The Vascular Endothelial Medicine scientific seminar, devoted to contemporary research directions in endothelial function, mechanisms of endothelial injury, and the role of endothelial dysfunction in the development of cardiovascular diseases, was held on 15th May 2026 at the Medical University of Gdańsk. The event brought together researchers working on both fundamental and clinical aspects of vascular biology and microcirculation.
The seminar was opened by its organisers: Prof. Marcin Hellmann, Head of the Department of Cardiac Disease Diagnostics at the MUG, and Assoc. Prof. Barbara Kutryb-Zając, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc. from the Department of Biochemistry and Coordinator of the MUG Centre for Experimental Cardio-Oncology. The opening session was also attended by Prof. Michał Markuszewski, Rector of the MUG, Prof. Michał Żmijewski, Vice-Rector for Science at MUG, and Prof. Marta Baranowska-Kuczko, Chair of the Experimental Cardiology Section of the Polish Cardiac Society, which granted honorary patronage to the event.
The seminar programme included lectures by recognised experts in endothelial biology and vascular pharmacology. Prof. Jean-Luc Cracowski from Université Grenoble Alpes delivered a lecture on the physiology and pharmacology of the human vascular endothelium and the significance of microcirculation in cardiovascular diseases. Prof. Stefan Chłopicki from the Jagiellonian University discussed the complex and heterogeneous nature of endothelial dysfunction, extending beyond classical nitric oxide-dependent disturbances. Prof. Ryszard T. Smoleński from the Department of Biochemistry at the MUG presented issues related to the role of nucleotides and purinergic signalling in mechanisms of vascular injury and potential therapies targeting endothelial cells.
An important element of the event was a poster session for early-career researchers, presenting current research projects conducted at the MUG and collaborating centres. The poster topics included, among others, microcirculation and metabolism in heart failure, mitochondrial dysfunction in endothelial cells, the impact of SGLT2 inhibitors on vascular function, spatial lipidomics of atherosclerotic plaque, cellular bioenergetics, and experimental cardio-oncology. Studies on vascular ageing, endothelial inflammation, and modern ex vivo and in vitro models used in translational medicine were also presented.
Research conducted by the teams of Prof. Barbara Kutryb-Zając and Prof. Marcin Hellmann focuses on the mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction, vascular metabolism, and the role of mitochondria and purinergic signalling in cardiovascular diseases. Their work includes both experimental and clinical studies on microcirculation, cellular bioenergetics, and the effects of novel therapies on vascular function. The teams are involved in projects concerning, among other areas, heart failure, vascular pharmacology, endothelial dysfunction, and the mechanisms of action of modern cardiological therapies, including SGLT2 inhibitors, PCSK9 inhibitors, and GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists. Further information is available on research into the vascular endothelium and the role of mitochondria in vascular dysfunction conducted by MUG researchers.
The seminar provided an opportunity for the exchange of experience among researchers representing various disciplines within the medical and biological sciences, as well as for the presentation of the latest achievements of early-career researchers developing studies on the vascular endothelium and microcirculation. The organisers emphasised that the event is intended to become a regular platform for integrating the community involved in cardiovascular medicine and experimental cardiology.
