Expert Guidance

Breastfeeding involves so much more than just nutrition. It provides essential support for the development of any child, but is especially important for premature and ill infants. We sat down with Professor Aleksandra Wesołowska, head of the University Laboratory for Research in Human Milk and Lactation, WUM Department of Medical Biology, to discuss the unique properties of human milk, as well as what human milk banks are and how to use them.

Inflammation is pointed out as both a potential consequence and a cause of neurodegenerative processes. Yet the role of inflammatory factors in the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease and atypical Parkinsonian disorders has not been explored yet. My study will allow for comparing the levels of inflammation parameters in the course of Parkinson’s disease and progressive supranuclear palsy, as well as identifying differences between those subtypes, writes Piotr Alster, PhD Hab., from the WUM Department of Neurology at the Faculty of Health Sciences.

The period of studying is primarily a time of new challenges and major changes, to which one must adapt. This can be difficult. What can a student do to cope better? How should they strengthen their well-being to avoid emotional crises and academic burnout? What role do lecturers and the university itself play? Dr. hab. Dorota Włodarczyk, head of the Study of Health Psychology at the Medical University of Warsaw (WUM), which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, answers these and many other questions.

The artificial intelligence revolution is unfolding before our eyes, with AI taking many areas of life by storm – and medicine and radiology are no exception. Here at the Medical University of Warsaw, we are launching a project where we will apply AI to predicting the course of oncological diseases. Our focus will be on hepatocellular carcinoma, which remains one of the biggest challenges in oncology. But the models we are about to build will also be applicable to other abdominal neoplasms. All this to support treatment planning and make it more personalized, writes Krzysztof Bartnik, MD, PhD, of 2nd Department of Clinical Radiology, WUM.

In Poland, people sometimes come to a biobank thinking they can deposit cash. The place is associated in their minds with an eco-style bank. What are biobanks, what can be stored in them, and what purpose do they serve? These questions are answered by Dr hab. Radosław Zagożdżon, head of the Laboratory of Cell and Gene Therapies at the Medical University of Warsaw (WUM) and national coordinator for biobanking.

Wound healing disorders are a serious health problem today, affecting millions of people worldwide. One promising solution in the fight against these disorders is the use of natural biomaterials that can support different stages of the regeneration process. My project aims to develop a new class of keratin dressings enriched with a factor stimulating macrophage colonies. Such colonies will be capable of modulating impaired immune processes observed in chronic wounds, thereby accelerating their healing, writes Dr. Mateusz Rybka from the Department of Experimental Physiology and Pathophysiology at the Medical University of Warsaw.

After over a dozen years of studying urolithin A, which is produced in our gut, MUW scientists have discovered its anti-inflammatory properties, and have come up with the idea of applying it topically on the skin. Several patents have been obtained based on their research – which can now lead to the development of new anti-ageing cosmetics as well as new drugs against skin and mucosa inflammations. Professor Sebastian Granica, Director of the MUW Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and Medicinal Plants Biotechnology, and Professor Jakub Piwowarski, of the MUW Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Bioanalysis, discuss their research and the properties of urolithin A.

Michail Koutentakis is from Greece and has just completed his studies in medicine at the MUW English Division. In Poland, he has found his academic haven as well as the space to grow as a leader, educator, and activist. His commitment to global health, education, and support for the student community has earned him the prestigious 2025 INTERSTUDENT award, given to the best international student in Poland, as well as the title of Global Health Educator.

Can you predict which atheroma will cause a heart attack before the patient even feels chest pain? A dozen years or so ago, this question would sound like medical fantasy, but today, personalized preventive action is becoming the norm. All thanks to the progress in evaluating coronary artery stenoses, and cardiologists applying artificial intelligence and other computer-based methods with ever greater boldness, says Adrian Bednarek, a student of medicine and doctoral student at the 1st Chair and Department of Cardiology, MUW.

Hypercholesterolemia, or excessively high levels of blood cholesterol, remains the most common cardiovascular risk factor in Poland, and yet remains the most poorly controlled one. This may change with the dynamic growth and increasing popularity of lipidology. Jakub Zimodro, fifth-year student of medicine and a doctoral student at the 1st Chair and Department of Cardiology, MUW, discusses the evolving perspectives on the lipid panel and the modern treatments for hyperlipidemia.