Our university and the National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation signed a letter of intent

Published:
A man — the Rector of the Medical University of Warsaw — and a woman — the Deputy Director for Scientific Affairs of NIGRiR — both elegantly dressed, pose for a photo against a blue backdrop with the white WUM logo and the inscription 'Medical University of Warsaw'.
The letter concerns cooperation aimed at establishing a joint doctoral school. The school will provide high-quality education across four tracks: medical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, health sciences, and an international track. It is intended to enable the implementation of innovative research projects.

The agreement was signed by Prof. Rafał Krenke, Rector of the Medical University of Warsaw, and Prof. Magdalena Dutsch-Wicherek, Deputy Director for Scientific Affairs at the National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation (NIGRiR).

“The Doctoral School is a very important element in the education of young researchers. As a medical university, we focus not only on current achievements but also on properly training the next generation of young people who will soon take over the leadership of scientific activity at the university and in other medical institutions,” said Rector Rafał Krenke.

Prof. Krenke emphasized that the agreement signed with the National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation is, on the one hand, a recognition of our Doctoral School and, on the other hand, a natural step and expansion of already existing cooperation, which includes courses for students, to include postgraduate education and the development of medical personnel.

“Every year, the institute hosts several dozen doctoral defenses, and we want our doctoral candidates to have the opportunity to enhance the quality of their work, both scientific and educational. Cooperation with the country’s leading university institution, which guarantees this quality, is very important to us,” emphasized Prof. Magdalena Dutsch-Wicherek.

As explained by Prof. Paweł Balsam, Director of the Doctoral School at the Medical University of Warsaw, the plan is for NIGRiR doctoral candidates to be able to complete the full educational program offered by our Doctoral School, which includes both research methodology and learning how to teach others. This is important because doctoral candidates are, to a large extent, future academic teachers.

“Cooperation will bring mutual benefits, as our faculty will be enriched with staff with extensive knowledge of, among other things, biological therapies and rheumatological conditions, which they will pass on to WUM doctoral candidates,” added Prof. Balsam.

The signing of the agreement took place on January 13, 2026.