Prof. Slawomir Michalak | Neuropharmacology | Top Pharmaceutical Breakthrough Award

Institute of Neurological Disorders Poznan University of Medical Sciences | Poland

Prof. Slawomir Michalak is an accomplished neurologist, neuropathologist, and laboratory medicine specialist whose contributions have significantly advanced clinical neuroscience, translational neurology, and biomarker-driven research. He leads the Stroke Unit at the University Hospital in Poznań while simultaneously heading the Department of Neurology, the Department of Neurosurgery, and the Institute of Neurological Disorders at Poznan University of Medical Sciences. His academic journey includes prestigious international fellowships at the Biochemisches Institut of Christian Albrechts Universität in Kiel and at the Istituto di Patologia Generale of the Università degli Studi in Perugia, where he strengthened his foundation in molecular neuropathology. He further enhanced his expertise through intensive neuropathology and laboratory medicine courses in leading European scientific hubs such as Berlin, Budapest, Lübeck, Aachen, and specialized mitochondrial research programs in Schroecken, Austria. As a visiting professor at the M. Ospanov West Kazakhstan State Medical Academy, he delivered advanced lectures and supervised doctoral research in neurodegenerative and demyelinating disorders.Prof. Michalak’s scientific portfolio demonstrates exceptional breadth and innovation. He has played a central role in multidisciplinary research initiatives, including a large Polish–Singaporean project developing computer-aided decision support systems for acute ischemic stroke therapy, and joint studies with international collaborators aimed at profiling pathological proteins in skin biopsies of patients with movement disorders. His work also encompasses biochemical and clinical signature identification for interferon therapy response in multiple sclerosis. As a contributor to the European COST Action project on mitochondrial mapping, he has examined the complex interplay of evolution, age, gender, lifestyle, and environmental factors on mitochondrial dynamics. His ongoing clinical research includes a major investigation on the influence of Cerebrolysin on blood–brain barrier integrity in acute ischemic stroke. He also collaborates with global experts on smart digital therapeutics using generative artificial intelligence and contributes to the Glioblastoma Research Group at Poznan University of Medical Sciences to advance biomarker-based early detection strategies.With more than five hundred scientific publications, a substantial cumulative impact factor, over two thousand citations, and a strong h-index, Prof. Michalak has established himself as a leading figure in contemporary neurology. His book publications, extensive consultancy roles, and active involvement in translational industry–academia partnerships further highlight his enduring impact. His research in stroke biology, neuroimmunology, neuro-oncology, and molecular biomarkers continues to shape clinical understanding and inspire innovation across the global neuroscience community.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Ambrosius, W., Michalak, S., & Kozubski, W., & Kalinowska, A. (n.d.). Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease: Current insights into the disease pathophysiology, diagnosis and management. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(1), 100.

Kazmierski, N. W. R., Michalak, S., & Wencel-Warot, A. (n.d.). Serum tight-junction proteins predict hemorrhagic transformation in ischemic stroke patients. Neurology, 79, 160.

Jasiak-Zatonska, M., Kalinowska-Łyszczarz, A., Michalak, S., & Kozubski, W. (n.d.). The immunology of neuromyelitis optica—Current knowledge, clinical implications, controversies and future perspectives. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 17(3), 273.

Wyciszkiewicz, A., Kalinowska-Łyszczarz, A., Nowakowski, B., Kaźmierczak, K., & Michalak, S. (n.d.). Expression of small heat shock proteins in exosomes from patients with gynecologic cancers. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 9817.

Zaborowski, M. S., Spaczynski, M., & Nowak-Markwitz, E., & Michalak, S. (n.d.). Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes associated with ovarian tumors. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, 71.

Adamczak-Ratajczak, A., Kupsz, J., Owecki, M., Zielonka, D., Sowinska, A., & Michalak, S., et al. (n.d.). Circadian rhythms of melatonin and cortisol in manifest Huntington’s disease and in acute cortical ischemic stroke. Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 68(4), 539–546.