Address:

• Department of General Biochemistry
• Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology
• Jagiellonian University
• ul. Gronostajowa 7
• 30-387 Kraków
• Room: A116
• Phone: 12 664 65 23
• E–mail: katarzyna.miekus@uj.edu.pl

Education:

2017 – DSc in biological sciences (habilitation; biochemistry), Jagiellonian University, Krakow

2006 - PhD in biological sciences, Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology                            

1999 - Master of Science in molecular biology, Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences, Institute of Molecular Biology

Employment in scientific institutions:

2021 – present: Associate Professor, Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Department of General Biochemistry

2013 – 2021: Assistant Professor, Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Department of General Biochemistry

2010 – 2013: Adjunct, Jagiellonian University; Collegium Medicum; Faculty of Medicine; Polish- American Institute of Pediatrics, Department of Clinical Immunology and Transplantology; Institute of Transplantology

2007 – 2010: Assistant, Jagiellonian University; Collegium Medicum; Faculty of Medicine; Polish- American Institute of Pediatrics, Department of Clinical Immunology and Transplantology; Institute of Transplantology

2000 – 2006: Participant, PhD studies, Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Department of Cell Biology

1999 – 2000: Assistant, Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Department of Cell Biology

Research projects

Principal investigator:

‘Molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for the initiation and progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma’ OPUS 23: 2022/45/B/NZ5/01973; 2023-2027; Founding body: National Science Center;

Regulation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and resistance to anti-tumor therapies by the MCPIP1 protein’ SONATA BIS 7: 2017/26/E/NZ5/00691; 2018-2025; Founding body: National Science Center;

'The role of MCPIP1 protein in growth, progression and angiogenesis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma' - OPUS 10: 2015/19/B/NZ5/01405; 2016-2019; Founding body: National Science Center;

'Molecular analysis of the role of MCPIP1 protein in epithelial to mesenchymal progression' - KNOW 35p/3/2015; 2016-2018; Founding body: Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophisics and Biotechnology;

'Molecular analysis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma progression in the context of the search for predictive factors prior to treatment' - SONATA: 2013/09/D/NZ5/00249; 2014-2017; Founding body: National Science Center;

'The role of the MET receptor in development and metastasis of cervical cancer' - K/PBW/000671; 2010-2014; Founding body: Ministry of Science and Higher Education;

'MET receptor as a novel factor responsible for inhibiting the differentiation of rhabdomyosarcoma - implications for the development of a new treatment protocol' - K/PBW/000670; 2010-2014; Founding body: Ministry of Science and Higher Education;

'CXCR4 and CXCR7 receptors - the role in the development and metastasis of cervical carcinoma'- 0100/B/P01/2009/36; 2009-2013; Founding body: Ministry of Science and Higher Education;

The study of the interaction between CXCR4 and MET receptors in the process of metastasis' - K/ZDS/002279;2011; Founding body: Jagiellonian University, Medical College;

'The profile of metastatic and angiogenic gene expression in rhabdomyosarcoma' -  K/ZBW/000143, 2008; Founding body: Jagiellonian University, Medical College;

Project supervisor

‘Correlation between sex hormones and the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma in a mouse model’, 2021-2024; Preludium, Founding body: National Science Center;

‘Regulatory role of miRNA and bcatenin modification in the metastatic potential of clear cell renal cancer’ 2021-2024; Preludium,  Founding body: National Science Center;

The role of the MCPIP1 protein as a potential suppressor in the development and therapy of clear cell renal cell carcinoma’; 2017-2021; Preludium, Founding body: National Science Center;

Internships

2023 - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Cancer Biology & Genetics Program, New York,   USA, 2 months

2011 - The Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain, 2 months          

2004-2005 University of Louisville, Stem Cell Institute, Louisville, Kentucky, USA; 2 years                      

Awards and scholarships

2023 Fulbright Stem Impact Award

2022 - First Award of the Rector of Jagiellonian University for scientific achievements (team award)

2018 Individual Jagiellonian University Rector's Award;

2017 Distinction of the scientific achievement constituting the basis for awarding the degree of habilitation,

2011 Scholar-in-Training Award by American Association for Cancer Research - Orlando, FL, USA,

2011 Award in the competition for the best business plan - setting up and running a company Spin out and Spin off, Foundation for Polish Science,;

2010 Scholar-in-Training Award by American Association for Cancer Research – Arlington, VA, USA;

2010 European Molecular Biology Organization short term scholarship,;

2010 Human Frontier Science Program short term scholarship;

2006 PhD thesis with honors;

Membership in international and national scientific societies and organizations:

Member of the European Association for Cancer Research

Member of the Polish Society of Cell Biology (treasurer of the Krakow Branch in 2008-2011),

Member of the American Association for Cancer Research (since 2009),

Member of the Women in Cancer Research (group of American Association for Cancer Research),

Foundation of the Transplantation Center "Dar Nadziei" - member of the board.

Research interests

Exploring the role of the anti-inflammatory protein MCPIP1 and the inflammatory microenvironment in tumor development, progression, and therapy resistance. Investigating epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tissue fibrosis in the liver and kidney, with a focus on their contribution to metastasis and treatment resistance in hepatocellular and renal carcinomas.

The most important publications

Marona P, Górka J, Kwapisz O, Jura J, Rys J, Hoffman RM, Miekus K. Resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors promotes renal cancer progression through MCPIP1 tumor-suppressor downregulation and c-Met activation. Cell Death Dis. 2022 Sep 22;13(9):814.

‘MCPIP1 inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway activity and modulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition during clear cell renal cell carcinoma progression by targeting miRNAs’. Gorka J, Marona P, Kwapisz O, Waligórska A, Pospiech E, Dobrucki JW, Rys J, Jura J, Miekus K. Oncogene. 2021 Dec;40(50):6720-6735.

'MCPIP1 Downregulation in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Promotes Vascularization and Metastatic Progression’. Marona P, Górka J, Mazurek Z, Wilk W, Rys J, Majka M, Jura J, Miekus K. Cancer Res. 2017 Sep 15;77(18):4905-4920.

‘The decreased metastatic potential of rhabdomyosarcoma cells obtained through MET receptor downregulation and the induction of differentiation’. Miekus K, Lukasiewicz E, Jarocha D, Sekula M, Drabik G, Majka M. Cell Death Dis. 2013 Jan 17;4(1):e459.

‘Embryonic stem cell-derived microvesicles reprogram hematopoietic progenitors: evidence for horizontal transfer of mRNA and protein delivery’. Ratajczak J, Miekus K, Kucia M, Zhang J, Reca R, Dvorak P, Ratajczak MZ. Leukemia. 2006 May;20(5):847-56