Joanna Zawacka-Pankau - new docent at MedH
Congratulations to Joanna Zawacka-Pankau who has been appointed docent in Medical Biotechnology with focus on Biochemistry at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH).
What does the appointment mean to you?
It's a great privilege and an important milestone in my career. It's also a responsibility; to perform even higher-quality research and to enable the sustainable development of my group members.
What is your research about?
I study new ways of pharmacological reactivation of p53 tumor suppressor for improved cancer therapy. p53 is a disordered protein and the structural data is limited, making the drug discovery process challenging. Using biophysical and biochemical assays and bioinformatic analysis, we are extending the universe of feasible p53-drug interactions. We validate our findings in lung and hematological malignancies, yet also in breast cancer and study the role of p53 protein changes in longevity.
What are your upcoming plans?
I wish to further contribute to MedH:s activities, by continuing our endeavors towards establishing improved therapy in solid and hematological tumors. Also, we are extending our network of international collaborators. Doing so we can contribute to MedH:s internalization and the MedH 2025 strategy. I hope that we'll be able to participate in teaching and training students, an activity in which we have a broad experience.