The B. Skarżyński Award for B. Sc. Kalina Spławska, B. Sc., and Prof. Tomasz Wilanowski for their article on tamoxifen

05 04 2025

B. Sc. Kalina Spławska, B. Sc., and Prof. Tomasz Wilanowski received the Bolesław Skarżyński Award for their review publication titled “The infinite potential of a single substance: The history of tamoxifen as an example of drug repositioning”. This award is granted by the Main Board of the Polish Biochemical Society for the best article published in the journal “Advances in Biochemistry” in a given year.

Tamoxifen is a widely used and very effective drug for breast cancer. Researchers became interested in it because it perfectly illustrates many aspects of the development of modern medicine. Firstly, tamoxifen is a hormonal drug, and sex hormones are of great importance in the development of many types of cancer. Secondly, in clinical use it requires the use of methods of personalized medicine, which nowadays is the fastest developing branch of medicine and brings a breakthrough in the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Thirdly, tamoxifen has also found many applications in the treatment of other diseases, so it provides an excellent example of drug repositioning, which is currently one of the main methods of developing new therapies. Fourthly, the story of its discovery and introduction to clinical use is truly fascinating. It illustrates, among other things, how many factors must be taken into account when developing innovative therapies, including cultural, social and other factors.

Ms. Spławska completed her first-cycle studies (Bachelor’s degree) at the Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw. She is currently pursuing her second-cycle studies (Master’s degree) at the University of Ghent, Faculty of Sciences, in Ghent, Belgium. Prof. Wilanowski is an employee of the University of Warsaw, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology. The main contribution to this work was made by Ms. Spławska, while Prof. Wilanowski was her scientific supervisor.