Janusz Rak

Prof. Janusz Rak is a full Professor at the University of Gdańsk, affiliated with the Faculty of Chemistry and the Department of Physical Chemistry. He leads the Laboratory of Biological Sensitizers, focusing on radiosensitizers for cancer therapy and DNA damage mechanisms.

His research spans radiation chemistry, biochemical processes in cancer cells, and computational modeling of molecular interactions. He investigates electron-induced DNA damage, halogenated nucleosides, and radiosensitizer development for hypoxic and prebiotic conditions.

Recent publications highlight his work on SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitors (2024), photoswitchable cisplatin analogs (2024), and thionucleoside stability (2024). Key subfields include molecular dynamics, enzyme catalysis, and supramolecular chemistry.

Prof. Rak’s lab explores how modified nucleobases affect DNA radiosensitivity, with applications in radiation therapy and radiobiology. His team uses quantum chemistry, experimental radiolysis, and molecular modeling to study these systems.