New Grants, New Frontiers: Three Projects Shaping the Future of Biomaterials Group
We are delighted to share some exciting news from the Biomaterials Group at the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology! The start of 2025 brings three new funded research projects to our lab — spanning retinal disease therapy, bone biominerals, and skeletal muscle tissue engineering. Here is a closer look at each of them.
1. RETIN-A-EYE – Personalized Therapy for Retinal Diseases
We are proud to announce the launch of the international project RETIN-A-EYE — “Machine Learning Platform for Personalized Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Therapy Using Drug-Loaded Polymeric Nanoparticles”, funded under the M-ERA.NET 3 Call 2025 by the National Science Centre, Poland (NCN), and led by dr inż. Marcin Heljak.
Why it matters
Retinal diseases — including age-related macular degeneration, cystoid macular edema, and diabetic retinopathy — are among the leading causes of severe vision loss worldwide. Current anti-VEGF intravitreal injection therapies, while effective, are burdensome for patients and carry a risk of complications. RETIN-A-EYE aims to change that.
What we are doing
The project focuses on developing biodegradable polymeric micro/nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems with improved controlled release profiles. A key innovation is the use of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (APP) modification of polymeric microparticles, enabling better control over drug release and addressing limitations such as initial burst release and unpredictable material degradation. Artificial Intelligence tools will further tailor therapy parameters to individual patient needs.
International consortium
- Ege University (Turkey)
- Ming Chi University of Technology (Taiwan)
- Middle East Technical University – MEMS Center (Turkey)
- Medical University of Warsaw (Poland)
- Warsaw University of Technology – Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering (coordinator)
The goal: personalized, safer, and more effective ophthalmic therapy — fewer injections, better outcomes, and reduced healthcare costs.
2. WUM/PW INTEGRA-2 – Osteomycous Synthesis of Citrate Bone Biomineral
We are also thrilled to announce that Dr. Jakub Jaroszewicz from our group has been awarded funding in the second edition of the WUM/PW INTEGRA-2 competition, jointly organized by the Warsaw University of Technology (IDUB) and the Medical University of Warsaw.
His project, “Osteomycous Synthesis of Citrate Bone Biomineral: Characterization and Assessment of Resorption”, was selected among 20 funded projects in this highly competitive interdisciplinary program, which spans medicine, biomedical engineering, biotechnology, innovative medical technologies, and medical diagnostics.
Congratulations to Dr. Jaroszewicz on this well-deserved achievement! We look forward to seeing how this project advances research at the interface of biomaterials and biomedical engineering.
3. MYO-DEMO – Advances in Skeletal Muscle Tissue Engineering
Last but certainly not least, our group — led by Prof. Wojciech Święszkowski — has been awarded funding in the NCN OPUS 28 call for the project MYO-DEMO: “Advances in Skeletal Muscle Tissue Engineering: Biologically Active Bioinks to Model Drug-Induced Disease and Create Artificial Bioconstructs on Demand”.
This project is a joint collaboration with the Digital Manufacturing of Biomimetic Systems Lab, led by Marco Costantini at the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences. It will advance our ongoing efforts in biofabrication and tissue engineering for skeletal muscle, pushing the boundaries of regenerative medicine and biomaterials science.
A special thank you to PhD Candidate Marina Volpi, who was directly involved in all stages of writing the application alongside Prof. Święszkowski and Marco Costantini. We also congratulate the National Science Centre (NCN) for supporting frontier research and all other recipients of this call.
Looking Ahead
These three new projects reflect the breadth and ambition of our group’s research — from nanomedicine and ocular drug delivery to bone biominerals and muscle tissue engineering. We are incredibly proud of our team and grateful to our funding bodies and international partners for making this possible.
Stay tuned for updates on all three fronts — exciting science is on the way! 🚀
— The Biomaterials Group, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology