NCN grant for Dr Ludwik Gąsiorowski to study the evolution of stem cells and their resistance to irradiation

11 08 2025

Dr Ludwik Gąsiorowski from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Warsaw has received a grant from the National Science Centre (NCN) in the SONATA 20 competition for his project entitled “Evolutionary perspective on irradiation resistance of stem cells”. The project aims to explore how stem cells have evolved across different animal groups, and how and why they are capable of repairing double-strand DNA breaks caused by environmental factors.

The research will examine the resistance of various invertebrate species to ionising radiation, assessing whether increased resistance is linked to the presence of pluripotent stem cells or more closely related to the species’ ecology. The team will also characterise stem cell systems in animals that have not previously been studied in this context. The next stage will focus on the microscopic flatworm Stenostomum brevipharyngium, which possesses pluripotent stem cells and displays remarkable radiation resistance. The aim is to identify the genetic and cellular mechanisms underlying this exceptional trait.

Finally, the team will analyse both published and newly generated transcriptomic data from a variety of animal species with irradiation-resistant pluripotent stem cells. These analyses will help determine whether irradiation resistance is a universal characteristic across animal species or the result of unique evolutionary processes within individual lineages. The outcomes of the project will provide valuable insights into the evolution of stem cells and their remarkable ability to repair DNA damage.

In the photo (from top to bottom): the flatworm Stenostomum brevipharyngium, the gastrotrich Turbanella sp., and the flatworm Macrostomum tuba.