Research on Immunosuppressive Drugs in a Doctoral Dissertation | Gdańsk University of Technology

His dissertation, entitled “Synthesis of Amide, Ester, and Bioisosteric Derivatives of Mycophenolic Acid as Compounds with Antiproliferative Activity”, was supervised by Grzegorz Cholewiński, PhD, DSc, Eng., Professor at Gdańsk University of Technology. The reviewers of the dissertation were Prof. Katarzyna Gobis (Medical University of Gdańsk), Prof. Beata Kolesińska (Lodz University of Technology), and Agnieszka Wojtkielewicz, PhD, DSc (University of Białystok).

“The focus of my doctoral research was the search for new, safer immunosuppressive drugs for transplant patients. Current therapies effectively prevent transplant rejection but are associated with serious side effects such as infections and cancer,” explains Juliusz Walczak, PhD.  “The starting point for the research was mycophenolic acid and its derivatives—drugs that are widely used in transplantation medicine but have numerous adverse effects. In my work, I designed and synthesized 49 new compounds based on the core structure of this molecule, including amides, esters, and cyclic bioisosteres. These compounds were then subjected to computational analysis and in vitro biological studies. Their ability to inhibit enzymes responsible for immunosuppressive activity was assessed, as well as their toxicity toward healthy and cancerous cell lines.”

Several of the synthesized compounds demonstrated reduced toxicity toward healthy cells while maintaining immunosuppressive activity; some also exhibited antioxidant or anticancer properties. These findings suggest that structural modification of a known molecule can lead to the development of drugs with improved safety profiles and broader therapeutic potential.

Juliusz Walczak, PhD, is a graduate of the Faculty of Chemistry at Gdańsk Tech, where he studied Chemical Technology. His decision to pursue a master's degree in Chemistry stemmed from a growing interest in organic chemistry.

“Although the subject of my doctoral dissertation—medicinal chemistry—differs significantly from the topics I explored in my engineering thesis (organosulfur radical chemistry) and my master’s thesis (materials chemistry), it still falls within the broad domain of organic chemistry. This shift was intentional, aimed at gaining a broader perspective on the field,” he explains.

To date, he has co-authored seven scientific publications. Additionally, he was employed in the NITROsens project, where he expanded his expertise in the electrochemical properties of modern electrode materials. During his doctoral studies, Juliusz Walczak completed a three-month research internship at KU Leuven in Belgium. This short-term visit allowed him to continue his dissertation-related research in a different academic environment and under new conditions.

“Thanks to this internship, I became more open to independent international research experiences, including undertaking a postdoctoral fellowship at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), where I am currently employed. My involvement in the POLYAPI project is scheduled to conclude in June 2026, with a potential one-year extension depending on the progress of my work. I am also considering applying for a research grant awarded by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) or a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship (MSCA), which would enable me to pursue postdoctoral research at another international institution,” shares Juliusz Walczak, PhD.