Director’s Awards for the Best Scientific Publications of 2025 at the Maj Institute of Pharmacology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

The Maj Institute of Pharmacology of the Polish Academy of Sciences is pleased to announce the recipients of the Director’s Awards for outstanding scientific publications from 2025.

A total of 18 publications were submitted to the competition. All entries were evaluated by the Selection Committee, whose members independently scored each submission. Following a thorough assessment of all eligible works, the Committee selected five top publications. Particular attention was given to the originality of the research, its significance for the advancement of the scientific disciplines represented at the Institute, and the potential applicability of the results across various fields of science.

The awards were granted in accordance with the regulations introduced in December 2022. Eligible submissions included publications affiliated with the Institute, in which the first author, the corresponding author, and at least half of the co-authors were affiliated with the Institute, and which were published in journals ranked in the first quartile (Q1) within their respective disciplines.

Awarded publications (in order of ranking):

1. Histamine H3 receptor blockade alleviates neuropathic pain through the regulation of glial cells activation
   Authors: Degutis M., Łażewska D., Barut J., Białoń M., Latacz G., Szczepańska K., Pietruś W., Werner T., Karcz T., Stark H., Kreiner G., Kieć-Kononowicz K., Starowicz K., Popiołek-Barczyk K.
   DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2025.117850
2. Pharmacological modulation of neutrophils, in contrast to that of macrophages/microglia, is sex-independent and delays the development of morphine tolerance in a mouse model of neuropathic pain
   Authors: Pawlik K., Ciapała K., Ciechanowska A., Makuch W., Mika J.
   DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2025.118149
3. Dietary Intervention with Omega-3 Fatty Acids Mitigates Maternal High-Fat Diet-Induced Behavioral and Myelin-Related Alterations in Adult Offspring
   Authors: Jastrzębska J., Frankowska M., Wesołowska J., Filip M., Smaga I.
   DOI: 10.2174/1570159X23666241014164940
4. Promising effects of astaxanthin on pain-related behaviors and morphine tolerance in a mouse model of neuropathic pain: Possible involvement of Nrf2 and the NMDA receptor subunit NR2B
   Authors: Ciapała K., Pawlik K., Ciechanowska A., Makuch W., Mika J.
   DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2025.e00765
5. Prenatal Stress Increases the Risk of the FPR2-related Dysfunction in the Brain’s Resolution of Inflammation: A Study on the Humanized APPNL-F/NL-F Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
   Authors: Trojan E., Frydrych J., Lasoń W., Basta-Kaim A.
   DOI: 10.2174/011570159X345385241004060055

Congratulations to all the awardees, and we wish them continued success in their scientific endeavors.