Concept of the Research University in the Medical University of Gdańsk
Prof. Tomasz Bączek, Rector’s Representative for the "Excellence Initiative - Research University" program; photo Paweł Paszko
The Medical University of Gdańsk is one of the best medical universities in Poland and an unique science centre in the country. As an university known for research on civilization diseases, especially in oncology, cardiology and cardiovascular medicine, as well as biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology, the MUG is curently focusing on research integration. Thanks to this approach, there is now a change in functioning of both – research process and educational activity within the University. The effect of these efforts is not only the growing international position of the MUG, but also the developement of core facility, in the form of a well-functioning network of units capable of conducting groundbreaking and interdisciplinary research, as well as opening market implementations, supervision of innovation and improvement of the quality of education using the step method.
Unlike the typical modernization projects, creating a completely new operating models that carry a significant risk of failure, the project of the MUG Research University is based on the already existing, but still insufficiently networking structures, processes and units. As part of the project, we have developed a program to increase the University’s impact on world science in three Priority Research Areas: oncology, cardiology and cardiovascular medicine as well as biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology. Focusing on these research areas is crucial, especially since cardiovascular and oncological problems are the most common causes of death in the European Union, and basic science based on biological, biochemical and chemical research are key research platforms and the focus of most of our researchers.
We plan to significantly expand the Translational Medicine Center and the Early Phase Clinical Research Center. In addition, our University will set new research perspectives by developing their transdisciplinarity along with new research teams. This will be an additional impuls to generate innovative research programs – such as the development of cardiooncology or promising analysis of single cancer cells.
Personal relationships and the extraction of tacit knowledge in the area of the medical industry are extremely important for development. The Medical University of Gdańsk focuses on a gradual increase of cooperation with prestige centers such as the University of Utrecht, Uppsala or Glasgow. Thanks to this cooperation, the MUG will get access to the processes, knowledge and resources, currently available to Universities higher in ranking.
The MUG aims to strengthen the potential of human resources by introducing a new model of recruiting young, outstanding researchers, including students and doctoral students. The most promising candidates will receive personalized support and international networking programs, that will help in developing their international careers.
We are not forgetting how important for the commercialization of scientific research results is the implementation of other project objectives, which are to further improve synergy at the interface between science and business and increase the interest of investors and foreign entities in cooperation with the MUG. Incubator and Innovation Accelerator, Center for Excellence in Scientific Publications and Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Analysis Center are among those initiatives that will improve the quality and comfort of scientific, research, development and implementation work.
Prof. Tomasz Bączek
Rector’s Representative for the “Excellence Initiative – Research University” Program
Former Vice-Rector for Science of the Medical University of Gdańsk (in years 2012-2016 and 2016-2020)
