Projects

Each research project addresses specific scientific questions using innovative methods & collaboration.

Project title

Principal investigator

Jakub Mieczkowski

Host institution
Medical University of Gdańsk
Funding institution
Foundation for Polish Science - First Team
Budget
PLN 3 992 092
Project duration
1 September 2025 - 31 August 2028

Funding

The project is carried out within the First Team programme of the Foundation for Polish Science, co-financed by the European Union under the European Funds for Smart Economy 2021–2027 (FENG).

Main research objectives

  1. Detect tumour-derived circulating DNA without prior knowledge of tumour-specific mutations.
  2. Identify fragment-based and epigenetic features that support cell-of-origin assignment.
  3. Build and evaluate machine-learning models for sensitive and specific tumour-signal detection.

Project description

This project focuses on developing a new, minimally invasive approach for detecting brain tumors based on the analysis of circulating DNA present in blood and urine.

Instead of relying solely on known genetic mutations, the approach analyzes general properties of DNA fragments, enabling detection even when the molecular profile of the tumor is unknown. This increases the potential applicability of the method across different tumor types and patient groups.

In addition to diagnostic applications, the method may also be useful for monitoring disease progression and response to treatment. Because it is based on blood or urine samples, it could allow for repeated testing over time, offering a more patient-friendly alternative to current approaches.

The project is carried out at the Medical University of Gdańsk and aims to bridge research and clinical practice by developing tools that could, in the future, support more accessible and earlier detection of cancer.