DC3 Dory Vergallo reports from her secondment at IBB

Reporting from the research secondment

Research mobility is a central component of the MITGEST Doctoral Network, enabling doctoral candidates to expand their scientific training through secondments at partner institutions across Europe. These mobility periods are designed to foster knowledge exchange, strengthen collaboration between research groups, and support the professional development of early-stage researchers.

In this context, DC3 Dory Vergallo has started a six-month research secondment at the Laboratory of RNA Biology, led by Dr. Roman Szczęsny, at the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences (IBB PAS) in Warsaw, Poland. This secondment complements her doctoral work at the Radboud Center for Mitochondrial Medicine (Nijmegen, the Netherlands) and contributes to ongoing collaborative efforts within the MITGEST network.

The host laboratory and scientific context

The Laboratory of RNA Biology, headed by Dr. Roman Szczęsny, focuses on the molecular mechanisms that regulate the quality, quantity, and processing of mitochondrial and nuclear RNAs in humans. By integrating molecular, cellular, and transcriptomic approaches, the lab addresses fundamental questions in RNA metabolism and mitochondrial gene expression, providing an ideal environment for this collaborative project.

Research focus: mtSSB and mitochondrial RNA regulation

During this secondment, I am working on a project centred on the mitochondrial single-stranded DNA-binding protein (mtSSB). Although mtSSB is best known for its role in mitochondrial DNA replication, growing evidence suggests that it may also play a regulatory role in mitochondrial RNA metabolism. My research focuses on strand-specific effects on mitochondrial transcript synthesis and stability observed in mtSSB knockdown (KD) models. In particular, these models show an accumulation of antisense transcripts together with a stabilisation of light-strand RNA. By combining advanced transcriptomic approaches with complementary validation experiments, the goal of this project is to clarify the regulatory function of mtSSB in post-transcriptional processes within mitochondria.

This work benefits greatly from the complementary expertise and resources available at Radboud University and IBB PAS, and it directly contributes to strengthening collaborative research within the MITGEST network.

Training and professional development

In parallel with the research objectives, this secondment represents an important opportunity for my scientific training and professional growth. During my time in Dr. Szczęsny’s laboratory, I will gain hands-on experience with techniques that are central to their work, including FISH, siRNA rescue experiments and mitochondrial RNA polymerase inhibition.

Working in a new laboratory and research environment also allows me to further develop my ability to collaborate effectively within an international and interdisciplinary team, an essential skill for my future career as an independent researcher.

Mobility, collaboration, and the MITGEST network

The primary objective of this mobility is to contribute to and strengthen collaborative research within the MITGEST Doctoral Network by combining the expertise of Radboud University and the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics in Warsaw. Beyond the experimental work, the secondment provides valuable opportunities for scientific exchange and networking within the local research community.

Shortly after my arrival in Warsaw, I had the pleasure of joining colleagues from Dr. Roman Szczęsny’s lab and Dr. Carlo Vascotto’s team for a Christmas dinner, reflecting the collaborative and welcoming atmosphere surrounding this secondment.
A group photograph from this event accompanies this news item.

Looking ahead

Overall, this secondment is expected to generate valuable scientific insights for both institutions while significantly enriching my doctoral training.

I am grateful for the warm welcome I have received in Warsaw and look forward to the coming months of scientific exchange, learning, and discovery.