Results of the competition for scientific units for the implementation of applied research in the biomedical field in the competition of the Medical Research Agency

Nearly PLN 6 million in the Medical Research Agency’s competition for the implementation of applied research in the biomedical field will go to scientists from our Institute! The two winning projects are proof of the exceptional quality of the research conducted and its application potential in the field of addiction therapy and personalized medicine.

Projects that have received funding:

Identification of brain protein biomarkers regulating relapse to cocaine addiction and inactivation of these selected proteins through aptamers – an innovative therapy for cocaine addiction

Project manager: prof. PhD Margaret Filip

Funding amount: PLN 3,308,799.75

The project focuses on identifying functional brain biomarkers associated with drug craving and relapse to cocaine addiction. The study will use a rat model of cocaine self-administration, enabling the separation of the motivational and pharmacological effects of the substance. The project will use DNA aptamers – innovative nucleic acid-based molecules – that will inactivate selected proteins associated with the mechanisms of addiction identified from proteomic studies. The efficacy of the aptamers will be verified under ex vivo and in vivo conditions, and their effectiveness in preventing relapse to cocaine-seeking behavior will be evaluated. The project represents an innovative approach to addiction treatment, developing novel approaches that may find future application in the treatment of cocaineism.

Multigene predictors of pharmacotherapy efficacy adjusted for patient age

Project manager: Michal Korostynski, Ph.

Funding amount: PLN 2,625,631.30

The goal of the project is to develop advanced computational tools for individualized prediction of patient response to drug treatment. A key component of the research is the use of multi-gene association analyses and interpretable AI models to incorporate both genotype and patient clinical data into a single integrated model. The findings will be particularly relevant to patients in three key areas of medicine: cardiology, psychiatry and neurology, where individualization of therapy can significantly improve its effectiveness and safety. The project takes into account changes in drug response with age, making it a uniquely precise tool for forward-looking personalized medicine.

Both projects are in line with the priorities of modern biomedicine, combining novel research methods with real-world clinical applications.

We sincerely congratulate you!