Meet UNMC Distinguished Scientist Pawel Ciborowski, Ph.D.

UNMC researcher Pawel Ciborowski, Ph.D., answers questions about his work, life and interests.

NOTE: This profile is part of a series to highlight the 23 researchers who will be honored Tuesday at a ceremony for UNMC’s 2011 Scientist Laureate, Distinguished Scientist and New Investigator award recipients.

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Pawel Ciborowski, Ph.D.

  • Name: Pawel Ciborowski, Ph.D.
  • Title: Associate professor of pharmacology and experimental neuroscience and director of UNMC Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Core Facility
  • Joined UNMC: September 2003
  • Hometown: Warsaw, Poland

Describe your research in laymen’s terms.

We study the relationship between structure and function of proteins and how changes of structure and functions contribute or reflect the pathological state of human organism. Broadly, we call them protein biomarkers, which can tell us about the course of disease and toxicity impact of treatment. Some of these biomarkers can become diagnostic if they are sensitive and specific enough.

How do you want your research to translate to benefit patients?

It would be ideal if more biomarkers were available for everyday clinical diagnosis and more would become predictive or early stage measures of diseases so therapeutic and/or preventive treatment can be initiated as soon as possible.

What is the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you, professional or personal?

Think twice before you start an experiment.

List three things few people know about you.

  • I love daschunds and I have had one or two for more than 30 years.
  • I like to study history of 20th century and I am intrigued by what now is written about “historical events” that I witnessed or personally experienced.
  • I like all kind of foods; however, I hate pizza with anchovies.