Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Minister Przemysław Czarnek participated in the inauguration of a research project focused on the utilization of digital solutions and artificial intelligence in medicine. The initiative is being carried out by three institutions within the Lublin Digital Union – Medical University, Lublin University of Technology, and University of Life Sciences.
“For the Lublin Digital Union to become European leaders in IT innovation, technology, artificial intelligence and patient support, the Ministry of Education and Science has allocated PLN 25 million.”
the Minister said.
“We aim to harness the potential of Lublin’s universities, particularly the Lublin University of Technology and the University of Life Sciences, to utilize their IT capabilities for medical purposes,” said the Minister of Education and Science during the project’s inauguration.”
said the Minister of Education and Science during the project’s inauguration.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure that our patients, both now and in the near future, receive better and faster diagnoses, leading to more effective therapies. This has been the fundamental premise of the Digital Union since its inception, which is why the Medical University plays a leading role in this project,”
he added.
Minister Przemysław Czarnek emphasized that the Ministry of Education and Science has allocated PLN 25 million to support the activities of the Lublin Digital Union. These funds will facilitate the development of the potential of Lublin’s universities and their recognition on the European stage. “It’s not just about leading in Poland when it comes to utilizing artificial intelligence or employing modern data collection techniques. It’s truly a matter of taking a leadership position on a European scale,” added the minister, extending his congratulations to the rectors involved in this valuable initiative.
“Lublin Digital Union: Utilizing Digital Solutions and Artificial Intelligence in Medicine – A Research Project” aims to develop a theoretical model for conducting scientific research using modern technologies, digital solutions, and artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of ophthalmology. The project will involve collaboration among three Lublin institutions operating within the Lublin Digital Union.
The project consists of four activities:
- Establishing a monitoring system for the progression of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a degenerative retinal condition, based on mutation types causing the disease, using neural networks to analyze both retinal structure and visual organ function in a population of 200 patients with various forms of RP inheritance in Poland.
- Conducting ophthalmic screening examinations among 5,000 school-age children in grades 1-8 from primary schools in the Lublin voivodeship, by implementing solutions developed during the pilot phase (screening examinations and educational activities).
- Developing a universal telemedicine system and digital tools for conducting screening examinations among 500 students, using the population of Lublin University of Technology as an example.
- Conducting screening examinations for corneal diseases among 1,000 high school and young adult individuals.
The project is scheduled to be implemented until June 30, 2026.
Lublin Digital Union Established in the autumn of 2021, the Lublin Digital Union aims to develop innovative solutions in various fields, including medicine, transportation, and sustainable development within the entire region.
Its members include Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, University of Life Sciences, Lublin University of Technology, Catholic University of Lublin, and the leading institution, the Medical University. In April, the University of Lviv’s Medical University declared its intention to join the union.
Within the framework of the Lublin Digital Union, the “Dobrze widzieć” project has already been implemented, focusing on the prevention of myopia and refractive errors among early-school-age students. Currently, another initiative called “Okobus” is being implemented. It is a mobile ophthalmic diagnostic center that will be used in a pilot program utilizing telemedicine to detect diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema (DME) among adult residents of the Lublin voivodeship.