Marek SanakView profile
Professor
Professor Marek Sanak serves as Full Professor at the Department of Internal Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College in Cracow, Poland. He concurrently holds leadership positions as Acting Director of the Department of Forensic Medicine, Head of the Division of Molecular Biology and Clinical Genetics, and Vice-Rector for Research and International Cooperation since 2016. His academic foundation includes: MD from Jagiellonian University Medical College Specialization in Pediatrics and Genetics PhD from Jagiellonian University Research appointments at Harvard University, University of Paris VI, and University of Zurich Professor Sanak's research integrates clinical genetics with molecular immunology, focusing on asthma pathogenesis, lipid mediators of inflammation, and genetic diagnostics. His laboratory employs advanced techniques including deep DNA/RNA sequencing to identify biomarkers and elucidate disease mechanisms. The work bridges fundamental molecular discoveries with clinical applications in respiratory diseases, allergic disorders, and forensic medicine, demonstrating particular expertise in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease and epigenetic regulation of inflammatory pathways. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strategic evolution from classical asthma research toward molecular genetics and viral pathogenesis. His 2017-2021 work increasingly incorporates epigenetic approaches (DNA methylation, microRNA profiling) while expanding into SARS-CoV-2 research during the pandemic. The publications demonstrate interdisciplinary integration across immunology, respiratory medicine, and molecular diagnostics, with consistent focus on translational applications. His distinguished career has been recognized through numerous honors: The Lancet Investigators Award on Asthma (1997) Polish Ministry of Health Individual Prize (1999) Jagiellonian Laurel (2012) Pro Arte Docendi Award (2014/15) Gold Medal for Long Service (2019) Top 2% of world scientists ranking (Elsevier 2022) As Vice-Rector for Research, Professor Sanak has significantly expanded international collaborations with King's College London, University of Southampton, and University of Zurich. His leadership has secured substantial funding for molecular diagnostics and inflammatory disease research while mentoring numerous early-career researchers. He delivers invited lectures globally for organizations including the American Thoracic Society and European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Professor Sanak directs integrated research units across the Division of Molecular Biology and Clinical Genetics, Division of Biochemical and Molecular Diagnostics at University Hospital Cracow, and the Department of Forensic Medicine. These teams combine clinical service with basic research to advance genetic diagnostics and understand disease mechanisms, maintaining forensic genetics expertise developed over 20 years of practice.









