On March 23, 2022, by decision of the Minister of Education and Science, the Nencki Institute received a grant under the program "Science for Society" in the area - Scientific Excellence.

Project title: "Effect of omega 3,6,9 polyunsaturated fatty acids on metabolic profile of patients with neurodegeneration associated with iron deposition in the brain".

The project leader is Prof. Mariusz R. Więckowski. The project will be implemented in cooperation with teams led by Prof. Mariusz Wieckowski and Prof. Agnieszka Dobrzyn from the Nencki Institute, and Prof. Iwona Kurkowska-Jastrzebska and dr hab. Marta Skowronska from the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Warsaw. On the social side, the project is supported by the NBIA Poland Association, which unites NBIA patients and their families.

Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) is a group of rare genetic diseases characterized by excessive iron accumulation in the brain. The disease is associated with a mutation in the gene encoding the C19orf12 protein, whose role is still unknown. However, it seems that this protein is involved in fatty acid metabolism and mitochondrial function. Understanding the function of the C19orf12 protein is crucial for understanding the pathomechanism of NBIA and may also contribute to the development of new therapies to alter the natural course of this disease. Basic research, conducted in parallel with clinical trials, are crucial for the development of targeted therapy in NBIA. They will allow to investigate the effectiveness of the used therapy as well as to implement new therapeutic solutions for NBIA patients.