International PhD studies for biostatisticians in Białystok

Rector of the Medical University of Bialystok Prof. Jacek Nikliński told PAP that these unique and very prestigious studies will fill the "niche" of biostatisticians in the country. In his opinion, in Poland there are few experts in this field. He added that the new course will teach students not only to properly analyse the data obtained from the study, but also, due to the fact that they will be involved in the process of scientific and medical research from the beginning, they will be able to become familiar with the entire process.

Studies will be carried out in the framework of the National Leading Research Centre (Krajowy Naukowy Ośrodek Wiodący, KNOW). Medical University of Bialystok partners in this project are institutions in Belgium and Spain. The four-year course will be taught by lecturers from renowned institutions around the world.

Doctoral students will be divided into two groups: methodological and biomedical specialisations. Nikliński explained that the first group will focus on biostatistics and bioinformatics. The course will be taught in in Poland and the project partner institution in Belgium. Biomedical group will focus on molecular biology, genomics and immunology, and classes will be held at the Medical University of Bialystok.

Nikliński said that from the very beginning graduate students will be involved in the research projects. Interdisciplinary nature of the studies - he added - will allow for contact and cooperation between students from both groups. "It gives unique possibilities: biostatistical group will have the opportunity to learn all the mechanisms associated with the results received by the biomedical group, and biomedical group will largely assist with statistical evaluation of the results" - said the rector.

Students will conduct research on modern lifestyle diseases like obesity, cancer and Alzheimer\'s disease. Nikliński said it these would be large scale studies, which will generate tons of medical data, and the task of doctoral students will be to interpret the information and draw conclusions.

The university offers 20 places at interdisciplinary studies, and has about 30 candidates from Poland, Belarus, Lithuania and Finland. Nikliński said that the expectations of the future doctoral students are very high, so recruitment is in several stages and only the best will be accepted. This means that the university will not necessarily accept 20 students.

Biostatistics centre is formed at the Medical University of Bialystok. As the university authorities told PAP earlier, the centre will allow to analyse research results at the university, instead of sending them abroad. The centre should become operational at the end of next year, and it will cooperate with foreign entities. It is part of the university project funded by the EU. Its cost is PLN 13.5 million.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

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