Information about Hosting Offer
Hosting Offer: Medical University of Bialystok
Information
| Role | Hosting Offer |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Medical University of Bialystok |
| Organisation type | Academic, Research centre |
| City | Bialystok |
| HR Excellence in Research Award from the European Commission | no |
| National evaluation category | A+ (excellent) |
| Faculty / Dept. / Division / Laboratory / Research group | Department of Population Medicine and Lifestyle Disease Prevention |
| Website | https://www.umb.edu.pl/en/ |
| Thematic area/field | NZ – Life Sciences / NZ7 Diagnostic tools, therapies and public health |
| Key words | population medicine; biostatistics; bioinformatics; population genetics; epidemiology and pathogenesis of lifestyle associated diseases |
| Short summary of activities and expertise | The Medical University of Bialystok is one of the most advanced academic centers in Poland focused on artificial intelligence in medicine. The University is a leader in compiling High-Definition Medicine (HD Medicine) data. Our scientific efforts over the past several years have been focused on integrating phenotypic, lifestyle, environmental, genetic, epigenetic, metabolomic, radiomic and other “omic” data into a single all-ecompasing database called the Polish Database of HD Medicine. This database is the source for the application of machine learning algorithms aimed to solve the most crucial, cutting-edge challenges in medicine. Thus far our efforts have been focused on three main domains: oncology, metabolic diseases and populational medicine. MUB has made a comprehensive effort to cultivate an organizational, logistic and research environment to initiate strategic projects in lung cancer (several hundred patients who underwent genomic, metabolomics, proteomic and radiomic tests), cardiovascular diseases (c. 1000 patients who underwent genomic and other large-scale studies), type 2 diabetes (c. 3000 patients included in genomic and metabolomic studies) and assessment of risk factors for lifestyle diseases of the 21st century (Białystok PLUS study including 10,000 residents of Bialystok subjected to extremely detailed clinical, genetic, biochemical and environmental analysis). An extremely important part of our plan is to continue this unique work to create the first Eastern European (and one of the first in the world) in-depth and detailed database dedicated to Artificial Intelligence. However, our goal is not only to generate data, but to understand and apply it using AI to better elucidate the biology of disease, create predictive models to understand both the etiology and prognosis of chronic disease, personalize therapies, and enhance basic science research in the search of new drugs. |
| Role and profile of key persons (incl. supervisor) | Prof. Karol Adam Kaminski, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Population Diseases and Civilization Diseases’ Prevention: Short description of the most important achievements in the research area: ● Discovery of the influence of locally secreted IL-6 in myocardial infarction and planned coronary angioplasty ● Pointing out that 9p21 polymorphism has opposite effects on the occurrence of myocardial infarction and post myocardial infarction prognosis ● Discovery of the effect of tryptophan-kynurenine axis on lymphocyte sub-populations in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension ● Discovery of the crucial role of interleukin 6 in age-dependent expression of p 53 in the heart Participation in international assemblies / scientific societies: ● From 2009 Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology ● From 2006 member of the Working Group „Myocardial Function” of the European Society of Cardiology; from 2009 to 2010 – member of the Nucleus and webmaster of this working group Obtained grants and organizational achievements: Grants: ● Co-author and head of the medical research in NCBR grant „Voice Analysis for Medical Professionals. (VAMP) “ nr POIR.04.01.04-00-0052/18-00 ● Head of the team for the task ordered by the Mayor of Bialystok: „Social diagnosis in the field of civilisation diseases 2017” ● Author and Principal Investigator of the NCN project: 2011/01/B/NZ4/04862 “The role of IL-6 in ageing of cardiovascular system” ● Author and PI of the grant by the Polish Cardiac Society: “The role of IL-6 in cytoprotection of the myocardium” 2011 ● Co-author and tutor of 2 Preludium grants Organizational achievements: ● From 2015 – head of the Department of Population Medicine and Civilization Diseases Prevention ● From 2015 – PI of international population study Białystok PLUS ● From 2017 – member of the project team „Center of Innovative Research in Prevention of Civilization Diseases and Personalized Medicine (CBI PLUS)” – head of the population medicine area. |
| Previous and current involvement in research and training programmes | ● "Speech analysis as a tool for early detection and monitoring of civilization diseases - VAMP (Voice Analysis for Medical Professionals)” Project coordinator: Prof. Karol Kamiński Source of funding: EU Intelligent Development Operational Program 2014-2020, Priority axis: Increasing the scientific and research potential Total project value: 3748477,65 PLN The project involves the development of an innovative computer diagnostics system VAMP (Voice Analysis for Medical Professionals), which can improve the early detection of civilization diseases, mental disorders and neurodegenerative changes. ● ImPRESS “International Interdisciplinary PhD studies in Biomedical Research and Biostatistics. Supporting the career and training in omic-based research and biostatistics by inter-national and - sectoral mobility" Project coordinator: Prof. Marcin Moniuszko Source of funding: EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020 in 2014-2020, awarded in the COFUND competition in as part of the Maria Skłodowska-Curie Action Total project value: 3616560 EUR The aim of the project is to create International Interdisciplinary PhD studies in Biomedical Research and Biostatistics for 15 young scientists from around the world involved in research in the area of civilization diseases and methods in the field of biostatistics and bioinformatics, necessary for the development and interpretation of data obtained in research projects. ● JoinUs4Health "Join Us to Optimize Health Through Cohort Research" Project coordinator: Dr Paweł Sowa Source of funding: EU FP Horizon 2020, awarded in the Science with and for Society Programme Total project value: 1588541,25 EUR Prospective cohort studies allow tackling major research questions regarding health and well-being of individuals and communities. JoinUs4Health aims to combine Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and crowdsourcing as converging approaches to promote inclusive innovation and citizen engagement in cohort research. |
| Relevant publications and/or research/innovation products | Publications: ● Whole genome sequencing puts forward hypotheses on metastasis evolution and therapy in colorectal cancer. Ishaque N, [...] Moniuszko M, Kozlowski M, Reszec J, Niklinski J, [...] Allgayer H. Nat Commun. 2018 Nov 14;9(1):4782. ● MicroRNAs as novel targets and tools in cancer therapy. Abba ML, [...] Moniuszko M, Utikal J, Niklinski J, Allgayer H. Cancer Lett. 2017 Feb 28;387:84-94. ● The Potential of Combined Immunotherapy and Antiangiogenesis for the Synergistic Treatment of Advanced NSCLC. Manegold C, [...] Moniuszko M, [...]. J Thorac Oncol. 2017 Feb;12(2):194-207. ● Machine-learning facilitates selection of a novel diagnostic panel of metabolites for the detection of heart failure. Marcinkiewicz-Siemion M, [...] Sobkowicz B, Kaminski K. Sci Rep. 2020 Jan 10;10(1):130. ● Machine-learning-based classification of the histological subtype of non-small-cell lung cancer using MRI texture analysis. Bebas E, [...] Szumowski P, Mojsak M. Biomedical Signal Processing and Control. Volume 66, April 2021, 102446. Patents: ● “miRNA biomarkers for differential diagnosis of histopathological subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer” patent application (P.432011) filed on 29.11.2019 in the the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland and international patent application (PCT/PL2019/000113) filed on 30.11.2019. |
| Key research facilities, infrastructure, and equipment | MUB offers very modern infrastructure for scientific research. We are the only medical university in Poland who already has the Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (created in 2019) with all the IT infrastructure needed to process and analyze big datasets. Moreover, in 2015, the Centre for Bioinformatics and Data Analyses was open, where servers for most of the big data from the university's projects are stored (including HPC cluster worth 4.5 million EUR). Besides the IT part, our university has also a strong setting of facilities dedicated to generating big medical data - the key in AI driven studies, and implementing its discoveries in real life. The Clinical Research Center (opened in April 2015) is a facility for clinical research in the area of metabolic, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative diseases and oncology - the project funded by the Polish Government as a part of ”Reconstruction and Development of the University Hospital in Bialystok” (total budget 118 million EUR). It possesses equipment for the high-throughput genomics/transcriptomics (NovaSeq, HiSeq 4000), proteomics and metabolomics (Orbitrap MS) analyses. The Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Technology Transfer – an SME company, owned and run by the MUB at the Bialystok Science and Technology Park (BSTP) offering the most modern PET-MRI hybrid for molecular imaging. Moreover, the university created an MUB Biobank - the centre with infrastructure and trained staff dedicated to collect and store all the biological material from the projects conducted at MUB. It is important to note that these facilities are located within the campus of the University Hospital, being in direct connection with the clinical environment and access to patients and healthcare providers. Moreover, a new modern building for the Centre for Populational Medicine, Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Genomics Laboratory, funded from the EU Operational Programme, will be established at the university campus in 2022. |
| Hosting arrangements | MUB offers very modern infrastructure for scientific research. We are the only medical university in Poland who already has the Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (created in 2019) with all the IT infrastructure needed to process and analyze big datasets. Moreover, in 2015, the Centre for Bioinformatics and Data Analyses was open, where servers for most of the big data from the university's projects are stored (including HPC cluster worth 4.5 million EUR). Besides the IT part, our university has also a strong setting of facilities dedicated to generating big medical data - the key in AI driven studies, and implementing its discoveries in real life. The Clinical Research Center (opened in April 2015) is a facility for clinical research in the area of metabolic, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative diseases and oncology - the project funded by the Polish Government as a part of ”Reconstruction and Development of the University Hospital in Bialystok” (total budget 118 million EUR). It possesses equipment for the high-throughput genomics/transcriptomics (NovaSeq, HiSeq 4000), proteomics and metabolomics (Orbitrap MS) analyses. The Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Technology Transfer – an SME company, owned and run by the MUB at the Bialystok Science and Technology Park (BSTP) offering the most modern PET-MRI hybrid for molecular imaging. Moreover, the university created an MUB Biobank - the centre with infrastructure and trained staff dedicated to collect and store all the biological material from the projects conducted at MUB. It is important to note that these facilities are located within the campus of the University Hospital, being in direct connection with the clinical environment and access to patients and healthcare providers. Moreover, a new modern building for the Centre for Populational Medicine, Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Genomics Laboratory, funded from the EU Operational Programme, will be established at the university campus in 2022. |
| Key research facilities, infrastructure, and equipment | MUB will employ the Postdoctoral Fellow on a fixed-term employment contract as an academic teacher/researcher, without teaching duties. He/she would hold a faculty position at the University, which will further allow him/her to freely apply for research funding in order to develop and raise the level of research excellence, to successfully compete at international level. MUB offers: ● Researcher position on an initially 2-year appointment with the possibility of extension, subject to availablity of external grants funding and internal merit-based evaluation ● Research independence ● Access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure ● Full technical, administrative, and organizational support from MUB ● Additional annual salary ● Possibility to apply for social funds (financing: vacations, children’s vacations, cultural, educational, sport, recreation and tourism activities). Working conditions proposed for the Postdoctoral Fellow are in line with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, as MUB is implementing Human Resources Strategy for Researchers including provisions of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. Working conditions inscribed in the Charter and Code are very attractive for the researchers, and constitute a very high standard compared to common working conditions in Poland. What is more, working conditions and remuneration of the PI and the team are far more attractive than working conditions in the Podlasie region, where Bialystok is located, and the whole country. |
| Intersectoral secondments options | Working conditions proposed for the Postdoctoral Fellow are in line with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, as MUB is implementing Human Resources Strategy for Researchers including provisions of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. Working conditions inscribed in the Charter and Code are very attractive for the researchers, and constitute a very high standard compared to common working conditions in Poland. What is more, working conditions and remuneration of the PI and the team are far more attractive than working conditions in the Podlasie region, where Bialystok is located, and the whole country. International networking will be supported at the institutional level by encouraging mobility through conferences, short research visits and trainings. Research excellence will be secured by a combination of new facilities and progressive individuals. Thanks to the events organized by the MUB’s Technology Transfer Office, the researcher will have greater exposure to the priorities of industry and other relevant employment sectors in order to facilitate their cooperation with the private sector. Increased attractiveness of the institution and the scientific environment to internationally excellent and mobile researchers will also be a huge benefit for MUB. There will be a strong emphasis on establishing a competitive grant supporting team. This will be achieved through regular exposure of the Postdoctoral Fellow to a broad selection of international grant application types, professional development of grant managers and training in grant writing skills. Moreover, a dedicated grant manager capable of supporting the scientists in finding suitable calls will be appointed. The increased capacity of our grant supporting system, the newly established strategic partnerships and the continuous transfer of knowledge from the international partner |
| Other benefits | ● An active operation of the International Cooperation Office: a MUB Welcome Centre is a comprehensive service for foreign students, PhD students and academic staff. They are able to receive professional help regarding their functioning at MUB and in Bialystok. The skilful Welcome Centre staff help to solve problems connected with studying or working at MUB, but also related to everyday life, such as renting an apartment or official issues. Welcome Centre employees are fluent in English, have participated in specialist training courses related to servicing foreign students, international cooperation workshops, intercultural communication workshops, as well as specialized English workshops. Welcome Centre offers assistance in issues such as: how to move around the university; dealing with various matters at MUB (advising where to go, who to ask, in what district it is good to rent an apartment to conveniently reach the campus; opening a bank account; scheduling and/or accompanying a doctor’s appointment if there’s need for translation). ● MUB website operates in 8 languages (inc. English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Spanish). ● myMUB smartphone app that is meant to facilitate the functioning and acclimatization of people from abroad at our University. myMUB is completely free. It includes modules such as “About MUB”, “Campus” – an interactive map facilitating moving around the University, “Guide”, “Schedule”, “Białystok”, “Exchange Rate” and others. ● Strong and long-lasting cooperation with major research centers in the world (i.a.: Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California San Francisco, National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Mayo Clinic, University of Pennsylvania, USA; Heidelberg University, Germany; San Pablo University in Madrid, Spain; INSERM France; University of Zürich, Switzerland; University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Hasselt University, Belgium; China Agricultural University, China) and with international companies. |
| Candidate sought | Who can apply? • citizens of any country, regardless of nationality, age and gender • holders of PhD or at least four years of full-time documented research experience • researchers who have not lived or worked in Poland for more than 12 months within the 3 years before the date of the call launch (researchers displaced by conflicts or applying for refugee status are eligible for extensions) • researchers prepared to move to Poland for 2 years – for the duration of their research project. Specific MUB requirements: • fluent English or Polish. • ability and willingness to work in a diverse, multidisciplinary team. • proficiency in statistical analysis and writing of scientific publications. • previous publications in renowned international scientific journals. • recommendations provided by 2 esteemed scientists. MUB is searching for candidates who will conduct research at the Department of Population Medicine and Lifestyle Disease Prevention. Department’s field of research is related to population health and lifestyle diseases epidemiology as well as pathogenesis. Interested researchers will work closely with a their supervisor on their project, in the field of population health and lifestyle diseases epidemiology, and then submit an application together with MUB as a host organisation. MUB offers potential Postdoctoral Fellows a unique opportunity to share knowledge and experience with our excellent Fellow's supervisor and the whole team. The successful candidates gain the possibility to learn new techniques and methods, strengthen their research by making it transnational as well as carve a path for mutual collaboration in prospect projects. |
| Have you hosted POLONEZ Fellows or MSCA IF Fellows before? | no |
| Candidatures deadline | 2022-11-15 |
Contact | |
| First name | Maria |
| Last name | Szlachta |
| maria.szlachta@umb.edu.pl | |
| Phone number | +48698223290 |
