Research groups of CMMS participate in many join projects and international programs in cooperation with groups from various universities and research institutes from Poland and around the world. The international colaboration has developed in the form of a network of official reserch projects as well as within direct, bilateral agreements between research groups.
The list of Universities and Institutes, colaborating with CMMS:
Germany
Max-Planck-Institut für Experimentelle Medizin, Goettingen; Martin-Luther-Universität, Halle; Technische Universität Dresden; Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft für Förderung der Angewandten Forschung, München; Universität Hamburg; J. W. Goethe Universität, Frankfurt; Freie Universität Berlin; Max-Planck-Institut für Polymer Forschung, Mainz; Technische Universität, Darmstadt; Technische Universität Brunschweig; J. Gutenberg Universität, Mainz.
France
Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris; Université Paris 7; Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination du CNRS (UPR 8241), Toulouse; Université Claude Bernard, Lyon; College de France, Paris; Laboratoire de Chimie Organique ENSCH, Montpellier; Université Rennes I; Université de Paris-Sud, Centre d’Orsay; lnstitut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif; Université Montpellier II; Laboratoire de Chimie des Composées Thio-organiques ISMRA, Caën; CNRS Institut Charles Sadron, Strasbourg.
Italy
Universita di Firenze; Centro di Studi Chimico, Genova; CNR Pisa.
Belgium
University of Leuven; University of Liege; University of Ghent; Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven.
Nederland
University of Nijmegen; University of Leiden.
Great Britain
University of Sussex, Brighton; University of Salford, Manchester; University of Cambridge; Sheffield University.
Denmark
Technical University of Denmark (Danish Polymer Centre, Department of Chemical Engineering), Kgs. Lyngby; University of Southern Denmark (Department of Chemistry), Odense.
Spain
Universidad Autonoma de Madrid.
Rusia
Institute of Organic Chemistry RAS, Moscow; Institute of Chemical Physics RAS, Moscow; Institute of Chemistry and Petrochemical Synthesis RAS, Moscow; Institute of Elementoorganic Compounds RAS (INEOS) Moscow; State University of Kazan.
USA
United States Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda; Northwestern University, Chicago; National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithesburg; Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne; Massachussetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge; University of Southern California, Los Angeles; University of Arizona, Tucson; Purdue University, Indianapolis; Salt Lake City University, Salt Lake City; New-Mexico State University; Georgia State University, Atlanta; University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; University of California, San Francisco; University of Pittsburgh; Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh; Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland.
Japan
Japan Society of Promotion of Science; Shizuoka University; Toyohashi University of Technology; Tohoku University; Tokyo University.
Other Countries
Beijing Medical University, Beijing, China; Dongguk University, Seoul, Korea; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; National Research Centre Tahrir St. Dokki Cairo, Egypt; University of Pretoria, South Africa; Institute of Organic Chemistry UAS, Kyiv, Ukraine.
In 2000, the European Commission selected the Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies as one of the European Centres of Excellence . As defined in the call for proposals: “…the objective will be to support approximately 20 excellent research centres in the countries in the phase of pre-accession to the European Union to better put their capabilities at the service of the economic and social needs of their region, with conformity with the interest of the Union as a whole.”
The proposal submitted by CMMS entitled: “Designed Molecules and Macromolecules; Their Assemblies and Biological Functions” (DESMOL) has been positively evaluated and the status of Centre of Excellence, as well as financial support, has been assigned for conducting a proposed programme of activity in the period 2001-2003.
The first group of projects deals with new methods of asymmetric synthesis. The individual projects are devoted to developing new catalytic system involving chiral phosphine ligands, new organometallic reagents containing group IV elements and new synthetic approaches towards important biologically active compounds employing chiral sulfoxide reagents.
Subsequent project is related to modern NMR techniques of studying molecular structure of complex organic molecules of biological interest. Two projects, based on the organophosphorus chemistry developed for small molecules deal with the preparation of metalloporphiryn-phosphorus modified and their investigation as potential inhibitors of biosynthesis of “unwanted” proteins either on DNA (antigene strategy) or mRNA (antisense strategy) levels.
Consecutive projects are also related to new methods of synthesis of macromolecules but are oriented rather on developing methods of synthesis of macromolecules with desired topologies leading potentially to new materials for high-tech applications.
Subsequent projects are shifted one step further towards material science. Within these projects the macromolecular assemblies (polymeric microspheres, nanostructures and nanostructure surfaces) will be developed and their possible application in applications ranging from medical diagnostics to electronics will be studied.
Finally, within the last group of projects the relation between structure of macromolecules and properties of resulting polymeric materials will be investigated with the emphasis on materials of improved durability, materials that may be recycled in economically feasible way and materials of potential use in separation processes. All these problems are closely related to the issue of environmental protection.
The ultimate goal of the proposal is to better adapt the research profile of CMMS into the mainstream of R&D activity in EU countries. This would be achieved by conducting the package of research projects in the general area of chemistry oriented towards life sciences and material science, in close collaboration with research centers from EU countries. The projects forming the proposal have been selected in such a way, that promoting the interdisciplinary approach, they cover a broad range of areas in which CMMS research teams have gained international recognition. They also combine basic and applied research related to molecular and macromolecular engineering and bioengineering thus providing the attractive base for networking and twinning activities.
Based on existing earlier cooperation, the Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies and the CRNS Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry in Toulouse has established in 1999 the joint laboratory (Laboratoire Européen Associé – LEA). The area of LEA activity is: “Molecular and Supramolecular Chemistry of the Main Group Elements and Transition Metals”. The LEA, having its own statute and organization, comprises research groups from both units, carrying out joint projects. Joint research is based on extensive exchange of young scientists (including conducting part of PhD theses in partner’s laboratories), and the organization of workshops and joint seminars.
The Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies participates in one of the five Polish Centres of Excellence: “Centre for Silicon Chemistry”. These centres were created within the framework of EU PHARE SCI-TECH II programme. Its basic aim is the development of the science and technology sector in Poland through the creation of networking and interaction of basic and applied research units with enterprise sector. The Centre of Silicon Chemistry comprises CMMS and Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań research groups and industrial partners from Polish Silicones Chemical Works (Nowa Sarzyna) and Nitrogen Chemical Works (Tarnów).
The Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies has been appointed as the Affiliated Centre of International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biochemistry (ICGEB) in Trieste/New Delhi and ICGEB National Scientific Focal Point for Poland. The President of the Polish Academy of Sciences appointed Professor Wojciech J. Stec as the official representative of Poland in ICGEB Board of Governors. Professor Stec was elected Vice-President of the Board of Governors for the term 2001-2002. He was also in charge of the ICGEB National Scientific Focal Point and the Affiliated Centre. Professor Andrzej Okruszek was appointed as ICGEB Liaison Officer for Poland and was responsible for the working contact of Polish institutions with ICGEB.
