FPS awards UW student for innovative therapy project

Foundation for Polish Science has published the results of the 10th edition of VENTURES programme, which supports innovative projects carried out by young researchers. One of the seven laureates was Mateusz Kruszyński from the Faculty of Psychology of UW.

In the last edition of the programme 81 applications were received. 27 young researchers qualified for the second stage; they were invited to panel talks with reviewers, who selected the winners of the competition. Seven gifted doctoral students, graduates or MA students from all the country jointly received a total sum amounting to PLN862,000 for conducting research whose outcome will be implemented in the economy.

One of the laureates is Mateusz Kruszyński from the Faculty of Psychology of UW, who received the funding amounting to PLN92,000, which will enable him the execution of the project “DynamicCognition – an innovative training of cognitive functions with the application of visual biofeedback and interface controlled by body balance – proof of concept type of research”. The objective of the project is to study the effectiveness of combining cognitive exercises with exercises on body balance in the form of attractive computer games and tasks.

– Ultimately DynamicObjective project is expected to result in developing new products supporting the therapy of cognitive and motor disorders, resulting from diseases or ageing. Deterioration of cognitive functions: concentration, memory, the pace of processing information, as well as motor and sensor functions, lead to losing by a patient or an elderly person the ability to live an independent and full life on their own. This poses an important problem and a significant challenge for innovators in technology. My project combines verified methods of motor and cognitive rehabilitation with motivating form of games and inexpensive popular technologies, thus offering a patient the possibility to interact with a task in a completely new way – the young researcher explains.

In the last edition of the VENTURES programme the funding of innovative projects was also granted to: Anna Jusza and Tomasz Filipek from the Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology of Warsaw University of Technology, Monika Gołda from the Faculty of Chemistry of the Jagiellonian University, Tomasz Kamiński from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, Anna Maria Wieczorek from the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw and Mariusz Zdanowski from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of Warsaw University of Technology.

The objective of the VENTURES programme, which is addressed to young researchers, is to encourage them to continue their research, as well as to increase the attractiveness of scientific research in Poland. It is expected that the candidates represent all the disciplines; at the same time the main criterion is the implementation of the project in the economy.

In the ten editions held so far the funding amounting to PLN10.6 million has been granted to 81 young researchers. Almost every year among beneficiaries we can find a name of a scientist representing our University. In the last two editions alone the funding has been granted to: Krzysztof Dudziński, Ewa Jaworska and Dawid Łyżwa from the Faculty of Chemistry and Magdalena Kaliszewska from the Faculty of Biology.

It has been the third edition of the competition organized by On February 15th the application procedure for the last edition of VENTURES programme will be open. The competition documents and detailed information can be found on the Foundation website.