Basic Science winner Roksana M. Pirzgalska is a post-doctoral researcher at the Champalimaud Foundation (Lisbon, Portugal). She completed her PhD in Bioengineering Systems in 2018 through the MIT-Portugal Program. During her doctoral studies, she uncovered key insights into adipose tissue biology. She discovered that sympathetic innervation drives leptin-induced lipolysis (Cell, 2015; co-first author) and identified sympathetic neuron-associated macrophages as the first functional neuroimmune component in the adipose tissue (Nature Medicine, 2017; co-first author).
As a post-doc, Roksana has secured competitive funding to lead research projects, including the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD)/Lilly Young Investigator Research Award, an ECCO Grant from the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization, a Project Grant from the Foundation for Science and Technology (Portugal) and the EFSD Rising Star Fellowship. She has also co-organized educational activities with support from the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO).
Currently, she is studying the gut neuroepithelial circuit from both basic and clinical research perspectives. Her research combines human intestinal organoids, differentiated from duodenal biopsies, to explore the connection between neuroepithelial cues and nutrient absorption. With a focus on translational science, her work aims to uncover new biological mechanisms and therapeutic strategies, contributing to advancements in obesity research.
Congratulations, Roksana, it’s great to meet with you again. Please tell us a about yourself and share any particularly formative experiences that may have influenced your career path.
I was born and raised in Więcbork, a small picturesque town in the north of Poland. My uncle has type 1 diabetes, so during family gatherings I was always genuinely intrigued and curious why he needed to inject himself with insulin. My curiosity deepened over the years, and by the time I was finishing high school and still unsure about my future path, I became increasingly interested in biotechnology. It was an exciting period in biological sciences. Around that time, the first database of human genetic variation was announced, promising to improve the identification of genes involved in diabetes and other diseases. It was also around that time that the first glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist was approved as a new treatment option for type 2 diabetes. I moved then to Gdańsk and studied Biotechnology at the Gdańsk University of Technology.
Did specific events or experiences during your studies or early career drive your interest in obesity research?
I graduated in Biotechnology from Gdansk University of Technology, so I’m an engineer by training. My way into obesity science began with my interest in its associated translational aspects. My first research experience in the field of metabolic diseases was in the lab of Dr. Eugenia Carvalho at the Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology in Coimbra, Portugal, supported by a Travel Fellowship from the EASD (European Association for the Study of Diabetes). Subsequently, I was selected for the MIT-Portugal PhD program, where I developed my project in the lab of Dr. Ana Domingos at the Gulbenkian Institute of Science in Oeiras, Portugal. I’m extremely grateful to Dr. Ana Domingos for introducing me to Prof. Jeffrey Friedman, who discovered hormone leptin and its role in regulating body weight, and to other key scientists from the obesity research field. It was during that time when I realized that I really wanted to continue in this field of research.
How have your academic training and professional experiences equipped you to take on the complexities of obesity research? How have your research interests developed over time, and what factors have steered you towards prioritising obesity in your studies?
Given that obesity is a complex disease, I believe it is advantageous to tackle it from an interdisciplinary perspective. Trained as an engineer, I enjoy analyzing complex systems, and obesity is one of the most intricate. It is a complicated condition shaped by interactions between genetics, physiology, the nervous and immune systems, and environmental factors. I’m developing my post-doctoral project in the lab of Dr. Henrique Veiga-Fernandes, a world-leading scientist in neuroimmunology. My work focuses on how the bi-directional communication between the neuronal and immune systems can influence obesity. Exploring the intersection of neuroimmune and neuroepithelial interactions and nutrient absorption fascinates me, as it holds promise for developing transformative treatments. To validate the translational potential of our findings, we are using human intestinal organoids that we derive in collaboration with the gastroenterology unit of the Champalimaud Foundation Hospital (Portugal). This work builds on decades of research showing that obesity is a biological disorder rather than solely the result of lifestyle or diet. Understanding how metabolic disorders alter neuroepithelial responses and nutrient absorption is crucial for developing new biologic treatments for obesity. Ongoing research and increasing awareness are breaking down the stigma around obesity, offering hope to millions.
What key challenges have you faced as an early-career researcher in obesity, and what opportunities have arisen from these experiences?
As an early-career researcher, I believe many challenges I’ve encountered are not unique to obesity research but are rather common across the field of academic research. One of the major challenges for me has been balancing the demands of building a scientific career with the responsibilities of parenthood. I have two young children—a 1-year-old and a 4-year-old. Raising young children while pursuing research has demanded careful time management, adaptability, and resilience. I’ve come to understand that achieving my goals may take longer, but the journey is really rewarding. These experiences have opened up some unexpected opportunities. Parenthood has really sharpened my ability to prioritize and stay focused. It’s also given me a fresh perspective and motivation to contribute to meaningful research that can make a positive impact on other people’s lives. These lessons have been so valuable—they’ve helped me grow both personally and professionally and continue to influence how I approach my work every day.
Impressive to see your successful work-life balance in action Roksana! And I’m sure it helps to work in a supportive lab environment.
On another point, EASO recognises obesity as a multidimensional chronic disease. Has interdisciplinary collaboration featured in your work?
Absolutely, interdisciplinary collaboration has been a key driver of my work. For example, I’ve been exploring nutrient transport in intestinal organoids, and this research wouldn’t be possible without working closely with Dr. Ricardo Rio-Tinto, a gastroenterologist at the Champalimaud Foundation. Dr. Rio-Tinto’s team provides duodenal biopsies, from which we derive the organoids. This partnership connects clinical practice with lab research, giving us valuable insights into how the human gut functions. By combining our expertise, we’re tackling important questions about obesity and its metabolic effects. Collaborations like this demonstrate the power of bringing different fields together to tackle complex problems like obesity.
Links to social media profiles:
Bluesky: @neuroimmune-rok.bsky.social
X: @neuroimmune_rok