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Vilnius University (VU) and its partner UAB Eikos statyba have signed a contract for the construction of the building of the Science Center of the VU Faculty of Medicine, which begins a new stage in the implementation of a unique project. The research center in the Santara Valley in the Santariškės district, where the Santara clinics of the VU Hospital already operate, will contribute to the development of the infrastructure of other companies operating in the fields of medicine and pharmacy. The results of the research carried out at the Center can be quickly applied in clinical practice by introducing new ones and improving existing diagnostic methods, contributing to the improvement of the quality and availability of health services.
An international project that will improve the medical situation in Lithuania
VU Rector prof. Rimvydas Petrauskas is convinced that this project not only opens up new opportunities, but is also important in the face of the current coronavirus pandemic, when specialized scientific and medical centers are of great importance: “This scientific center is a very important infrastructure project. important that paves the way for a breakthrough in the health sciences and offers entirely new opportunities for interdisciplinary cooperation. Construction begins during a pandemic crisis, when the need for new knowledge and modern technology is more evident than ever. “
According to the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the VU prof. Algirdas Utkus, the new scientific center will be used not only for fundamental and clinical research in medical science; many researchers will also feel the change, which will significantly improve infrastructure working conditions and will work with the latest equipment approved by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports.
“Finally, we will have a scientific center that will purposely investigate problems related to human health, which is important both nationally and internationally. The changes will significantly strengthen the scientific base of the Faculty of Medicine, we look forward to the growth of high-quality scientific products and the attraction of foreign talent, which will certainly benefit not only VU, but also the whole of Lithuania. In addition, students of various levels will have the opportunity to carry out their research work at the Science Center, where academic activities will be carried out ”, said prof. A. Utkus.
The research infrastructure created will allow scientific activities to be carried out at a new qualitative level and create innovations in relevant fields of science and medical specializations. It will be possible to carry out studies focused on the identification of the causes of diseases, the investigation of inheritance, innovative methods of treatment and prevention and their application in clinical practice.
“Currently, the world pays a lot of attention to the field of genetics and genomics, so of course this is taken into account in the construction project. When the idea of such a center came about 20 years ago, we did not even have thoughts about the pharmacy curriculum and pharmaceutical research, and today we have a strong desire to develop research in this area, not just in medicine. Then, during the waiting period, the wishes and intentions changed a bit, but the essence remained the same: the new science center is very necessary and welcome, ”says the Dean of the VU School of Medicine.
The center will create favorable conditions for conducting interdisciplinary research and combining it with clinical research. The modernization and concentration of the instrumental base and the intellectual scientific potential of biomedicine for high-level basic and applied research will increase the efficiency of research activities: it will increase the volume of interdisciplinary research, publications and citations, it will reduce the duplication of topics scientists, active knowledge, and technology transfer and commercialization activities.
New opportunities for researchers and students
17 thousand kv. The scientific center will be a complex of specialized scientific laboratories from the Center for Research in Genetics, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Laboratory Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Dermatovenerology, Breast Diseases, Immunology and Allergology, Dentistry, Neurology and Neurosurgery, other clinics. technological requirements. According to Daumantas Gudelis, Head of the Project Management Division of the VU Development Department, the centre’s facilities will meet the highest requirements and modern solutions.
“The complex of center facilities will meet ISO 6-8 cleanliness class and BSL2-BSL3 biosafety level. There will be a heart surgery, cardiology, and angiology center with operating rooms, state-of-the-art small animal imaging equipment, animal housing and a pharmacy with an extemporaneous drug production laboratory. In the Science Center, conference rooms, auditoriums, councils, meeting and seminar rooms, rooms for scientists and doctoral students, will be established, a medical center simulation rooms and practical training rooms for the innovative study process ”, says D. Gudelis.
The spaces provided in the new science center building will provide more opportunities for researchers, students, residents, and PhD students, improve infrastructure solutions, and make it much more convenient to conduct research, as all the necessary facilities will be in one place: in the Santara Valley. The outstanding project values are also seen by the representative of the UAB project partner Eikos statyba.
“After the construction of the Infectious Diseases Unit in 2019. At the end of the year, this Science Center of the Faculty of Medicine gives us the opportunity to accumulate even more experience in the construction of buildings related to medicine: we become true experts and, at the same time, we are committed to quality and timely work on one of the largest projects in the history of the company. Eikos statyba ”General Manager Almantas Čebanauskas.
The total value of the Science Center project is currently about $ 37.1 million. of which 23.1 million euros. EUR from the European Regional Development Fund. At the end of 2006, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports approved the allocation of 10 million. Financing in euros for the purchase of scientific material. The project is expected to be implemented in 2023. end.
