Periodic Reporting for period 2 - 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)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2020-02-01 al 2023-01-31
According to the WHO report, the number of patients suffering from civilization diseases, the main health hazards for society such as cancer (lung cancer, brain tumors), cardiovascular diseases, obesity and type 2 diabetes, and Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases (Alzheimer's disease), increases in the rate of an epidemic (it will increase 2-3 times until 2030). In many cases there is no effective treatment, which generates huge costs for state budgets. The use of biomarkers may allow for early detection, prevention and therapy individualization of these diseases. Modern research on biomarkers is conducted using state of the art advanced technologies in the field of genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics which was the main subject of the PhD studies.
Cooperation with strong partner organisations: CEMBIO from San Pablo University; National Centre for Cardiovascular Research from Spain, Szentágothai Research Centre from University of Pécs, Bialystok University of Technology and CenStat from Hasselt University, gives us a tremendous opportunity to implement actions which are exceptionally important for European science and higher education. Huge data sets generated in large-scale research projects require expertise in both the field of medical biology and the knowledge of advanced data analysis methods. But why MUB? It is one of the most rapidly developing research centres in the field of medical sciences in Poland. Throughout last 15 years, MUB significantly improved its infrastructure, necessary for the execution of projects in the field of personalized medicine. Increasing the experience and knowledge of students and scientists by using state of the art infrastructure improves the quality of research and enables MUB to join world leaders in the field of -omics research.
Education of the PhD students was focused on technology and biomedical knowledge necessary for research on biomarkers, including the basics of biostatistics and bioinformatics. PhD students have been participating in courses, visiting professors’ lectures and workshops on e.g. metabolomics, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, biostatistics and bioinformatics. ImPRESS PhD supervisors were outstanding scientists with a profound expertise and experience in the thematic areas of the PhD studies (Cancer/Mutagenesis, Cardiovascular diseases, Diabetes/Obesity, Metabolic diseases, Neurodegenerative diseases, Regenerative medicine in civilization diseases, Molecular Biology, Genomics, Protein Analysis and Proteomics, Metabolomics/Lipidomics, Immunology).
The development of the PhD students’ research potential was based on conducting their own research projects, going for internships, short research visits, conferences, and trainings, not only to the partner institutions, but also to other best research centers in the world. Young scientists have had an opportunity to practice in domestic and foreign academic centers specializing in oncology, cardiology, metabolic diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, regenerative medicine, molecular biology, genetics and proteomics.
Finally, MSCA ImPRESS PhD Fellows published 90 scientific articles in renowned journals (total IF 607,157 points) and still more papers are submitted for publication. They presented their research results at 31 prestigious scientific conferences all over the world, they concluded 12 research stays, 58 trainings and 6 other events. 2 MSC Fellows are among the authors of a patent (PL241607) and of a patent application (43596720).
For example, one of the MSC Fellows, Bence Galik, is one of the authors of the Polish patent: “MiRNA biomarkers for the differential diagnosis of histopathological sub-types of non-small cell lung cancer” (No. PL241607). Using next-generation sequencing technology and bioinformatics tools, scientists identified micro RNA (miRNA) biomarkers for diagnosing subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from malignancy worldwide, and non-small cell lung cancer is one of the most common types. The two main subtypes of cancer are adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Appropriate diagnosis of the subtype allows for the implementation of an effective treatment method and to increase therapeutic benefits. The results of routine histopathological examinations are often ambiguous or do not allow for the correct diagnosis of the tumor subtype. The miRNA biomarkers identified and patented in the research are a precise tool for differentiating these two cancer subtypes, thanks to which the invention will support proper diagnosis, which is a key element in the implementation of personalized therapies.