The Clinical Modelling project aims to design, test, and develop a telementoring and video-modelling approach to strengthen the competencies of surgeons, nurses, and students in surgical and other technical procedures. The main objectives of the project are:

a) to equip surgeons and nurses with the tools, guidance, and competencies necessary to effectively use smart glasses to capture, edit, and analyse video footage to support learning processes in healthcare through video modelling and video self-modelling;
b) to enable teachers, trainers, and tutors to use and support learners in using smart glasses for video-based learning during classes and simulations;

c) to strengthen students’ socio-emotional competencies;
d) to design new case studies for use in Master’s programmes and specialist courses;
e) to establish foundations for the development of innovative teaching approaches. The project involves partners from four countries: Portugal (project leader), Spain, Slovenia, and Poland (Jagiellonian University Medical College – Faculty of Health Sciences).

Glycobiology is a specialized field of biochemistry that focuses on the structure and biological function of carbohydrate molecules. While “sugar” is commonly associated with glucose or sweetening coffee, most proteins in the human body are glycoproteins—proteins with attached oligosaccharide chains called glycans. Glycosylation is a complex process involving dozens of enzymes. Glycans play numerous roles, including increasing protein solubility, protecting proteins from degradation, supporting proper folding, and participating in immune responses, cell migration, and tissue formation. Alterations in glycan structure or glycosylation processes are associated with cancer, inflammatory, autoimmune, and neurological diseases, and may also serve as predictive markers of disease risk. However, glycan analysis is complex and costly, requiring advanced instrumentation. Particularly little is known about the early stages of glycosylation involving alpha-mannosidase enzymes.

Although their primary function—removal of mannose residues—is similar, it is unclear why four distinct types of alpha-mannosidases exist and whether they are functionally equivalent. This project investigates what happens when these enzymes are absent and how this affects glycan profiles and cellular functions. The study uses cells differentiating into enterocytes, which form the epithelial lining of the small intestine. Beyond nutrient absorption, the intestine serves as a critical barrier against pathogens. The research team aims to recreate intestinal structure in vitro using enterocytes, goblet cells, and macrophages, and to genetically deactivate genes encoding alpha-mannosidases. The project will assess the effects on glycan composition, intestinal barrier integrity, and cellular responses to inflammation using mass spectrometry, fluorescence and electron microscopy, and biochemical techniques. The findings may significantly advance understanding of the role of glycosylation in health and disease.

Patients who use the emergency department frequently (≥5 or more visits per year) make up a small percentage of the patient population but represent a large proportion of all emergency department visits and have conditions that are costly to treat. Previous research has found that there are many reasons for high use of the emergency department and these can be classified as being due to individual-level, health system-level, and community-level factors. Although various health care programs have been implemented to reduce the number of non-emergency hospital visits, their results are not consistent and there are gaps in what is known. This project aims to provide recommendations that are patient-centred on ways to better serve these individuals in the community in order to reduce non-emergency visits to the hospital. This will be done through a study of adults, 18 years of age and older, who have frequent use of the emergency department in the city of Krakow, Poland.

The project has four objectives: 1) to prepare a patient profile for individuals experiencing high use of the emergency department; 2) to examine changes in health care utilization patterns among this population during the COVID-19 pandemic; 3) to carry out focus groups with relevant community and professional groups to gather information on the reasons for high emergency department use; and 4) to establish evidence-based strategic recommendations for health care options that are patient-centred for individuals experiencing high emergency department use. This information is necessary to advance health care in an equitable way among this population in Europe, while at the same time reducing the pressures on overburdened systems and ensuring the proper use of services given limited health resources. This is especially critical during times of stress on the health system. The study results will be applicable to urban health systems in Europe. They will be disseminated to relevant groups, including patients, health care workers, academics, and policy makers.

Scientific evidence indicates that treatment of temporomandibular disorders should follow a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating pharmacological, dental, physiotherapeutic, and psychotherapeutic methods. Within physiotherapy, manual therapy—such as temporomandibular joint mobilization, soft tissue techniques, and post-isometric muscle relaxation—plays a key role in reducing pain, including tension-type headaches and stomatognathic pain, and in improving masticatory function. Therapeutic exercises, particularly those aimed at joint stabilization and motor pattern re-education, are also essential.

Studies show that regular movement therapy improves temporomandibular joint function and reduces pain symptoms. Occlusal splint therapy and psychotherapy are commonly used to reduce muscle tension, and their combination with physiotherapy appears to be more effective than splint therapy alone. Despite the availability of various treatments, clear guidelines defining the optimal effectiveness of individual therapies are still lacking. The aim of this study is to evaluate selected physiotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic methods in the treatment of temporomandibular, postural, and urogynecological disorders, in order to identify the most effective therapeutic strategies.