Division of Public Health & Social Medicine
Department of Social Medicine
CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
Ongoing projects:
- Evaluating, Identifying and Reducing determinants MHC in Youth (EARLY) implemented with funding from the European Commission under the Horizon Europe programme (project budget: PLN 13,264,970.40). In this project, DPHSM collaborates with the University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer (Germany, coordinator) and partners from 17 countries (College University LOGOS (Albania), Tirana Medical University (Albania), ASPHER (Belgium), Global Alliance of Mental Illness Advocacy Networks-Europe (Belgium), Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium), Technische Universität München (Germany), University of Bremen (Germany), Tel Aviv University (Israel), University of Cagliari (Italy), Societatea Psihiatrilor, Narcologilor, Psihoterapeutilor si Psihologilor Clinicieni din Republica Moldova (Moldova), European Public Health Association (EUPHA, Netherlands), Universidade do Porto (Portugal), University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova (Romania), University of Novi Sad (Serbia), World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians (WONCA, Slovenia/Belgium), Barcelona Institute for Global Health (Spain), Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (Switzerland).)
Leader: Dr. Agnieszka Wojtecka, Dr. habil. Łukasz Balwicki
More information: https://www.early-project.eu/
- CAREWAY – Cancer Awareness, Resources, and Education PathWAY implemented from 01.09.2025 to 31.08.2027 in cooperation with the Medical University of Gdańsk (MUG) and DPHSM as part of the Erasmus+ programme.
More information: https://carewayproject.eu/
- Analysis of the prevalence and factors associated with the use of selected addictive substances in the Polish population – NIKO conducted by researchers from the Medical University of Gdańsk (Department of Public Health and Social Medicine), Poznan University of Medical Sciences and the Medical University of Łódź. The qualitative part of the study was completed in 2024. The project subsequently envisaged a quantitative component; however, its implementation has been temporarily suspended.
Leader: Dr. habil. Łukasz Balwicki
More information and report: https://abm.gov.pl/pl/aktualnosci/3370,Analiza-rozpowszechniania-i-czynnikow-zwiazanych-z-uzywaniem-wybranych-substancj.html
- Biomarkers of psychoactive substance use among users of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products – a pilot epidemiological study implemented with funding awarded under the ABM Grants for Grants competition of the Medical University of Gdańsk (Research University Excellence Initiative).
Leader: Dr. habil. Łukasz Balwicki
More information: https://nikotyna.gumed.edu.pl/
- Analysis of organisational barriers to the treatment of the acute phase of stroke in the Pomeranian Voivodeship: a mixed-methods approach – conducted as part of the PRELUDIUM 24 grant (project budget: PLN 207,278). The aim of the project is to diagnose the functioning of the regional stroke care system and develop practical recommendations for decision-makers to support the optimisation of hospital procedures, ambulance routes and access to specialist services.
Leader: Dr. Krzysztof Klimiuk
- The impact of genetic, lipid and environmental factors on the development of obesity in children implemented as part of the Young Creator of Science III grant at the Medical University of Gdańsk. The aim of the project is to analyse the relationships between genetic polymorphisms, fatty acid profiles and exposure to xenobiotics in the context of the development of obesity in children. The awarded funding amounts to PLN 50,000.
Leader: Dr. Paulina Metelska
Student initiatives:
- Gdańskie Dni Zdrowia (Gdańsk Health Days) is an international scientific conference held annually since 2021. The Student Scientific Circle for Interdisciplinary Healthcare Management (IZOZ) at the Medical University of Gdańsk supports its organisation.
Leader: Dr. habil. Marlena Robakowska, Assoc. Prof.
More information: https://gdanskiednizdrowia.gumed.edu.pl/
- European Public Health Week 2025 – the Student Scientific Circle of Public Health at the Medical University of Gdańsk actively participated in the celebrations by organising six local educational and health-promotion events. The initiative was carried out with the support of the Medical University of Gdańsk and in cooperation with IFMSA-Poland Gdańsk Branch and local sponsors. The events were coordinated by the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Society together with its academic supervisor. The next edition of the events is planned for 2026.
More information: https://old.gumed.edu.pl/85468.html
Finished projects:
- Promoting the Wellbeing Concept at Medical and Public Sector of the Visegrad Region implemented in cooperation with Charles University (Czech Republic), Comenius University Bratislava (Slovakia) and the University of Pécs (Hungary) as part of a V4 grant funded by the International Visegrad Fund (project budget: PLN 144,210.75).
Leader: Dr. Agnieszka Wojtecka
- Public Health Education and Pandemic Challenges (National Agency of Academic Exchange, Strategic Partnerships)
Leader: Dr. habil. Łukasz Balwicki, Assoc. Prof.
- Everyday Life in the Face of War – as a Current Public Health Hazard (TIPH) implemented as part of the This is Public Health grant funded by the Public Health Global Grant Program (project budget: PLN 20,500.50), in partnership with the Institute of Public Health at Jagiellonian University, National University “Ostroh Academy” (Ukraine) and Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University (Ukraine).
- Determinants of acceptance of new medical technologies on the example of health monitoring applications (National Science Centre MINIATURA 6)
Leader: Dr. Olga Kalinowska-Beszczyńska
- Examination of own resources and needs as well as the perception of healthcare organization among managers of Polish hospital emergency departments (National Science Centre MINIATURA 6)
Leader: Dr. Marlena Robakowska
- Increasing the effectiveness of interventions in the behavioral treatment of obesity in the population of children and adolescents (National Science Centre MINIATURA 6)
Leader: Dr. Paulina Metelska
- Project funded by the Norwegian Funds; performed in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, the Norvegian Cancer Society and the University of Illinois, dealing with the direct relationship between the amount of taxes and the reduction of tobacco consumption among children and adolescents.