Category: Scientific Leaders & Principal Investigators

Prof. Dr. hab. Maciej Wojtkowski

University Degree:

Professor of Physics (2003), habilitation in Physics (2010) at the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland

Position at ICTER:

ICTER Chair and POB Group Leader

Research Areas:

Biomedical Imaging

Prof. Maciej Wojtkowski, born in 1975, is a physicist with a distinguished career in applied optics, medical physics, and experimental physics. He began his scientific journey at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, where he earned his MSc, PhD, and Habilitation degrees in Physics. His early research included international appointments as a researcher at the University of Vienna and later at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Tufts New England Eye Center in Boston, USA.

Prof. Wojtkowski is a pioneer of SdOCT

Prof. Wojtkowski is one of the pioneers in the development of the spectral domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SdOCT), also known as the Fourier domain OCT method. He is a key inventor of the first prototype clinical SdOCT device for eye imaging, which revolutionized the non-invasive diagnosis of eye diseases. This device was developed at Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland, becoming a standard tool in ophthalmology clinics worldwide.

Prof. Wojtkowski, together with Prof. Rainer Leitgeb and Prof. Johannes De Boer, has played a leading role in the development of SdOCT. His main achievements are related to the translation of the method into ophthalmic practice. In 2000, Prof. Wojtkowski was the first in the world to build a laboratory system for SdOCT eye imaging at Nicolaus Copernicus University (NCU) in Toruń. Together with Prof. Leitgeb, they demonstrated the first retinal imaging results in 2002, published in the Journal of Biomedical Optics (JBO). The method described in this publication became the foundation for OCT device design.

In 2003, Prof. Wojtkowski achieved a major breakthrough by experimentally demonstrating SdOCT retinal imaging with an acquisition time of 64 microseconds (~15kHz), providing the world’s first experimental evidence that SdOCT enables safe in vivo retinal imaging more than 50 times faster than standard time-domain OCT, with comparable sensitivity and sample illumination. With this work, he opened up previously unattainable possibilities for 3-D imaging of the eye. 

The same year, he conducted pioneering experiments demonstrating high-resolution 3-micron imaging of the retina and cornea using supercontinuum light generated in a photonic optical fiber, with the first examples of 3-D imaging published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology in 2004 after rejection in Nature Medicine in 2003.

During his time at MIT (2003-2005), Prof. Wojtkowski further advanced OCT by demonstrating high-quality 3-D imaging of the human retina and cornea, introducing retinal morphometric analysis based on a raster measurement protocol, which has since become the gold standard in ophthalmic diagnostics and is used in all current clinical devices. His team at NCU also introduced the use of SdOCT for imaging corneal disorders. Prof. Wojtkowski developed the first three clinical SdOCT devices for ophthalmic imaging, which were tested at Tufts New England Eye Center, Boston USA,

Jurasz Hospital in Bydgoszcz, Poland and UPMC in Pittsburgh, USA enabling clinical validation and subsequent commercialization of SdOCT method. In addition, Prof. Wojtkowski and his team at NCU made significant contributions to OCT angiography, Doppler imaging, speckle contrast reduction, and quantitative methods for SdOCT data analysis.

In 2019, his team at International Centre for Translational Eye Research (ICTER) Warsaw, Poland introduced the spatio-temporal OCT method, extending OCT’s functionality to include flicker optoretinography and high-resolution imaging of the chorio-retinal complex.

Advancing Two-photon Vision and Two-photon Imaging

Prof. Wojtkowski also made groundbreaking contributions to the understanding of two-photon vision. In 2014, he led a study that illuminated the phenomenon of two-photon vision, proving the role of two-photon absorption in the isomerization of retinal pigments that cause visual sensations. In 2021, he and his colleagues achieved another milestone by presenting the first-ever images of the human retina measured with two-photon excited fluorescence in vivo.

Prof. Wojtkowski’s scientific leadership

Since 2016, Prof. Wojtkowski has headed the Department of Physical Chemistry of Biological Systems at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IPC PAS). In 2019, he co-founded the International Center for Translational Eye Research (ICTER), a part of IPC PAS, furthering his vision of integrating physics and biomedical research to advance eye health.

ICTER focuses on cutting-edge translational research in vision science, combining fundamental science with clinical applications. Under Prof. Wojtkowski’s leadership, ICTER has achieved significant milestones, including winning the prestigious Horizon Europe Teaming for Excellence grant in 2024. It is also a two-time recipient of the International Research Agendas Programme (IRAP) grant from the Foundation for Polish Science, solidifying ICTER’s role as a global leader in ophthalmological research and innovation.

Papers, patents and commercialization

Prof. Wojtkowski has more than 240 scientific publications and numerous patents to his credit, and his work is regularly published in leading journals. His research has earned him over 8,000 citations and widespread recognition, including fellowships in prestigious societies such as the Optical Society of America. In addition to his academic and research achievements, Prof. Wojtkowski’s entrepreneurial spirit is reflected in his role as the founder and former CEO of the biomedical spin-out company AM2M, and currently the co-founder of the In Cell Vu. His contributions to science, from pioneering OCT technology to his leadership at ICTER, continue to shape the future of medical imaging and translational research.

Humberto Fernandes, PhD

University Degree:

PhD, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland

Position at ICTER:

Group Leader

Research Areas:

Mechanisms that Drive Cell Function in Health and Disease at the Atomic and Molecular Levels

Dr. Fernandes completed his PhD studies in Mariusz Jaskolski’s Lab, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland, where he trained in X-ray crystallography. He moved to Ireland to carry out postdoctoral work with Amir Khan (Trinity College Dublin), then joined Stephen Curry’s research group (Imperial College London, UK), expanding and integrating his skills in crystallography with other structural and biophysics techniques. Moving back to Poland, as a semi-independent researcher in Matthias Bochtler’s lab (Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw), he has continued using structural biology focused on a project involving DNA sequencing. He has led two scientific grants as PI, mentored two master thesis students, and published eighteen peer-reviewed papers, which collectively have been cited over 700 times. He started his career as a group leader at the ICTER in September 2020. His scientific interest focuses on understanding the mechanisms that drive cell function in health and disease at the atomic and molecular levels.

Scientific and research initiatives by Dr. Humberto Fernandes:

1. 04/2023: Project coordinator of the iNEXT-discovery project “Structural elucidation of retinol binding protein 3 (RBP3) with different retinoids” (PID: 25721) supported by iNEXT-Discovery, project number 871037, funded by the Horizon 2020 program of the European Commission.

2. 04/2023: Project coordinator of the iNEXT-discovery project “Structural characterization by X-ray crystallography of mammalian RBP3” (PID: 25420) supported by iNEXTDiscovery, project number 871037, funded by the Horizon 2020 program of the European Commission.

3. 02/2023: Award of the Minister of Education and Science for significant achievements in scientific activities for the team of Prof. Prof. Matthias Bochtler.

4. 01/2023: Project coordinator for cryo-EM beamline access project “Structural studies of Retinol-binding protein 3” (Proposal 222017) under the provision of the Polish Ministry of Education and Science project: ‘‘Support for research and development with the use of research infrastructure of the National Synchrotron Radiation Centre SOLARIS’’ under contract no. 1/SOL/2021/2.

5. 10/2022: Project coordinator of the iNEXT-discovery project “Structural studies of Retinol-binding protein 3” (PID: 23732) supported by iNEXT-Discovery, project number 871037, funded by the Horizon 2020 program of the European Commission.

6. 09/2022: Project coordinator of the iNEXT-discovery project “A protein structural biology approach to understanding morphological changes in photoreceptor outer segment after light activation: a closer look at PDE6” (PID: 22852) supported by iNEXTDiscovery, project number 871037, funded by the Horizon 2020 program of the European Commission.

7. 03/2022: Project coordinator of the iNEXT-discovery project “Retinol-binding protein 3 (RBP3): ligand binding, cooperativity, and conformational changes” (PID: 17551) supported by iNEXT-Discovery, project number 871037, funded by the Horizon 2020 program of the European Commission.

8. 02/2016 to 01/2020: Project manager and Principal investigator of the OPUS9 project “Non-catalytic domains of the RNA-guided DNA methyltransferase DRM2” from the National Science Centre Poland (NCN) (grant agreement 2015/17/B/NZ1/00861) (Budget 907200.0 PLN)

9. 10/2013 to 12/2015: Project manager and Principal investigator of the HOMING PLUS project “Plant-specific methyltransferase DNA structures” from Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) (grant agreement HOMING PLUS/2013-7/5) (Budget 327800.0 PLN)

10. 03/2015: Project coordinator of the BioStruct-X project “Non-catalytic domains of the RNA-guide DNA metyltransferase DRM2” (No. 9586) from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under BioStruct-X (grant agreement N°283570)

11. 11/2007 to 11/2009: Principal researcher in the research project “Structural and biochemical studies of plant PR-10 proteins from different sources” (No. N N204 2584 33) sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (Budget 40000.0 PLN)

12. 08/2007: RCSB PDB Poster prize awarded at 24th European Crystallographic Meeting ECM24

13. 12/2004 to 11/2007: Marie Curie Host Fellowship for Early Research Training of the EU

14. 11/2003 to 10/2004: Initiation to investigation scholarship from the project POCTI/BME/47604/2002, on the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia program: “Structural studies on the proteasome maturation factor (Ump1p) and its complex with proteasome precursors”

15. 03/2002 to 08/2002: Initiation to investigation scholarship from the project POCTI/32621/BME/2000, on the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia program: “The 20S and 26S proteasome assembly pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae”.

Andrzej Foik, PhD hab.

University Degree:

Habilitation degree in biological sciences, the Nencki Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.

Position at ICTER:

Group Leader

Research Areas:

Molecular and Cell Biology, Genetics, In Vivo and In Vitro Electrophysiology (single-unit and field potential recordings), Biotechnology (Protein Purification, Protein Design, and Expression, Microbiology, Vector Design), Data Analysis

E-mail: afoik@ichf.edu.pl
Researcher's ORCID Id: 0000-0003-1110-9223

Andrzej Foik, PhD hab., is experienced in molecular and cell biology, genetics, in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology at the network and single-cell levels, data analysis, and computer programming. His scientific pathway began at the Department of Protein Biosynthesis of the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, where he defended his master thesis. He received further scientific training at the Department of Molecular Biology in the Centre of Oncology – Maria Sklodowska-Curie Institute.

He attained a PhD degree in neurophysiology at the Laboratory of Neurobiology of Vision at the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Science in Warsaw. Prior to taking the lead of the Ophthalmic Biology Group, he pursued scientific studies as a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology of the University of California, Irvine, USA (2015 – 2020). In June 2024 Dr. Foik has been awarded his habilitation degree in biological sciences, by the Nencki Institute’s Scientific Council.

Karol Karnowski, PhD

University Degree:

PhD in Biophysics, Nicolaus Copernicus University

Position at ICTER:

Acting IDoc Leader, Senior Researcher

Research Areas:

Biomedical Applications of Photonics

“I am a seasoned researcher with over 15 years of experience in optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging techniques. My scientific interests lie in the biomedical applications of imaging technologies, particularly in enhancing contrast by exploring the dynamic, mechanical, and polarization properties of tissues. Additionally, I am passionate about the miniaturization of imaging systems and the development of cost-effective solutions.

Throughout my career, I have successfully managed numerous research projects and secured various grants, demonstrating my ability to lead and execute. I have also been instrumental in developing prototype clinical devices, bridging the gap between research and practical medical applications.

Mentorship is a key aspect of my professional life. I take great pride in guiding and supporting younger colleagues, having supervised two PhD candidates and over ten master’s students to date. This role allows me to contribute to the growth of emerging scientists.

Currently, I serve as the Acting PI of the IDoc Group at ICTER, where I lead a team of specialists in advanced biomedical imaging techniques and robotics. Additionally, I actively support the centre’s public relations efforts, promoting our research achievements and enhancing our scientific community’s visibility”.

Marcin Tabaka, PhD

University Degree:

PhD, Jagiellonian University, Institute of Physical Chemistry (PAS)

Position at ICTER:

Group Leader

Research Areas:

Gene expression, high-throughput single-cell genomics, cell reprogramming, immunology and cancer pathogenesis

Dr. Marcin Tabaka graduated from the Jagiellonian University Faculty of Chemistry in 2004. He obtained a PhD degree at the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Science (IPC PAS) in 2009. He worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Mathematical Biology at IPC PAS (2010-2014) and then at the Klarman Cell Observatory headed by Aviv Regev at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA (2014-2019).

He started his career as group leader at ICTER in September 2020. Dr. Marcin Tabaka is a co-author of 27 scientific papers in high-impact journals, including Nature, Cell, and PNAS (Google Scholar).

His scientific interest focuses on applications of high-throughput single-cell genomics technologies in diverse research areas. He has been involved in studies on cell reprogramming, immunology, and cancer, among others.

Projects:                     

OPUS 21 2021/41/B/NZ7/03786,
Science for the Society NdS-II/SP/0195/2023/01,
OPUS 25 2023/49/B/NZ9/01925,
MAB II (FENG.02.01IP.05-T005/23).