The general aim of our research is to comprehend short and long term effects of ionizing radiation, or any other genotoxic environmental agent, on living cells. During our studies of the radiation's biological consequences we have collected the data from a wide range of biological endpoints in two cellular systems: human lymphocytes and somatic cells of Tradescantia. Obtained results allowed us to describe the dose response relationships for various therapeutic beams. Our research is performed in nuclear centers in Europe, US, South Korea. We also compare the efficiency of the induction of various biological endpoints by neutrons in normal cells and ones pre-treated with boron compound. In the field of radiobiology and radiation protection we have extended our capabilities in retrospective biological dosimetry by measuring chromosome translocations with the application of the fluorescence in situ hybridization technique (FISH).

     In human monitoring research on genotoxicity of enviromental agents we focus on the association between these agents and levels of the induced DNA and cytogenetic damage. The objective is to find a possible link between an early damage detected and cancer. In our work as an important issue we consider an influence of exogenous and endogenous confounding factors.

     Our measuring facilities are constantly evolving. Currently in usage are two types of automated image analysis systems: one for the DNA damage measurements after the single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet-assay), second for the cytogenetic diagnosis. The second one was recently upgraded by the addition of automatic metaphases finder. It gave us an opportunity to significantly accelerate the studies of chromosomal aberrations in human lymphocytes. This system, still quite unique in Poland, is a fruit of our cooperation with the Department of Automatics in the Academy of Mining and Metallurgy in Kraków.