WUM takes the lead
The first project in the history of the EUniWell Seed Funding Call to be led by WUM is GAVTS (Gender-Affirming Voice Therapy Scale). The project is coordinated by Dr Krzysztof Dąbrowski from the Department of Descriptive and Clinical Anatomy at WUM. The research team also includes Antoni Ludew, a recent graduate of our university.
The aim of the GAVTS project is to develop and scientifically validate a questionnaire assessing the impact of gender-affirming voice therapy on the well-being of transgender individuals. Voice therapy is a speech-language pathology intervention that helps align a person's voice, pitch, and speaking style with their gender identity.
The questionnaire currently under development will assess, among other aspects, mental and social well-being, self-perception, societal attitudes toward transgender individuals, the prevalence of voice-related difficulties, satisfaction with the transition process, and overall quality of life.
Project background
The project originated from a collaboration between Dr Krzysztof Dąbrowski (WUM) and Dr Marcin Scech from the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin. Its initial framework was presented as a pilot study at ISPS 2023, an international scientific conference organized by the Medical University of Warsaw.
“The voice is one of the most important elements of human identity. It affects not only how others perceive us, but also how we perceive ourselves,” says Dr Krzysztof Dąbrowski. “The ability to communicate effectively is fundamental to participation in social life, while limitations in this area can lead to exclusion, isolation, and marginalisation.”
Dr Dąbrowski also emphasizes that gender-affirming voice therapy plays a crucial role in supporting the gender transition process. Available pilot data indicate that only around 10% of transgender people in Poland have benefited from such interventions. There are many indications that the situation is similar in other European countries.
Project outcomes
The primary outcome of the GAVTS project will be the Gender-Affirming Voice Therapy Scale, which will be made available free of charge to patients, therapists, and researchers in eight language versions.
The project will also deliver:
- a report on the well-being, self-perception, and social experiences of transgender individuals in eight European countries;
- an online platform and database designed to monitor changes in these indicators over time;
- recommendations supporting the development of gender-affirming voice therapy and improving the quality of life of transgender individuals.
The project also has a significant educational and social dimension. It aims to raise awareness of the importance of voice affirmation, encourage discussion on the quality of gender transition support, and increase understanding of the challenges faced by transgender communities across Europe.
Project timeline and partners
The project will commence in September 2026 and will be implemented by a consortium of nine universities from eight European countries. In addition to the Medical University of Warsaw, the consortium includes:
- University of Birmingham
- Semmelweis University
- University of Murcia
- University of Santiago de Compostela
- National University of Kyiv
- University of Nantes
- University of Cologne
- University of Florence
Research activities will also involve the Trans-Fuzja Foundation, the "Nie widać po mnie" Foundation, the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, and Swansea University.
WUM as a project partner
Funding was also awarded to the IMITI-AMR-OH project, in which Dr Robert Kuthan from the Department of Medical Microbiology at WUM is involved. The research team will investigate interactions between yeasts and bacteria and explore ways of modulating the microbiome to help address the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance.
The third WUM-associated project to receive funding in the 10th EUniWell Seed Funding Call is SBS-CAREJUST, involving Grzegorz Gruba, a doctoral student at the Medical University of Warsaw. This interdisciplinary project focuses on Shaken Baby Syndrome, examining both the medical aspects of diagnosing and documenting cases and the response of the justice system.
EUniWell Seed Funding Call
Under the EUniWell Seed Funding programme, each selected project will receive €25,000 in funding for a period of 12 months.
The programme supports grassroots collaborative initiatives proposed by researchers, students, academic staff, and administrative employees from universities belonging to the EUniWell Alliance (European University for Well-Being).
Projects must address at least one of EUniWell’s five thematic areas:
- health and well-being
- social equity and well-being
- environmental change and well-being
- culture, multilingualism and well-being
- teacher education and well-being
Participants in funded projects include researchers, academic staff, students, and professional services staff from 12 partner universities.
Information about partner universities
The next edition of the EUniWell Seed Funding Call is scheduled for autumn 2026.
Information about the EUniWell Seed Funding Call
Contact: euniwell@wum.edu.pl