MD Anderson and the Polish Center of Translational Chemistry, Biology and Medicine become Sister Institutions

MD Anderson News Release July 03, 2012

MD Anderson News Release 07/03/12

Yesterday, July 2, 2012, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center signed a Sister Institution Agreement with the Polish Center of Translational Chemistry, Biology and Medicine. This center is a cooperative effort between Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology headquartered in Warsaw with branches in Gliwice and Krakow; Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice; the Mossakowski Medical Research Centre and the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, which are both part of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw; and the Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, also in Warsaw. These five institutions organized the Center of Translational Chemistry and Biology specifically to engage in research with MD Anderson to impact the global incidence of cancer.

Signing on behalf of MD Anderson was Oliver Bogler, Ph.D., vice president of Global Academic Programs and senior vice president of Academic Affairs, and Raymond DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., provost and executive vice president of MD Anderson. On behalf of the Polish institutions, Andrzej Karbownik, rector of the Silesian University of Technology; Andrzej Lipkowski, director of the Mossakawski Medical Research Center; Piotr Zielenkiewicz, director of the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics; and Krzysztof Warzocha, signed as the director of the Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and the Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine.

Established in 2010, the Polish Center of Translational Chemistry, Biology and Medicine was created with the support of the national Ministry of Science and Higher Education in order to promote collaboration among the member institutions as well as with international institutions. All the institutions in the Center have a history not only of collaborating with each other but with MD Anderson as well. Government contributions through the Ministry of Science and Higher Education will help to fund further research as a Sister Institution. The Center also has the potential to add partners to strengthen any research endeavors.

Under the leadership of Global Academic Programs, MD Anderson has developed a network of Sister Institutions across the world. The goal of organizing the efforts of leading cancer institutions in their respective countries is to accelerate research and discovery as well as the education and training of clinicians and researchers. These Sister Institutions engage in student and faculty exchanges, grant-funded research and annually attend the GAP Conference, which brings representatives of the network together to discuss their progress and ideas for the future.

Faculty and leadership at MD Anderson and the participating institutions in the Polish Center of Translational Chemistry, Biology and Medicine anticipate an increase in collaboration as a result of the Sister Institution agreement and are optimistic about contributing to the reduction of the global cancer burden through their cooperative efforts.

"Poland is a country with a long and deep tradition of excellence in research and health care, exemplified by the members of the consortium,” explains Bogler. “We look forward to making many joint discoveries in our fight against cancer." 07/03/12