This month EPWS gives the floor to Dr Khrystyna Nasadiuk, a scientist at the Research&Development Department of Polish Stem Cell Bank (PBKM) – FamiCord Group and academic lecturer of the university Merito in Gdansk (Poland).

Khrystyna Nasadiuk is a medical doctor, holding a Ph.D. in medical biochemistry. She was born and professionally formed in Ukraine, where she worked first as a physician, and later as a scientist and associate professor at the Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University. She was engaged in research on low-molecular weight oligopeptides, the nitric oxide system in health and disease, and the latest non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as dual COX-2/5-LOX inhibitors, in experimental models. Since 2008, as a scientist, she has been closely associated with the biotechnology industry, namely biobanking of human cells and tissues. Heading the international cooperation department of the Association of Cryobanks of Umbilical Cord Blood, Other Human Tissues and Cells, she worked at the harmonization of legal regulation of this industry in Ukraine in accordance with international standards.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Khrystyna Nasadiuk worked as the vice-dean of the Faculty of Medicine No. 1 of the Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University. In 2022, following the outbreak of a full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine, she left for Poland, where she continues her research and academic career, working as a scientist at Polish Stem Cell Bank (PBKM) – FamiCord Group and teaching biomedical subjects at the Merito University in Gdansk. In 2025, Dr. Nasadiuk received the Rector’s Award of the Merito University in Gdansk for the highest recognition according to student ratings.

 

Affiliations:

• Polish Stem Cell Bank (PBKM) – FamiCord Group, Poland (https://www.pbkm.pl, https://www.famicord.com/)
• University Merito in Gdansk, Poland (https://www.merito.pl/)

 

 

EPWS: What made you want to go to science? How did you decide to choose your discipline and your particular field of research? Did you have an inspiring model (parent, relative, teacher, literature, etc.)?

I think God rewarded or punished me with a curious mind and I had no choice. Since childhood, my favourite game was creating medicines. During my students’ years I actively participated in various research circles, began publishing and presenting at conferences. In those years, I romanticized the profession, read a lot of biographical books about outstanding doctors and scientists, however having only inspiring role models the path into research proved to be not easy.

My early interest in innovative medical technologies led me to the biotechnology industry, in which I worked for many years simultaneously with research and teaching activity at the medical university. Cryobiology has always been well developed in Ukraine, since the early 2000s, umbilical cord blood banks have been created in the country, which, although commercial, invested a lot in experimental and clinical research.

At the peak of my career, when I was a mature specialist with clear plans and multiple professional opportunities opening up, a full-scale war began—Russia attacked Ukraine. This terrible war caused the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. Like many compatriots, in search of safety, I moved to Poland, which has always been a second homeland for me given my Polish origin. And I am very grateful to Polish Stem Cell Bank (PBKM) – FamiCord Group for the opportunity to continue my scientific career in the R&D Department of the company.

The next important step in my academic life was my employment at Merito University in Gdansk, the largest non-public university in northwestern Poland. After almost two decades at renowned public universities, working at a private university proved to be an exciting experience, offering remarkable opportunities for professional and personal growth in a supportive and inspiring modern campus environment.

 

EPWS: What do you work on? How important is your research topic for science development or society?

As a scientist I am engaged in ambitious and innovative projects of R&D Department of Polish Stem Cell Bank (PBKM) – FamiCord Group, exploring the regenerative potential of stem cells for the treatment of different diseases. FamiCord is not only the biggest stem cell bank in Europe and third the biggest worldwide but also a manufacturer of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMP) used in clinical trials and experimental therapies. I am particularly interested in mesenchymal stem cells application in chronic wounds treatment and clinical application of cell and tissue derivatives of the human placenta.

 

EPWS: What is your greatest success as a researcher (and as a teacher if you teach), the one you are most proud of? ? Could you share the memory of a great personal satisfaction during your research career with us?

With fond memories, I always return in my thoughts to my Alma Mater in Lviv —Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University— where I took my first steps as a researcher. It was the beginning of the 21st century, and it was a challenging time for Ukrainian science. We lacked modern equipment, reagents, and even access to international journals and experience. International collaboration was for a long time limited by visa restrictions. European scientists can hardly believe that both my Ukrainian colleagues and I sometimes were buying necessary reagents and experimental animals and paying publication fees out of our own pockets. This is why the level of research was often limited not by our scientific potential, but by funding. I recall those times with pride in our dedication and in the great work our team accomplished despite all technological limitations.

I was doing my Ph.D. at the Department of Biochemistry of Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University. Our group was working a lot on experimental models investigating different gastroprotective substances and approaches to decrease gastrotoxicity of NSAIDs. NSAIDs are the most commonly prescribed medications worldwide, including well known ibuprofen, naproxen or diclofenac. These studies had social significance.

Teaching students has always been a very important part of my work. In 2025, I was proud to receive Rector’s Award from Merito University in Gdansk for the highest recognition according to student ratings and this evaluation was made by students anonymously.

 

EPWS: In which country/countries have you been doing research?

I was born and formed professionally in Ukraine, and I have been working in Poland for the past four years. However, numerous international trainings, internships, and conferences worldwide have always played an important role in my professional development.

 

EPWS: What is your agenda for the coming months?

I need to complete several scientific papers. I have also planned classes for the summer semester, and since I mentor students for their diploma theses, I will be busy supporting them in preparation for their final exams.

 

EPWS: Did you meet any barriers (personal/social/structural) during your career as a scientific researcher? Did you benefit from mentoring?

As I have already mentioned above, the scientists in different countries have far not equal opportunities for research, publishing, conferences participation, some still face visa restrictions. In Ukraine, I pay tribute to my colleagues who stayed and conduct both on-site classes with students and research despite missile attacks. As of November 2025, the war took lives of more than 160 scientists in Ukraine.

With regard to mentoring, scientific research is, in my opinion, a field where the success of early-career researchers depends too heavily on the luck of finding a good mentor.

 

EPWS: What is the situation of gender equality in your working field? In the countries where you have been working, were there gender equalities policies and did you experience their effects?

I was lucky to study and work in Europe and I have never faced gender equality-related issues in the institutions or countries where I have worked. I have also never met a woman in my professional environment complaining about restrictions on her professional development due to her gender. However, I have often heard how difficult it is to combine work in a clinic or research with family life, which has never left me indifferent as a woman with strong Slavic culture and family values.

Both Ukraine and Poland are currently seeing an increase in the number of women in senior positions in academia and business. A Gender Equality Plan-GEP is implemented at Merito University in Gdańsk, where I work, and in accordance with the guidelines of the European Commission and the Horizon Europe Programme, a “Zero Tolerance” policy towards discrimination has been declared for both students and employees.

 

EPWS: What do you suggest for a better implementation of gender equality in science?

My research career has taught me that one should speak publicly only on issues in which one has genuine expertise. I am not an expert in sociology or gender equality, and therefore I do not presume to make recommendations in these areas. However, being aware that many women around the world do not have access to education —which is deeply saddening— I would, as an educator, be glad to contribute in any meaningful way, for example by providing free academic classes and sharing experience in writing grant proposals and searching for scholarship programs.

EPWS: Did you experience networking between women scientists? Can you comment your answer and explain why yes or not?

I have heard about some networks of women scientists, but since I have never faced gender equality issues in my career, I did not participate in their activities. However, I am glad to have discovered EPWS and am excited to learn more about its projects and initiatives.

 

EPWS: If you could start again your life, would you choose again to be a scientist? What would you change?

I am not sure this was ever a deliberate choice; it was simply the way my life and career developed. When the war broke out in Ukraine and I relocated to another country almost twenty years after graduation, restarting many aspects of life from the very beginning, I had the opportunity to take a different path, especially with a medical background. However, I chose to remain consistent with my previous career decisions.

 

EPWS: Could you leave a message to young European women scientists?

The experience of war and forced migration led me to draw conclusions I had never expected. First of all, we live in a highly unstable world, and concerns about the threat of new wars and climate change have deepened my reflections. Being a scientist often involves a relatively narrow specialization; this is particularly true for academic teachers, who are usually confined to one or two subjects. Such specialization reduces the chances of finding new employment quickly when life changes unexpectedly. For this reason, I strongly advocate broader cooperation with related fields, learning foreign languages beyond English, and gaining work experience outside academia.

 

Favourite Links

-pubmed.gov: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

-clinicaltrials.gov: https://clinicaltrials.gov/