The BioSkaner Laboratory, operated by the Molecular Imaging and Technology Development Laboratory Ltd., is a modern facility that is an integral part of the Medical University of Białystok, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. The BioSkaner laboratory itself, operating for 10 years, combines academic knowledge with advanced technology, supporting the development of science and medicine.
The history of the Medical University of Białystok
The Medical University of Białystok (UMB) is an institution with a rich academic and scientific tradition. Its roots date back to 1950, when the Medical Academy in Białystok was established. It was soon transformed into the Medical Academy and eventually obtained the status of a Medical University in 2008. The main seat of the University became the Branicki Palace, a place with a long history related to medicine. Medical traditions in Białystok go back to the 18th century, when the Palace housed the Palace School of Midwives and later the Institute of Obstetrics, one of the few such centers in the country. Founded in the early 19th century by Dr. Jakub Michelis, the Institute not only trained specialists but also conducted clinical activities. During World War I, the Palace housed a field hospital, emphasizing its significance in the history of medicine.
The official establishment of the university took place in 1950 as the tenth medical academy in Poland. Its first rector was Professor Tadeusz Kielanowski, and the academic staff included specialists from universities in Vilnius, Kraków, Lviv, Poznań, Warsaw, and Lublin. Education at the Faculty of Medicine began with 168 students, and the first theoretical departments were located in the former Teacher Training Seminary building, now known as Collegium Primum.
Despite the difficult conditions resulting from war destruction, the development of the university proceeded dynamically. Students and staff were involved in the reconstruction of buildings and the development of infrastructure. In 1951, the Medical Academy was authorized to grant the degree of Doctor of Medical Sciences, and in 1955, the first graduates completed their medical studies. In the same year, the university started publishing a scientific journal, now known as Advances in Medical Sciences.
In the following decades, the university expanded its educational and research offerings. In 1969, the Department of Dentistry was established, and in 1977, the Faculty of Pharmacy with the Department of Medical Analytics was created. A milestone was the opening of the State Clinical Hospital in 1962, which continues to play a key role in the educational and clinical activities of UMB.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the university contributed to significant advances in medicine. In 1988, the Children’s Clinical Hospital began its operation, and in 1989, the first kidney transplant in Białystok was performed.
With the beginning of the 21st century, UMB developed dynamically. In 1999, the Department of Nursing was established, which in 2003 was transformed into the Faculty of Health Sciences. In 2011, modern educational and research buildings were opened, such as the Euroregional Pharmaceutical Centre and the Educational and Research Centre of the Faculty of Health Sciences. On March 22, 2008, the university was officially granted the status of the Medical University of Białystok, confirming its importance as one of the leading academic centers in the country.
Today, the Medical University of Białystok is a modern academic institution that combines rich traditions with innovation. It conducts numerous scientific research, trains medical specialists at the highest level, and continually expands its educational offerings to meet the needs of contemporary medicine.
Scientific research and innovations at the Medical University of Białystok
The Medical University of Białystok is one of the leading scientific and research centers in the northeastern part of Poland. Since its establishment, the university has become a hub for many important scientific events, organizing numerous symposia and conferences on both national and international levels. In its over 50-year history, around 200 such events have been held. Each year, the university’s staff implements nearly 500 research and scientific projects, and their publication output continues to grow. Thanks to an effective scientific policy, the Faculty of Medicine, along with the Department of Dentistry and the Department of Teaching in English, achieved first place, while the Faculty of Pharmacy, together with the Department of Laboratory Medicine, ranked fourth in a ranking conducted by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
The university provides its staff with the most modern infrastructure and appropriate equipment, which supports the development of their research. Additionally, students can cultivate their scientific interests by engaging in the activities of student scientific circles, which operate within most of the university’s departments and clinics. Currently, there are as many as 88 scientific circles at the university, where students conduct clinical research, acquire practical skills, and participate in national and international scientific conferences.
More information about events, histories, and anniversary initiatives can be found on the official website of the university.
