XIII Biotechnology Summer School organized by the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology in University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdansk was successfully held between 8th and 15th July in Lapino near Gdansk, Poland. The leading theme was “Molecular aspects of cancer” highlighting etiology, molecular and cytogenetic diagnostics and therapy of the disease. Parallel topics related to neurodegenerative diseases, Coli infections and general concepts in genome-based diagnostics were accompanying.

The full-day workshop with training in project management, innovation and IP management has been organised by Steinbeis Team Northeast, Rostock, Prosciencia Beratungs-GmbH, Lübeck, and the biotech network ScanBalt. Detailed information on EU funding opportunities for young scientists in the field of life sciences and joining to FP7 projects was delivered by representatives of the National Contact Point in Warsaw. Not the least side topics like: course of statistics, overview of human in vitro fertilization aspects or report on establishing biotechnology cluster in Tri-city, complemented the program.

44 young international scientists from the fields of medicine and biotechnology – undergraduated and post-graduated students as well as Ph.D. students followed the lectures delivered by 20 professors and instructors from Poland, Germany, France and USA. Among them were: Prof. Ursula Froster (University of Leipzig), Prof. Jacek Jassem and Prof. Jacek Witkowski (Medical University of Gdansk), Prof. Krystyna Fabianowska-Majewska (Medical University of Łódź, Prof. Ewa Bartnik and Prof. Ernest Bartnik (University of Warsaw), Dr Sheila Harroch (Institut Pasteur), Prof. Alicja Józkowicz (Jagiellonian University), Dr Stella Nowicki and Dr Bogdan Nowicki (University of Vaderbilt and Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN) and others Traditionally perfect evening entertainment on the lakeshore and sport activities made the whole event a nice experience for all participants.

This was the thirteen summer school organized by our Faculty but the second summer school within the ScanBalt Campus project “The Centre of Knowledge in Molecular Diagnostics” lead by the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG-MUG.
Prepared by A.C. Skladanowski.