VU Medical Science Centre: The First Year – Growth and Consolidation

The Medical Science Centre. Photo from the archives of the Faculty of Medicine

The Medical Science Centre of the Faculty of Medicine at Vilnius University (VU MF MSC) is celebrating its first anniversary. In just one year, it has evolved into more than just a research space for key fields of science and has become a vibrant centre of attraction that brings together the international community of medical researchers. Designed to promote collaboration and innovation, the MSC is finding its footing as a place where ideas and new scientific research take shape.

The vision – to bring together a community of scientists

One of the key goals of the MSC is to bring together a science-based community that would exchange ideas and collaborate with specialists in both clinical disciplines and fundamental sciences to advance research together. According to Prof. Dalius Jatužis, Dean of VU MF, the centre opened its doors a year ago with great enthusiasm and a bold vision to lay the foundations for translational science and personalised and digital medicine.

“The start was really excellent, and today we are proud to see that our centre is thriving, filled with innovation, promising scientific projects, and the positivity and community spirit of the people working here. I am delighted that we are collectively shaping a new chapter in the history of the Faculty of Medicine. Each new day at the centre is living proof that our future vision for medical science and medicine is becoming a reality, and this drives us all forward,” the Dean said.

The Medical Science Centre. Photo by Ričardas Čerbulėnas

The centre has opened entirely new opportunities for developing new fields of science and interdisciplinary research. Its establishment has necessitated a review of how research activities are managed and organised. According to Assoc. Prof. Karolis Ažukaitis, Vice-Dean for Science and Innovation at VU MF, one of the most important changes has been the establishment of the Translational Health Research Institute (THRI).

“The essence of translational science is to bridge laboratory research with real-life health-related challenges, and to ensure that research findings are applied in clinical practice. Achieving this requires a steady focus on research topics aligned with these goals and the strengthening of competencies in line with current trends,” he said.

According to THRI Director, Prof. Tomas Poškus, colleagues who have relocated here from VU MF departments are now able to dedicate more time to translational medical research. “It is gratifying that scientists with international experience from renowned research institutions have returned to Lithuania and are establishing independent research groups for developing completely new fields of research. I am also very pleased that physicians at Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos are finding opportunities to work together with MSC researchers, generating new ideas and testing some scientific innovations in clinical practice,” the professor commented.

Future plans and new researchers

One of the important plans for the near future is the establishment of an advanced disease modelling centre in collaboration with Utrecht University, Utrecht University Medical Centre and the Santaros Klinikos. The centre will focus on developing non-animal-based disease models, using, for example, organoids – tissues grown from patient cells, to be able to conduct scientific research. These are important for researching disease mechanisms and driving innovation in personalised medicine.

“This is part of the International Centres of Excellence project, a strategic investment by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport to foster high-tech research and innovation in Lithuania. Following more than a year of negotiations with foreign partners and an international selection procedure, the centre was rated highly and secured a substantial investment to begin operations. The centre and its international research teams are set to start work next year, and are expected to significantly strengthen the potential of translational science both nationally and across the region,” Assoc. Prof. K. Ažukaitis explained.

There is particular delight in welcoming new researchers who have joined THRI, bringing with them exceptional expertise acquired at leading international research centres. These researchers significantly enhance the scientific research capacity of the Faculty of Medicine at Vilnius University with their unique and specialised competencies.

Over the past year, significant progress has been made in operationalising the vivarium and laboratories, including the DNA and RNA Regulation Laboratory, the Population Genomics Laboratory and others. Previously initiated research has been transferred to the Experimental Surgery and Oncology Laboratory, while new research has been launched, making full use of the opportunities and infrastructure provided by the MSC. Moreover, projects focused on mental health and neuromodulation have been launched, and international partnerships with academic and clinical institutions are being actively developed.

The application of artificial intelligence and the significance of the biobank

The THRI also houses the Digital Medicine Centre, dedicated to advancing the digital transformation of medicine in Lithuania. According to the director of the centre, Prof. Arvydas Laurinavičius, significant progress has been made this year in building the team, with medical informatics experts and data scientists joining the core digital pathology group. A cooperation agreement between Vilnius University and the State Data Agency has opened up prospects for the development of national-level health phenotype monitoring and artificial intelligence systems. These opportunities have been showcased at international conferences, and the centre has received an invitation to join consortia preparing applications for the Horizon fund.

The Digital Medicine Centre aims to implement artificial intelligence systems across various fields. According to Prof. A. Laurinavičius, this is a complex undertaking that requires not only the integration of digital data, computing power and algorithms, but also the cooperation and training of professionals from various fields.

The Biobank of Lithuanian Population and Rare Diseases. Photo from the archives of the Faculty of Medicine

The Biobank of Lithuanian Population and Rare Diseases, established by the MSC, has obtained a healthcare institution licence and carries out its activities promoting the reputation of the faculty and the university. During its first year, it organised several sample collection campaigns, inviting well-known public figures to donate blood for scientific research.

Research infrastructure

The new MSC research infrastructure enables the testing of new scientific equipment management models. The THRI has started implementing a research service group model, which ensures that all researchers have access to research equipment and receive expert support when using it. According to Dr Andrius Kaselis, this approach helps scientists carry out their research even if they are not familiar with all technologies by leveraging the existing infrastructure.

It is encouraging that other departments of the faculty have become active at the MSC – lectures and laboratory work are now being conducted intensively by the Department of Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Laboratory Medicine, and the long-awaited Department of Rehabilitation, Physical and Sports Medicine has also joined the MSC activities. Over the past year, research groups operating at the centre have published the results of numerous studies, participated in and organised international conferences, and a significant number of employees have undertaken internships and qualification training, thereby adding new competencies to their centres.

“It is symbolic that the first THRI doctoral students will begin their studies on 1 October, whereas postdoctoral interns and students who have completed scientific internships are coming to work on their final theses. The institute has also prepared the first training courses for doctoral students and other researchers,” Prof. T. Poškus explained.

Scientists from leading international institutions were invited to events and visited the MSC, delivering lectures on a variety of topics. The centre has also actively promoted science, organising seminars and events for the wider public to raise awareness of different fields of medical science in Lithuania and beyond. Nearly all research groups undertook new projects and submitted proposals to Lithuanian and international funding agencies. According to Assoc. Prof. Alina Urnikytė, head of the Population Genomics Laboratory, the achievements of this year reflect the growth, maturity and ability of the scientists working here to collaborate and compete confidently on the international stage.