Date added: 2026-02-03
An expert from Silicon Valley and Cambridge to strengthen research in the field of One Health
The Nobelium Joining Gdańsk Tech Research Community program is one of the pillars of the IDUB initiative, which aims to attract outstanding researchers with recognised achievements to the university. This time, it is Rafał Urniaż, PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, who has joined the ranks of Gdańsk Tech, bringing unique international experience to Prof. Aneta Łuczkiewicz's team.
From Silicon Valley to Gdańsk
Dr Urniaż is a strongly interdisciplinary scientist who combines knowledge in the fields of medicinal chemistry, bioinformatics and advanced sequencing technologies. His career path has taken him to prestigious institutions such as the University of Cambridge and UC Berkeley, as well as to the very heart of innovation, Silicon Valley.
“Innovative technologies used in the medical and environmental sectors, ranging from real-time biological hazard monitoring systems, through dynamic disease spread models, to adaptive biosensors, are no longer just a vision of the future,” explained Dr Rafał Urniaż. “My long-term experience will enable me to design and implement advanced analytical methods to support risk assessment in the field of public health.”
It is worth highlighting that Dr Urniaż has published articles in top scientific journals, including Nature, and his innovative approach has been recognised with awards such as the SLAS Scientific Excellence Award, the Tony B. Academic Award and the Cancer Research UK Pioneer Award.
One Health – a holistic approach to health
The new researcher has joined the team at the Department of Environmental Engineering Technology at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, headed by Prof. Aneta Łuczkiewicz, PhD, DSc, Eng. This collaboration aims to develop the One Health concept, which assumes an inseparable link among human and animal health and the state of the environment.
This is a natural continuation of the team's achievements to date. Let us recall that Prof. Łuczkiewicz's research group was among the first in Poland to implement innovative sewage monitoring for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic, proving that sewage systems can serve as an early warning system for epidemic threats.
“I would like to strengthen our activities in the field of One Health. Environmental engineering is increasingly intertwined with biomedical engineering and health sciences. That is why it is so important to combine innovative disease monitoring systems with an environmental component,” emphasised Prof. Aneta Łuczkiewicz. “Water supply and sewage disposal systems are no longer just technical infrastructure, but are becoming a key source of information on public health.”
Synergy within the university
Strengthening research capacity will result in the establishment of a new laboratory, One Health for Future (OneHealth4Future), to integrate research on the aquatic environment, the microbiome and public health.
Close cooperation is also planned with the BioTechMed Center, particularly with the Tech4Health initiative led by Prof. Małgorzata Szczerska, PhD, DSc, Eng., from the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics.
The development of research at the Gdańsk University of Technology in the context of One Health for Future is in line with the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular:
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being,
- Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation,
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
The younger generation of researchers is also involved in these activities. Students from the interdepartmental One Health Scientific Club will have the opportunity to work under the guidance of experts who integrate environmental, medical, and social perspectives.
“We would like to create a space for a young generation of researchers who intuitively combine environmental, medical and social perspectives, integrating advanced analytical tools to discover the relationships between human health and the state of the environment,” Prof. Łuczkiewicz and Dr Urniaż concluded unanimously.
