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Wioleta Zelek

Wioleta Zelek

(she/her)

Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Wioleta Zelek

Overview

I have a strong research focus on the complement system, its biology, and its roles in disease, as well as strategies to manipulate the system for therapy. My work includes developing a toolbox of complement inhibitors, including antibodies and small molecules, that target different complement pathways and are cross-reactive with humans and rodents. To measure complement dysregulation precisely, I have developed assays and antibodies that enable accurate detection and quantification, supporting biomarker discovery and translational research.

https://www.raceagainstdementia.com/rad-fellows/dr-wioleta-zelek/

https://ukdri.ac.uk/team/wioleta-zelek

 

 

Publication

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

Articles

Book sections

Thesis

Research

My current focus is on generating anti-complement drugs for treatment of common inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, kidneys disorders and dementia. During the pandemic I have re-focussed my work to address relevant issues; I supported a compassionate use study of anti-complement therapy in severe Covid-19, and developed assays for measurement of antibodies against the RBD domain of the SARS-Cov2 virus.

Grants and awards:

Jan 2022 – present: RAD/ARUK Fellow & UK-DRI Emerging Leader.

"Targeting novel anti-complement drugs to the brain for therapy of dementia." 

https://ukdri.ac.uk/team/wioleta-zelek

https://www.raceagainstdementia.com/about-us/our-research/our-fellows/dr-wioleta-zelek-race-against-dementia-fellow-and-ukdri-emerging-leader-cardiff-university/

Oct 2020 - Dec 2021: HCRW Fellow.

"Drug design for specific inhibition of the Membrane Attack Complex (MAC) in common inflammatory diseases."

Oct 2019 - Sep 2020: ISSF Fellow.

"Structure-function guided drug design for specific inhibition of the Membrane Attack Complex (MAC) in complement driven diseases."

Oct 2016 - Sep 2019: PhD Student.

"Targeting the terminal pathway in complement – driven disease."

Biography

Jan 2022 – present: Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Dementia Research Institute, Research Fellow. Race Against Dementia / Alzheimer's Research UK Fellowship Award & UK-DRI Emerging Leader status. "Targeting novel anti-complement drugs to the brain for therapy of dementia." 

Oct 2020 – Dec 2021: Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Research Associate. Health and Care Research Fellowship Award.  "Drug design for specific inhibition of the Membrane Attack Complex (MAC) in common inflammatory diseases."

Oct 2019 – Sep 2020: Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Research Associate. Institutional Strategic Support Fund via Wellcome Trust Consolidator Award.  "Structure-function guided drug design for specific inhibition of the Membrane Attack Complex (MAC) in complement driven diseases."

 Oct 2016 – Sep 2019: Cardiff University, School of Medicine, PhD Student.  "Targeting the terminal pathway in complement -  driven disease".

 Jan 2015 – Sep 2016: Cardiff University, School of Medicine, Research Technician in Prof. B. Paul Morgan Group.  "Complement biomarkers in autoimmune diseases."

Industry:

Jan 2013 – Dec 2014: RSR Limited, Cardiff. Scientist.

Jan 2007 – Dec 2013: BBI Group, Cardiff, Senior Scientist.

Dec 2006 – Dec 2007: Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, Cardiff, Medical Laboratory Assistant.

Development of new products: ELISAs and LFAs; improvement of immunoassays performance and manufacturing processes, troubleshooting on products stability and sensitivity issues; data analysis of results obtained and generation of customer reports. Training and supervision of staff. Generation and approval of laboratory protocols; SOP's, EP's, QCP's, PP's. Accustomed to ISO 9001:2008, ISO13485:2003, FDA, GLP, GMP, PPE, SEQOHS, COSHH, H&S, GCP.

 

Supervisions

Current supervision

Rebekah Cooke

Rebekah Cooke

Contact Details

Email ZelekW@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone +44 29206 87860
Campuses Henry Wellcome Building for Biomedical Research, Floor 4th Floor, Room 4F10, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN