Meeting with Sir Peter Ratcliffe, a Nobel Laureate at SGGW

Is it possible to assess how important oxygen is? What scientific discoveries has the world been waiting for? – These and other questions were answered during Sir Ratcliffe’s first visit to Poland.

On 17 March 2023 at Crystal Hall, SGGW anyone could join the lecture titled „Molecular insights into the sensing of oxygen” by  Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe, a British doctor, and molecular biologist, a Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine for his work on cellular reactions to hypoxia (2019). 

The meeting was opened by SGGW Rector, prof. dr hab. Michał Zasada, who said: It is always very inspiring for our students and staff to meet someone who has made such groundbreaking discoveries in the field of medicine. It’s important to know that there’s a person or team of people behind every discovery.

William G. Kaelin Jr., Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe and Gregg L. Semenza were jointly awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries of how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability. They identified molecular machinery that regulates the activity of genes in response to varying levels of oxygen. They established the basis for our understanding of how oxygen levels affect cellular metabolism and physiological function. Their discoveries have also paved the way for promising new strategies to fight anemia, cancer and many other diseases.

The event was a part of the Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative (NPII) i.e., a global program designed to help Nobel Laureates share their inspirational stories and insights. The organizers of the lecture were the Nobel Prize Outreach, AstraZeneca Pharma Polska, and SGGW. 

The event was hosted by SGGW Rector, prof. dr hab. Michał Zasada and the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology.