays. Finalising I ran a regular lab book and git hub oriented set of SOPs, operation instructions and own intellectual input listed as protocols. I corresponded with original authors of the scientific reports in the field of the thiopurine drugs metabolism, detection methods and the analytical sets such as SPE HPLC and assessed obtained knowledge for the implementation in the technical aspect of the R&D project I coordinated on.Seldomly I analysed the market information for adjusting the course of the sale plans of the company and remodeling the priorities at the research and development.The whole above was reported/coordinated on the regular bases over the telephone/IMS with Dr Paweł Schweiger. Show less

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  BLIRT S.A.

  Jun 2020 - now

  I prepared plans for validation and optimisation of methods used for quality control with the emphasize on SDS PAGE and nucleases tests. I succeeded in optimisation of both types of analysis. I too conducted the literature screens for upgrading the QC types of tests. I did quality control of the protein products as well as I was s help in routine purification of his tagged proteins. Apart from that I conducted and developed microbiology related method to screen the biomasses. I worked with RNA, DNA and proteins while doing the quality control tests.

  • Quality Control Specialist

    Jan 2023 - now

  • Junior specialist for development of analytical methods for quality control

    Jul 2022 - now

  • Scientific technical worker

    Jun 2020 - now