Professor Krystian Jażdżewski, endocrinologist and geneticist, is the winner of this year’s prize for “Vision and Innovation”, one of PRB’s awards known as “Polish business Oscars”. Working with a team of doctors and scientists from the Genome Medicine Department at the Medical University of Warsaw, Prof. Jażdżewski developed a unique methodological approach to genetic testing for cancer genes. The tests cost one-twentieth of the price of similar tests now used in the world while maintaining high sensitivity.

“There could be as many as one million people in Poland who are as much at risk of developing breast cancer as Angelina Jolie was. Our dream is to find all of them and tell them what to do not to get sick or how to diagnose the disease early,” said Prof. Jażdżewski during the award ceremony.

“I am proud to have put forward Prof. Jażdżewski as an award nominee on Dentons’ behalf, showing our support for the immensely important work he and his team do. I hope the award will prompt many businesses and other organisations to lend their support to the “Test Your Genes” programme, helping to save the health and lives of thousands of Poles,” said Karina Furga-Dąbrowska, Head of Dentons’ Tax Advisory Group and Co-Head of Life Sciences Group, commenting on the award.

Dentons provided pro bono advice to Warsaw Genomics, a company formed by Prof. Jażdżewski’s team, on a range of issues, including the choice of an operating model, statutes for a research foundation, R&D investment incentives, or regulatory requirements concerning the privacy of patients’ data.

Last year, Dentons’ personnel and associates took part with their families in a comprehensive genetic screening campaign which also involved public awareness meetings with Prof. Jażdżewski and his team. “Each test that was paid for as part of the campaign funded one extra test for young patients at the Children’s Memorial Health Institute who had suspected genetic diseases and whose parents would have been unable to pay for, the tests in question not being publicly funded,” said Agnieszka Wardak, a partner with responsibility for Bro Bono initiatives at Dentons' Warsaw office and a member of Dentons’ Global Pro Bono Committee. “The knowledge of hereditary load is often the key to proper diagnosis and treatment. Genetic tests are also used to create a genetic atlas of the Poles, highlighting our specific genetic diseases. We are glad that by testing ourselves we could support both the kids at the Institute and our science,” she added.

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