Joanna Chorostowska-Wynimko MD, PhD, DSc

Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics,
National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases
Warsaw, Poland
E-mail: j.chorostowska@igichp.edu.pl

Biography

Upon completion of her doctorate in immunology (1996) followed by medical specialist training in internal medicine (1997) and respiratory diseases (2001) at the National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases in Warsaw, Dr Chorostowska-Wynimko joined the research team at the Department of Immunology, National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases. She directed and participated in the multiple research programs dedicated mostly to the cancer- and inflammation-dependent- angiogenesis as well as its role in the respiratory system pathologies. At the same time she continued her medical specialist training in internal medicine (completed 1997) and respiratory diseases (completed 2001). Continuing her interest in angiogenesis mechanisms and their possible applications for the new therapeutic agents development, she established close cooperation with Urology Research Centre and Department of Physiology and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Ohio ( currently University of Toledo, OH). This led to the development and patenting of the novel mutated form of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) molecule (Chorostowska-Wynimko et al. 2003) characterized by the unique biological activity, including strong anti-angiogenic effect (Chorostowska-Wynimko et al. 2004). Upon completion of her postdoctoral thesis (habilitation) in 2004 Dr. Chorostowska-Wynimko was appointed Assistant Professor of the Institute. At that time she established Laboratory of Molecular Diagnostics at the National Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases dedicated to the respiratory/angiogenesis research but also application of molecular biology methods in the clinical diagnostics. While PAI-1 and cancer-related angiogenesis studies has been prolonged by joint programs executed both in the United States of America and in Poland, Dr Chorostowska-Wynimko lab has developed several projects dedicated to wide array of respiratory system pathologies including interstitial lung diseases (Rozy et al. 2006), lung cancer molecular diagnostics (Chorostowska-Wynimko et al. 2007; Szpechciński et al. 2008), obstructive sleep apnoea (Chorostowska-Wynimko et al, 2007), bronchial asthma (Chorostowska-Wynimko 2008) and immunopharmacology (Chorostowska-Wynimko et al, 2007, Jung et al 2007). Furthermore, Dr Chorostowska-Wynimko interest in angiogenesis has resulted in projects exploring various aspects of these processes in peripheral ischemia (Proczka et al 2006), obstructive sleep apnoea (Chorostowska-Wynimko et al, 2005), diabetic retinopathy (Chorostowska-Wynimko et al 2005, Skopinski et al 2005) and neonatology (Patera et al 2006). Dr Chorostowska-Wynimko has been also appointed consultant in Asthma Outpatient Department since 2001. She is member of the Steering Committee of the Polish Respiratory Society and Membership Committee of the European Respiratory Society Executive Committee. She is also happy wife and mother of two.