Professor Pyrć, an alumnus of the Jagiellonian University, the University of Amsterdam, and the University of Łódź, achieved the prestigious title of Professor of Biological Sciences at the remarkable age of 39. His expertise is currently sought after at the highest levels of the European Commission and the Ministry of Health, reflecting his previous advisory roles within local governments, the Ministry of Science, and directly to the offices of the Prime Minister and President of Poland.

Specializing in the intricacies of viral pathology and the development of novel therapeutic strategies for viral infections in humans and animals, Professor Pyrć leads the Virology Laboratory at the Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University. He also heads the Virogenetics research group, mentoring a dynamic team of students and doctoral candidates. His prolific research output includes nearly 140 publications in top-tier journals such as Nature Medicine, Science Translational Medicine, Nucleic Acids Research, and PNAS. These contributions have been recognized globally, amassing over 12,000 citations, indicative of his substantial impact on the field.

As an esteemed reviewer and expert for scientific funding institutions worldwide, Professor Pyrć’s innovation extends beyond academia, evidenced by numerous patent filings that have led to the formation of two spin-off companies. His work has garnered numerous awards and accolades from prestigious entities, including “POLITYKA” weekly, Gazeta Krakowska, the Minister of Science and Higher Education, the Dutch Society for Infectious Diseases, the City of Krakow, the European Society for Virology, the American Society for Virology, the Foundation for Polish Science, and the Polish Academy of Sciences.