Centres of scientific excellence and supporting structures research activity at the Medical University of Gdańsk
The strength of the Medical University of Gdańsk is its modern research and clinical infrastructure (headed by the University Clinical Centre). The university additionally establishes structures supporting science and knowledge transfer, which are a key element currently building a new quality of science at the Medical University of Gdańsk. These structures constitute the foundation for the development of science at the Medical University of Gdańsk and are a pillar of activities undertaken by the University as part of the “Excellence Initiative – Research University” programme with the overarching goal of the program, which is: “to improve the quality of scientific activity and the level of education quality, and consequently, raise theinternational significance of the university’s activities”.
The new structures supporting research activity at the Medical University of Gdańsk created in the framework of the “Excellence Initiative – Research University” program:
Centre of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Analysis
The Centre of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Analysis offers a wide range of services related to the broadly understood biostatistical and bioinformatic analysis as well as big data analysis. The activity profile includes mainly support for projects based on high-throughput DNA and RNA sequencing (including single cell analysis), as well as other scientific initiatives that require processing of large amounts of data. Additionally, the activities of the Centre will include the use of artificial intelligence in the processing of imaging data and the classification of patient samples. One of the key initiatives of the unit is the Biostatistics Clinic, offering MUG employees and doctoral students the opportunity to discuss the optimal approach to statistical data analysis. The Centre of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Analysis will provide researchers with professional support at every stage of research, from designing the measurement methodology, through data acquisition and analysis, to the final interpretation.
As part of the Initiative of Excellence – Research University Program at the Medical University of Gdańsk, a new core facility is being created – the Bioanalytical Laboratory, whose main goal will be to cooperate with research teams of the MUG and the UCC by supporting the process of scientific research and clinical trials in the field of analytics and bioanalysis, especially in the context of Priority Areas Research (oncology, cardiology and cardiovascular medicine as well as biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology). The Centre will employ analysts and bioanalysts, whose work will strengthen the interdisciplinary nature of research, development and implementation work carried out at the MUG and will enable the implementation of the above projects by external entities.
Excellence of Scientific Publications Unit
The scientific potential of the Medical University of Gdańsk is over a thousand researchers and over three hundred doctoral students, active in publications fields in the national and international scientific circuit. The Excellence of Scientific Publications Unit was established with a view to them. As part of it, we offer comprehensive support in the field of communication of research results, in particular at various stages of preparation of scientific publications in English.
The activity of ECTC is aimed at conducting clinical research at the early stage of developing innovative therapies, especially in Priority Research Areas of the Medical University of Gdańsk, as defined in the “Excellence Initiative – Research University” Program. These scientific studies evaluate the safety and efficacy of therapies in numerous therapeutic areas, specifically oncology, hematology, cardiology, neurology and connective tissue diseases. Phase I/II studies at ECTC include first-in-human designs with dose escalation, drug interactions, food interactions, cardiovascular safety, close monitoring of pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, among others.
The Brain Diseases Centre of the Medical University of Gdansk is another university-wide unit on the map of initiatives supported under the Excellence Initiative – Research University program. It was established to make the most of MUG’s scientific and research potential in neuroscience.
The structures established at the Medical University of Gdańsk to implement new pro-development activities also supported under the “Initiative of Excellence – Research University” program include:
In order to achieve innovative interdisciplinary projects focused on personalised medicine, MUG has established the Translational Medicine Centre in 2019. Tasks are fulfilled in the Centre through the application of the concept of translational medicine, which is understood as the method of the fast transfer of knowledge gained in an experiment to the daily clinical practice.
Early Clinical Trials Unit (ECTU) is a structure established by MUG in 2019 with direct involvement of UCC. Because of ECTU, it is possible to complete clinical research on innovative drugs.
Clinical Research Support Centre
The objectives of establishing the CRSC in years 2021-2026 are to consolidate activities aimed at developing a path increasing the quality of clinical trials and increasing the availability of patients to new therapies and treatment regimens.
To improve the international status of its research, MUG has intensified an effort on creating Centres of Scientific Excellence in its structures. An example of this activity is the International Research Agenda (IRA) established in 2018. It is a joint intercollegiate unit of MUG and the University of Uppsala, focusing on research on genetic aberrations acquired during a lifetime as a risk factor of cancer and other diseases. This unit was established owing to funds donated by the Foundation for Polish Science within the program of the International Research Agenda (IRA).
Tri-City University Animal House – Research Service Centre
The Tri-City Academic Laboratory Animal Centre is currently one of the most modern facilities of this type in Poland and is an innovative base that allows for world-class research on animals. TAZD – CBU GUMed covers an area of 1100 m2, within which there are two separate passages behind a sanitary and hygienic barrier with 14 rooms for laboratory animals, used for breeding and keeping them, as well as for performing treatments and experimental procedures; quarantine; treatment rooms and utility facilities along with a fully automated washing room and sterilization room.
Interdepartmental Laboratory for In Vivo Research
The unit was established thanks to the initiative of one of the coordinators of Research Team V: „In vivo studies on mechanism of disease and therapy” in PRA 3, and represents a synergistic collaboration of experienced scientists from the Departments that make up the laboratory. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the unit, collaboration with the In Vivo Research Laboratory allows for the planning and execution of specialized in vivo studies and analyses from different areas of experimental medicine during a single research project or preclinical trial.
The expanding collections of biological material can pose a challenge for their inventory and management. That is why we offer consulting assistance in matters of freezing mapping as well as organizing and electronic recording of the collected sample collections. An organized electronic sample register will facilitate collection management and enable quick and precise location of each sample by assigning them to a specific position in a box, rack, freezer shelf and freezer.
BioBank of the Department of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics (DLMD) at MUG is a unique structure of highly specialised laboratories with a biorepository adapted to translational research in a large scale. BioBank MUG is a strategic nodal biobank of the Consortium of Polish Biobank Network (PBN) BBMRI.PL, which operates under the patronage of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. BBMRI.PL is a member of the European Network of Biobanks: Biobanking and BioMolecular Recourses Research Infrastructure (BBMRI-ERIC.EU) – the largest European scientific biomedical organization (European Research Infrastructure Consortium; ERIC).
The intellectual property (IP) policy of MUG focuses on creating and disseminating knowledge and the optimization of benefits from the use of intellectual rights. The essential units at the University in the process of technology transfer and commercialization of intellectual property are the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) and the special purpose company of GUMed, Centre of Medical Innovations Ltd. (CMI Ltd.).
Researchers Support Centre Office
The MUG is an efficient university relying on high organisational culture, supported by modern management methods. One of the assumptions of the “Initiative of Excellence – Research University” Program at the Medical University of Gdańsk is to increase the effectiveness of scientific research by reducing the administrative burden on researchers. The MUG’s unit implementing the assumptions of the IDUB Program in this area is the “Researchers Support Centre” Office, on the basis of which the Centre for Service Excellence will be established in the future.