EPIBIOMAT

Full name:

Epibiocompatible Materials for Medicine and One Health

Appointment of the team:

2025

Personalised medicine is an important aspect of the future of healthcare, moving treatment away from "one-size-fits-all" approaches towards solutions tailored to individual patients.

The goal of the EPIBIOMAT research group is the design and development of biomaterials capable of mimicking natural tissue. The project aims to create biomaterials that promote cellular growth and proper function, while also evaluating their epibiocompatibility, including the effects of the designed biomaterials on the epigenome and epigenetic regulation. Moreover, the initiative focuses on the development of nanoencapsulation systems capable of safely delivering therapeutic agents to targeted areas, for example in cancer treatment, as well as the design of novel epigenetically active compounds and epi-drugs for future biomedical applications.

While developing new materials and technologies, the research group also emphasizes sustainability. One of its guiding concepts is One Health, the recognition that human health is closely interconnected with animals, plants, and the shared environment. Therefore, the developed materials are designed to be biodegradable and based on natural compounds that can be safely broken down once they are no longer needed. The group is also strongly focused on the commercialization and translational potential of its research, with the aim of bringing innovative products and technologies from the laboratory to the market.

Team Leader

Beata Kaczmarek-Szczepańska

Bio:

Beata Kaczmarek-Szczepańska is an Associate Professor at NCU’s Laboratory For Functional Polymeric Materials at the Faculty of Chemistry. She’s an Editorial Board Member of the Current Cosmetic Science Journal (Bentham Science). As of June 2026, Professor Kaczmarek-Szczepańska is the author and co-author of over 250 publications in renowned journals. Her scientific interests include biopolymer materials, wound dressings, tissue engineering, materials for medical applications and packaging, as well as cosmetic chemistry and formulation. In 2026, she joined the Science4Business project, implemented by the Centre for Academic Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer at NCU (CPATT NCU) where she serves as a Broker at the Faculty of Chemistry. This role allows her to engage with researchers on the commercialization of their findings, and help bridge the gap between academia and practice. Moreover, Professor Kaczmarek-Szczepańska is also the CEO of the NatChemLab academic NCU spin-off company.