The John Vane Academy

Nikki Vane Anglo-Polish Scientific Exchange Scheme

Background

One of Sir John Vane’s most valued collaborators and scientific colleagues was Prof Ryszard (Richard) Gryglewski, Professor of Pharmacology at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków.  Their combined efforts led to many scientific breakthroughs and Prof Gryglewski was one of the principal investigators whose work led to the discovery of prostacyclin. 

Beginning in the mid-1960s, Prof Gryglewski (and later other Polish colleagues) made frequent visits to the Vane lab in London. In return, he organised scientific meetings in Poland which members of John Vane’s lab invariably attended.  Considering the political situation in Eastern Europe at the time, this type of scientific cooperation was a major achievement.

This tradition of informal scientific exchange continued when John Vane’s lab moved to The Wellcome Foundation in 1973 and subsequently to the William Harvey in 1985. During these years, many Polish scientists visited the Vane lab and scientists from the UK lab also worked in Poland. In 2003, Sir John Vane received a unique honour for a UK scientist, when he was awarded the Polish Order of Merit.

Prof Gryglewski was acclaimed as one of Poland’s most significant scientists and although he sadly passed away in 2023, links between Kraków and the William Harvey Research Institute have carried on.  Prof Stefan Chłopicki, one of Richard’s pupils, now runs a lab at the Jagiellonian Centre of Experimental Therapeutics and is the principal collaborator with WHRI.

About the Scheme

This annual exchange scheme, organised and funded by the John Vane Academy, aims to more formally continue the scientific collaboration between researchers at the William Harvey Research Institute and laboratories in Poland.  The first researcher under the scheme visited Dr Neil Dufton’s lab team in 2025 and had excellent feedback for the programme. 

We are now planning to continue the exchange scheme by funding a visit to a lab in Poland.  The successful applicant will spend up to three months gaining experience and learning techniques from researchers at their selected laboratory.

What is included?

Travel

Return airfare (London - Poland) as well as travel to and from the airport.  Reimbursement of any required travel visa costs will also be considered.

Accommodation

Your accommodation will be fully paid for during your stay of up to three months.  Candidates will be asked to find appropriate accommodation and provide their estimated budget for consideration ahead of their visit.

Lab Consumables

A grant of up to £3,000 will be provided to the Principal Investigator(s) to support your research in their labs during your visit.

Please note that additional costs during your stay, e.g. meals and commuting, are not covered by this award.  We advise that you discuss your plans with your institute to determine whether your current stipend or salary will continue to be paid whilst you are away and that you will be able to afford these types of expenses. 

Eligibility

To be considered for this funding, you must:

• be a current member of the John Vane Academy (JVA)*
• be an early-career researcher** AND
• be primarily involved in medical research within the field of vascular pharmacology

* JVA membership is free.  For details, please visit the JVA membership page HERE.  The application form is available through the link at the bottom of the page.

** The JVA defines ‘early-career researchers’ as PhD students or postdoctoral scientists within eight years of the award of their PhD or primary medical degree (exclusive of significant career breaks).

More Information

If you are eligible and would like to visit a lab in Poland in 2026/27, please send an expression of interest to the WHRF Programmes Manager, Mrs Amanda Craddock, at a.craddock@qmul.ac.uk.  Emails should be received by 12 noon on Monday 1st June 2026.  Please include the following, using no more than 600 words in total:

• The name of the institute, Principal Investigator and contact details for the lab you would like to join.
• Describe how this visit would be beneficial to you as well as for the wider scientific community.
• Your preferred visit dates and any other information you would like the committee to consider at this stage.
• PhD students will also need to provide a statement of support from their supervisor, confirming that this visit would not interfere with their completion and submission of their thesis.  Please attach to your email at the time of submission (this letter will not be included in the overall word count).

You do not need to have contacted the PI yourself at this stage.  The shortlisting committee will review all proposals and liaise with our contacts in Poland to determine whether your visit can be accommodated.

The successful applicant will be asked to provide a written account of their experience within three months of returning from the visit.  This feedback will enable the JVA to share success stories and help shape future opportunities.

This bursary scheme is made possible by a generous donation from Nikki Vane.

Questions about this award can be sent to the WHRF Programmes Manager, Mrs Amanda Craddock, at a.craddock@qmul.ac.uk.