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, which has been in operation 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 trace back to 1950, when the Medical Academy in Białystok was established. It was soon transformed into the Medical Academy, and eventually, in 2008, it gained the status of the Medical University. The main seat of the university became the Branicki Palace, a place with a long history linked to medicine.
Medical traditions in Białystok date back to the 18th century, when the Branicki 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, a field hospital operated in the Palace, emphasizing its significance in the history of medicine.
The official establishment of the institution 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. Studies at the Faculty of Medicine began with 168 students, and the first theoretical departments were located in the building of the former Teacher Training Seminary, now known as Collegium Primum.
Despite the challenging conditions resulting from war destruction, the university developed dynamically. Students and staff were involved in the reconstruction of buildings and infrastructure. In 1951, the Medical Academy was granted the right to award doctoral degrees in medical sciences, and in 1955, the first graduates completed their medical studies. That same year, the scientific journal, now known as Advances in Medical Sciences, was first published.
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. A milestone was the opening of the State Clinical Hospital in 1962, which still plays a key role in the educational and medical activities of UMB.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the university contributed to significant advancements in medicine. In 1988, the Children’s Clinical Hospital was established, and in 1989, the first kidney transplant was performed in Białystok.
With the beginning of the 21st century, UMB rapidly developed. In 1999, the Department of Nursing was created, which in 2003 was transformed into the Faculty of Health Sciences. In 2011, modern educational and research buildings, such as the Euroregional Pharmacy Centre and the Educational and Research Centre of the Faculty of Health Sciences, were opened. 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 a rich tradition with innovation. It conducts numerous scientific studies, trains medical specialists at the highest level, and continuously expands its educational offer, responding to the needs of modern 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 northeastern Poland. Since its establishment, the university has been the site of many significant scientific events, organizing numerous symposia and conferences with national and international reach. In its over 50-year history, approximately 200 such events have been organized. Every year, the university staff carry out nearly 500 research and scientific projects, and their publication output is steadily growing. Thanks to an effective scientific policy, the Faculty of Medicine, along with the Department of Dentistry and the Department of Education in English, secured first place, while the Faculty of Pharmacy, together with the Department of Laboratory Medicine, ranked fourth in a survey conducted by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.
The university provides its employees with state-of-the-art infrastructure and equipment, which supports the development of their research. Additionally, students can pursue their scientific interests by engaging in student research clubs, which operate in most of the university’s departments and clinics. Currently, there are as many as 88 research clubs 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 university’s official website.
