Mateusz Rybka, MD, among the START 2026 scholarship holders

The START Scholarship granted by the Foundation for Polish Science is one of the most important awards for people starting an independent scientific career. Every year, 100 young researchers receive the scholarship. The award-winning scientist from the WUM conducts research on biomaterials of natural origin, especially keratin dressings, and their potential use in the treatment of chronic and diabetic wounds.

The winners of the START programme are selected through a multi-stage competition that evaluates the quality of their scientific achievements to date, including their importance for the development of medicine and biomedical sciences. A total of 807 applications were submitted for this year's edition!

Mateusz Rybka, MD, is a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine of the Medical University of Warsaw, a doctoral student at the WUM Doctoral School and a resident of neonatology at the Department of Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care of Duchess Anna Mazowiecka Clinical Hospital. He is affiliated with the Department of Experimental Physiology and Pathophysiology WUM.

He is the author and co-author of several scientific publications that have been cited over 400 times according to the Web of Science database. His achievements include work in the field of biomaterials, regenerative medicine, skin biology and wound healing. He is the head of a PRELUDIUM 23 project financed by the National Science Centre. He also implemented university projects of the WUM and participated in a team project financed by the Medical Research Agency.

We encourage you to read the scientific article by Mateusz Rybka, MD, on the importance of naturally derived biomaterials in wound healing! Link to the article