Jan Jakub Lica is the Molecular Pharmacology Highlighted Trainee Author for the January 2024 issue. Dr. Lica is a post-doctoral trainee in the Department of Regenerative Medicine at the Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. The highlighted manuscript listed below derives from his doctoral research at the University of Gdansk, Poland, Department of Molecular Biochemistry, under the mentorship of Professor Krzysztof Rolka. The Molecular Pharmacology article that earned him the selection as a Highlighted Trainee Author is titled "Dual-Activity Fluoroquinolone-Transportan 10 Conjugates Offer Alternative Leukemia Therapy During Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation" and is available at https://doi.org/10.1124/molpharm.123.000735.

Dr. Lica's area of research focused on the impact of cell-density stage transformations and anticancer molecules on cellular life processes, with a specific emphasis on leukemic primitive cells, including (very) small leukemic stem-like cells. As a post-doctoral trainee, his focus is on conducting in vitro research in leukemia cell lines. The anticipated impact of Dr. Lica's research aims to enhance the effectiveness of anti-leukemic agents and to develop improved methods for in vitro cultivation, detection, and collection of leukemia cells that display the primitive cell stage phenotype.

Outside of research, Jan enjoys caring for pet budgies (Melopsittacus undulatus). He also enjoys good cinema, watching top-tier sports events like the Olympic Games, and participating in online ski jumping competitions.