The results of the third Virtual Research Institute (WIB) call are now known. The aim of the call is to fund research in the field of medical biotechnology. Out of five submitted projects, an international panel of experts rated two projects the highest. They will receive funding totaling nearly PLN 119 million for research on oncology therapies.
As part of the third WIB call, announced in 2023, researchers from an additional seven scientific centers from across Poland are joining the group of scientists whose work and research activities are funded by the Polish Science Fund. The awarded funds will ensure stable financing of the projects for the next five years.
The first WIB call was announced in 2020. At that time, one winner was selected—the project “Horizon of Excellence in the Applications of Matrix RNA in Immuno-Oncology [HERO]”, whose authors received nearly PLN 70 million to conduct research on new cancer therapies. Since 2022, the HERO project has been successfully implemented by four major scientific institutions in Warsaw (more information: https://port.lukasiewicz.gov.pl/wib/pierwszy-konkurs-wib/).
– The growing number of institutions and scientists funded under the WIB program proves that the importance of the Program is increasing, and that information about a new potential source of funding for innovative research ideas is reaching an ever-expanding group of scientists from many cities and diverse research institutions – says Paweł Kurant, Deputy Director of Łukasiewicz – PORT.
Introduction to the Development of Cellular Interceptive Medicine
The first project distinguished in the current call is entitled: “Targeted Single-Cell Analysis Technology for Cancer Diagnostics – an Introduction to the Development of Cellular Interceptive Medicine.” The project was submitted by and will be carried out by a research team from the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Poznań, led by Prof. Dr. hab. Marek Figlerowicz.
The main goal of the project is to revolutionize cancer diagnostics through the development of a nucleic-acid-based, microfluidics-independent technology enabling single-cell analysis, which will then be used to create targeted diagnostic tests. The tests are intended for use in diagnosing acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The core idea of the project is to introduce highly advanced single-cell analysis technologies into clinical practice by reducing their technical complexity and cost while improving overall clinical usability. The project received a grant of PLN 40,216,289.50.
Toward Modern Vascular Oncology
The second project, entitled “Personalized Vascular Endothelium Diagnostics in Oncology Therapy: Toward Modern Vascular Oncology,” was submitted by a consortium of research teams representing: Jagiellonian University, the Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Wrocław, the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, Medical University of Gdańsk, the Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology – State Research Institute in Gliwice, and Warsaw University of Technology.
The research team is led by Prof. Dr. hab. Stefan Chłopicki from Jagiellonian University. The goal of the team’s scientific work is to develop a new electrochemical aptasensor technology using aptamers and original methodological solutions based on polymer nanobrushes, along with a dedicated POCT device with microfluidic flow systems. This entirely new technology will serve as a tool supporting early diagnosis of cardiovascular complications accompanying oncology therapies. The total funding allocated to this project amounts to PLN 78,578,024.95.
What Is the WIB Program?
The Virtual Research Institute is an innovative program supporting research with high commercialization potential in one of the key areas for society—medical biotechnology. The Institute was established under the Act of 04/04/2019 on supporting scientific activity from the Polish Science Fund. For this purpose, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education allocated a record amount of PLN 450 million.
The program is addressed to the most outstanding and talented Polish scientists conducting research at the highest global level—representatives of universities as well as scientific and research institutes. The goal of the research teams selected through the calls is to develop a new technology or group of technologies, in accordance with appropriate procedures and standards necessary for commercialization and implementation, within a maximum of five years from the start of the work.
The Managing Entity of the WIB program, responsible for organizing and conducting the calls, is Łukasiewicz – PORT Polish Center for Technology Development in Wrocław.
learn more: https://wib.port.org.pl/
