MUG and Space Medicine: FarU at Infoshare 2025

30.05.2025

This year’s edition of the Infoshare conference – the largest tech event in Central and Eastern Europe – gained an extra dimension thanks to the presence of the Fahrenheit Union of Universities in Gdańsk (FarU). As part of the accompanying EU Space Days, researchers and students from the Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk University of Technology and the University of Gdańsk showcased projects at the intersection of medicine, biotechnology, engineering and space exploration.

A team from the International Research Agency at the Medical University of Gdańsk (MUG) presented projects focused on the effects of cosmic and UV radiation on the human epigenome. As Adrian Perdyan, M.D., explained, their work goes beyond analysing gene expression changes — researchers from our university are also investigating the spatial structure of DNA (3D epigenomics). The ultimate goal is to develop epigenetic preventive strategies for astronauts to mitigate the health risks associated with long-duration space missions.

Meanwhile, Ayse Yigit, M.Sc. presented findings from a three-year project analysing how radiation affects hematopoietic stem cells — vital to human health and particularly sensitive to environmental changes.

Alongside MUG, other Fahrenheit Universities also showcased their innovations:

• students from Gdańsk University of Technology presented ZIGGY – an X-ray radiation detector designed for satellite navigation,
• a team from the University of Gdańsk introduced their Marine Biotechnology program and discussed the medical and supplement applications of marine-derived compounds.

Thanks to VR technology, attendees could embark on a virtual journey aboard the research vessel Oceanograf, getting a behind-the-scenes look at the work of scientists studying the Baltic Sea.

– Events like this clearly show that inter-university collaboration truly works – said Assoc. Prof. Jakub Mieczkowski, Ph.D., D.Sc., who represented our university together with his team. – We had the opportunity not only to present concrete research outcomes but also to highlight the impressive scientific potential of our students and young researchers.

Over the course of two days, the FarU booth attracted dozens of visitors interested in space, marine science and biotechnology. The presence at Infoshare proved that science from Gdańsk is boldly looking toward the future – both into the depths of the ocean and the vastness of space.

MUG was represented by a quartet from the International Research Agency: Jakub Mieczkowski, Agnieszka Misztak, Adrian Perdyan and Ayse Yigit.