National Centre for Research and Development

COMPETENCES-WORK-SUCCESS is an innovative didactic project addressed to students of the last years of studies in medicine (6th year) and nursing (3rd year of 1st degree studies). The aim of the project is to better prepare future graduates to enter the labour market through targeted strengthening of the potential and attractiveness of the MUW graduate.
Thanks to participation in the project, participants will acquire PROFESSIONAL, COMMUNICATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, IT AND ANALYTICAL COMPETENCES
Each participant of the project has the opportunity to learn their starting potential, which will be assessed on the basis of an individual competence profile prepared. Such action allows for providing support in selected areas, which ensures high effectiveness of education. Properly selected staff of trainers and specially designed scenarios of classes allow for providing support in the development of selected professional, communication, IT, analytical and entrepreneurial competences.
Project participants have the opportunity to take advantage of various forms of classes, such as: workshops, certified training, tasks in project teams and study visits to employers.
EXPECTED RESULTS: An increase in professional, communication, IT, analytical and entrepreneurial competences of students of the Medical University of Warsaw. The implementation of the project will initiate the process of adjusting the education program of MUW students in terms of improving competences, in line with the expectations of employers. The project includes the organization of workshops in 5 thematic blocks, classes in project teams, e-learning, certified training - 6 topics and study visits. The sustainability of the project will be maintained, because the activities initiated under the project to support the growth of competences among students will be continued at the University in 50% at least for a period of 2 years after the end of the project.
As a result, at least 40% of university graduates covered by the project will continue their education (1st, 2nd or 3rd degree studies) or take up employment/self-employment within 6 months of completing their education and will keep them for at least 3 months (for employment contracts for at least part-time positions).
 

The increasing importance of human health protection, the aging of the society, the drive to improve the quality of life and the increasing number of cases of civilizational diseases stimulate the growing demand for new and better medical products and treatment methods. The main goal of the project is to develop a Polish complementary computer-molecular surgical navigation system for the treatment of neoplastic diseases, which is the second most common cause of death in Poland and 17% of health loss. The development of the proposed technologies is part of the area of ​​achieving fundamental progress in the field of combating (prevention and treatment) of civilization diseases such as cancer, based on the results of scientific research and development work on personalization and the development of automation in the surgical treatment of neoplastic diseases. The project is particularly focused on the development of a novel medical surgical navigation system (MentorEye) assisted by the molecular mechanism of action of tumor-specific rAAV vectors for the intra-operative detection of neoplastic tissue for its complete removal. The achievement of the project's goal is associated with:  development of innovative computer and molecular technology;  conducting its preclinical evaluation (in vitro and in vivo in animals) in order to prepare it for further clinical trials;  developing an innovative method of surgical treatment of neoplasms. Achieving the ambitious goal set out in the project requires the involvement of the best universities and entrepreneurs conducting research in the area of ​​the project and having extensive experience as well as appropriate equipment and technical facilities.

Gliomas are essentially incurable despite significant advances in surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Proper diagnosis of the type of glioblastoma, early diagnosis of molecular progression, characterization of critical mutations or epigenetic features offers hope for improved treatment outcomes. It is planned to develop a comprehensive test based on the analysis of material taken from the tumor (targeted sequencing of NGS 700 genes) and an attempt to develop a "liquid biopsy" based on the analysis of slowly circulating DNA (cfDNA) of the tumor in the blood, which could be a minimally invasive option for biopsy. Additional goals are: comprehensive characterization of the tumor genome and transcriptome as well as the use of in vitro 3-D glioblastoma culture, e.g. in a hypoxic environment, to assess stem cells and cell susceptibility to therapies in a niche environment. The implementation of the tasks will contribute to a better knowledge of the biology of gliomas, will allow the identification of new molecular biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and will also constitute a practical model for studying the response to treatment in hypoxia. The development of a diagnostic test will improve the effectiveness of treatment by adjusting it to the molecular subtype of the tumor, and liquid biopsy would improve the availability of diagnostics, the comfort and safety of patients and would mean completely new possibilities of monitoring the course of the disease, unavailable so far. The project is carried out by the Consortium - Medical University of Silesia in Katowice - Institute of Experimental Biology M. Nencki of the Polish Academy of Sciences - Medical University of Warsaw - Academic Computer Center Cyfronet of the AGH University of Science and Technology of Stanisław Staszic in Krakow - Oncogene Diagnostics - Regional Science and Technology Center.

The project received funding under the third competition of the National Center for Research and Development in the STRATEGMED  "PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CIVILIZATION DISEASES" STRATEGMED program. The project leader is the Warsaw University of Technology. The consortium includes the Medical University of Warsaw, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Institute of High Pressure Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Świętokrzyskie Oncology Center, TIMELESS Chirurgia Plastyczna sp. Z o.o., Całodobowa Klinika Weterynaryjna "Puławska" with its seat in Warsaw, Medical University of Białystok, MaterialsCare sp. o.o. based in Białystok. The aim of the project is to develop an innovative method of regenerating large bone tissue defects in cancer patients, based on the use of scaffolding and in vivo tissue engineering. In this method, in the first stage after bone tumor removal, a modern element filling the defect (spacer) will be implanted in place of the defect, releasing antibacterial drugs and supporting radio- and / or chemotherapy at the same time. At the same time, a modern and biodegradable scaffold will be implanted in the patient's body ectopic, in the area supporting the formation of new tissue. After the in vivo production of new bone tissue, the spacer will be removed and the prefabricated flap (a tissue engineered product) will be removed and implanted into the jaw defect, ensuring its physiological and aesthetic functionality. Achieving the goal requires the development of a modern spacer, bioactive scaffolding and a method of enriching them with bioactive factors. The developed solutions will be tested, both in vitro and in vivo, on models of small and large animals.

The project received funding under the third competition of the National Center for Research and Development in the STRATEGMED "PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CIVILIZATION DISEASES" program. The leader of the project is the Foundation for Research and Science Development based in Otwock. The consortium includes the Medical University of Warsaw, the Warsaw University of Technology, the M. Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Medispace sp.z o.o. based in Warsaw. The project responds to the needs of people with diabetes. In Poland, there are 2.5 million people with diabetes, including 200,000 people with type I diabetes. Islet transplantation has limited application due to the fact that the isolation process destroys the insular vascularization and the extracellular matrix. As a result, more than half of the islets die in the first days after transplantation. Tissue bioprinting is becoming more and more common. The constraints that must be overcome in order to obtain an islet scaffold (bionic pancreas) ready for transplantation are: establishing a suitable environment for island printing, bringing vascularity to the islets. The aim of the project is to build a functional bionic pancreas consisting of a matrix, vessels and islets, and in the future of insulin-producing cells. The study includes 5 work packages: research on building a bionic pancreas model, 3D-biodprinting of a bionic pancreas, flow culture, assessment of the quality and safety of a bionic pancreas, transplantation of a bionic pancreas on an animal model, implementation works. The results of the work will enable the production of a completely new product: the Bionic Pancreas.

The project received funding from the National Center for Research and Development under the Program for National Defense and Security. The project leader is the Central Forensic Laboratory of the Police. The consortium includes the Medical University of Warsaw, the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, the Police Academy in Szczytno, RX FFW sp. special-purpose company with its seat in Poznań. The aim of the project is to develop an innovative predictive system for the analysis of biological traces and human remains, which will consist of a genetic test enabling the analysis of selected genetic markers and mathematical models. Their use will allow to obtain information about the appearance and biogeographic origin of humans. The project will use next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) as a fundamental research technology, in line with the latest trends in modern forensic genetics. The final product will be a complete research procedure and validated operator-friendly software for processing and interpreting the data obtained.

The project received funding under the second competition of the National Center for Research and Development in the STRATEGMED "PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CIVILIZATION DISEASES" program. The project leader is the M. Skłodowskiej-Curie Oncology Center. The consortium includes the Medical University of Warsaw, the Silesian University of Technology, WASKO S.A., the Polish Society of Endocrinology, the Polish Society of Pathologists, the Medical University of Łódź, ENTE Sp. z o.o., NOVUM S.A. The aim of the project is to create tools supporting decisions in the field of local treatment of better prognosis tumors: breast, thyroid, prostate, and thus to achieve a significant reduction in the aggressiveness of oncological therapy and reduce its social and economic costs, without compromising its effectiveness. Innovative molecular tests will be based on tumor genomics, taking into account the heterogeneity of its weaving. The molecular test and the supporting ultrasound analysis of the thyroid tumor will be used to decide whether the patient requires complete thyroidectomy or less extensive treatment. The test will be prospectively validated in a nationwide multicenter study. For prostate cancer, the developed tool will classify the tumor's aggressiveness (molecular Gleason index) in terms of the decision on its initial treatment. In breast cancer, an optimal classification of the molecular tumor subtype will be obtained on the basis of a molecular test based on a coarse needle biopsy. A mobile application for three-dimensional visualization of tumor volume based on radiological images of various modalities (including MR and PET/CT) as well as tools for positioning this image in relation to the body will be created. An algorithm for determining the necessary tumor margins based on molecular and imaging tests will be developed, which will support decisions about the scope of surgery.

The project received funding from the National Center for Research and Development as part of the Applied Research Program in path A. The leader of the project is the Institute of High Pressure Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The consortium includes the Medical University of Warsaw, ACCURO sp.z o.o., Piastów Śląskich Medical University in Wrocław. The aim of the project is to create a new laser source for the treatment of skin lesions. The device is based on the experience of the Institute of High Pressure Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in the field of laser diodes and the patented method of coupling diodes with optical fibers. In cancer therapy using the photodynamic method, the possibilities of using new laser sources and a new photosensitizer will be investigated. The advantages of the new laser will be: small size, low power consumption, high reliability and low cost of production. The device will be intended for dermatologists and aesthetic medicine clinics.

The project received funding under the first competition of the National Center for Research and Development in the STRATEGMED "PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CIVILIZATIONAL DISEASES" program. The project leader is the Warsaw University of Technology. The consortium includes the Medical University of Warsaw, Sport Medica S.A., M. Skłodowska-Curie Oncology Center based in Warsaw, University of Warsaw, Harvard Medical School, Biomaterials Innovation Research Center based in the USA (Boston), University of Pittsburgh, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine based in the USA (Pittsburgh). Despite advances in the treatment of tendon and ligament injuries, which are the most common disorders of the musculoskeletal system, the question of how to best treat them has not yet been resolved. The main goal of the project is to develop novel tissue engineering methods to support the healing and regeneration of tendons and ligaments. The project assumes that a new personalized in-situ-guided tissue engineering method will improve tendon / ligament regeneration through the use of intelligent 3D cell scaffolds (scaffolds). The scaffolds with a complex bio-mimetic micro- and nano-structure and chemical composition will deliver the necessary biological factors and stem cells to the treatment site. Such "tailor-made" scaffolds will provide favorable conditions for tissue regeneration, additionally involving the organism's endogenous stem / progenitor cells to form the tissue together. In addition, the tissue scaffold, due to its special design, will allow for continuous modulation of the regeneration process by delivering stem cells, cytokines directly to the site of damage and mechanical stimulation of the tissue throughout the therapy period. This modulation will depend on the stage of tissue reconstruction and the results of in-situ biomarker analysis. The in-situ guided tissue engineering method will require the development of new, non-invasive imaging techniques and analytical methods for monitoring the tissue regeneration process. The implementation of this type of interdisciplinary strategies for tissue engineering should significantly improve the effectiveness of treatment of diseases of tendons and ligaments.

OncoArendi Therapeutics as the leader of a scientific and industrial consortium obtained funding in an amount of over PLN 25.5 million as part of the second competition of the National Center for Research and Development in the program STRATEGMED "PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CIVILIZATIONAL DISEASES". The Medical University of Warsaw is a beneficiary of this funding as a member of the consortium implementing the DIMUNO project. The aim of the project is to develop a new approach in targeted cancer therapy based on world-unique inhibitors of enzymes that protect cancer cells against the body's immune response. The developed compounds will inhibit the activity of enzymes that break down arginine and tryptophan. New therapeutic strategies will be developed by an interdisciplinary scientific and industrial consortium conducting research in the fields of medical chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, nanotechnology, immunology and medicine. The result of the project will be the development of a new molecule - a candidate for clinical trials for the treatment of many types of cancer. The selection of a clinical candidate will take place in a parallel search for inhibitors of several enzymes, including the use of nanocarriers. The full composition of the consortium participating in the project is: OncoArendi Therapeutics Sp. z o.o., Medical University of Warsaw, M. Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, International Institute of Experimental and Cell Biology, private partners Nanovelos Sp. z o. o. and Scanmed S. A.