The Medical University of Lublin, together with the Lublin University of Technology and the University of Life Sciences, is delivering a project called the Lublin Digital Union (LUC).
LUC is a project in which the three universities combine their resources: scientists, equipment and research concepts, in order to develop a theoretical model for conducting research using modern technologies and digital solutions, including artificial intelligence (AI).
Scientists have taken a close look at ophthalmic diseases and, with the participation of patients, will jointly diagnose vision problems among various patient groups, but also “train” artificial intelligence, which will then be used to detect eye diseases in a wider population.
Nowadays, researchers are also required to leave their clinics or laboratories and go out into the community to disseminate their knowledge in an accessible form.
That is why, soon, teams from three Lublin universities will be available to meet at the Summer with Radio Picnics.
Experts from the Medical University, the University of Life Sciences and the Lublin University of Technology will share their knowledge on vision hygiene and eye diseases in an interactive form, but above all, they will engage in interesting games and activities promoting knowledge about vision and other senses. There will be competitions, quizzes and other attractions, and the organisers have prepared interesting prizes for participants.
We asked Danuta Zarzycka, PhD., Professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences, who is coordinating this task on behalf of the Medical University of Lublin, about what will be happening at the Lublin Digital Union stand.
Monika Jarczyk (UMLUB):Professor, what can visitors expect at the LUC stand of the Medical University of Lublin during the Summer with Radio Picnics?
Prof. Danuta Zarzycka:
We offer participants of the Summer with Radio Picnics an interesting meeting in an unconventional form, full of kindness and openness on our part, and above all, the opportunity to learn a wealth of practical, health-promoting knowledge using modern teaching equipment. We have planned tasks to be completed that are both fun and educational! We have prepared prizes for those who want to meet us and learn something new about health.
MJ – You will be promoting information about cooperation within the Lublin Digital Union, whose main area of research is vision. Is knowledge about eye health widespread?
Prof. Danuta Zarzycka:
Basic knowledge about eye hygiene is available, but knowing it is usually not enough to put this knowledge into practice.
Contemporary living conditions, regardless of age, force people to spend 8 to 12 hours a day in front of a smartphone, computer or television screen.
Meanwhile, studies show that every third person rates their eyesight as poor or very poor. At the same time, it is worth remembering that 80% of the information that shapes our thoughts, ideas and beliefs reaches our minds through our eyesight. That is why it is important to take good care of our eyes and good vision so that we can continue to enjoy the wealth of experiences that the world has to offer.
MJ: As experienced medical professionals and educators, what activities do you want to surprise picnic participants with?
Prof. Danuta Zarzycka:
For years, I have been developing scenarios and organising interactive educational projects with my team. Health education is combined with fun in the form of family activities. Children of all ages take part, as we try to adapt the level and subject matter of the classes to their age, and parents are often involved in the tasks.
I think that this proposal within the LUC project will also be of interest. Bearing in mind the specific nature of the audience for this type of knowledge dissemination, we propose three thematic modules at the Summer with Radio Picnics:
The first module is devoted to vision hygiene, which will be verified and enriched during play using pavement puzzles. Participants will answer rhyming riddles about vision hygiene and learn new information, adapted to the individual stages of the game. At the finish line, each participant will be awarded a medal – LUC Knowledge Master.
Participation in the second module, entitled “You have two of them”, will give each participant the opportunity to assess their visual acuity and, using special glasses, experience sensations simulating the consumption of alcohol, drugs or simple fatigue. Participants will have special fitness tasks to complete. In this way, we want to give them the opportunity to personally experience how different substances and situations affect their vision. It may turn out that a simple task is impossible to perform… and such an experience will remain in the participant’s memory for a long time!
Module III: “Super Helper-LUC” is a task that uses modern software and transports the participant into virtual reality. This time, we will use the ability to create images and beliefs with the help of the modern 4Help VR training application, which makes learning first aid more realistic and engaging. The VR first aid application is adapted to the guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and the American Heart Association (AHA). We are confident that our proposals will find many people willing to play and learn. See you at the Summer with Radio Picnics!
Join us for picnics:
Zakopane 🏔
5 July
Elbląg ⚓
12 July
Chorzów – Silesian Stadium ⛏
19 July
Giżycko ⛵
26 July
Poddębice 💧
2 August
Lublin
9 August
Mrozy/Jeruzal 🎬
16 August
Tarnów 🏰
23 August
Grudziądz 🌉
30 August
“Lublin Digital Union – The use of digital solutions and artificial intelligence in medicine – a research project”
When?
The LUC project, in cooperation with three Lublin universities: Lublin Medical University, Lublin University of Technology and University of Life Sciences is being delivered until 30 June 2026.
Where? Location
Poland, with particular emphasis on the Lublin Province and the city of Lublin; project participants will come from all over Poland.
What are we doing? Project objective
The objective of the project “Lublin Digital Union – The use of digital solutions and artificial intelligence in medicine – a research project” is to develop a theoretical model for conducting scientific research using modern technologies, digital solutions and artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine, using the example of ophthalmology, by utilising the potential of three Lublin universities that are members of the Lublin Digital Union. The project includes testing and implementing this model.
How? Implementation methods
The project consists of four paths of research activities:
Creation of a system for monitoring the progression of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) depending on the mutation causing the disease, using neural networks (both the structure of the retina and the function of the eye) in 200 patients with different types of RP inheritance in the Polish population.
Ophthalmological screening of 5,000 schoolchildren in grades 1–8 from the Lublin Province, based on solutions developed during the pilot program (screening and educational activities).
Development of a universal telemedicine system and digital tools for screening 500 students, using the student population of the Lublin University of Technology as an example.
Screening of 1,000 high school students and young adults for corneal diseases.
The activities are a joint venture carried out by three universities that are members of the Lublin Digital Union: the Medical University of Lublin (leader), the Lublin University of Technology and the University of Life Sciences in Lublin.
Each university is responsible for implementing its own substantive scope of activities and sub-activities in line with its profile.
Why? LUC is a response to the need to develop and implement innovative digital solutions, telemedicine and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical sciences, and is a comprehensive solution for examining different groups of patients.
The project involves an innovative, novel approach to research through the use of neural networks to assess the progression of a chronic, progressive and incurable rare eye disease, namely retinitis pigmentosa – ACTIVITY I.
It is a continuation of a pilot screening programme carried out by the Medical University of Lublin in 2021 – 2022, during which pupils in grades 1 – 3 of primary schools in the Lublin Province were examined – ACTIVITY II
The project will develop a universal telemedicine system and digital tools for screening, using the population of students at the Lublin University of Technology as an example- ACTIVITY III
Screening tests will be carried out among high school students and young adults to detect possible corneal diseases and determine the cause of keratoconus – ACTIVITY IV.
The beginnings
The basis for joint activities between the Medical University of Lublin, the Lublin University of Technology and the University of Life Sciences in Lublin is the Lublin Digital Union, signed on 18 October 2021 in Lublin, which was joined by all public universities in Lublin and the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin.
The aim of the LUC, established by a declaration of the rectors of the above-mentioned universities, is to cooperate in the field of digital technologies, which will make it possible to give a new dimension to cooperation, including the development of digital skills, the creation of digital infrastructures and the digital transformation of the region, as well as in the development of innovative solutions in the areas of key importance to each of the LUC members, using their scientific, teaching and development potential.
The common denominator of these activities is the digital transformation of their scientific and educational activities, combined with the digitisation of data, information and research documentation resources, as well as the development of common digital infrastructures (both hardware and software and services). This project is in line with the objectives and activities of the LUC through the development of telediagnostics, the use of AI algorithms and the digitisation of research processes.
The leading motive for the creation of LUC is to generate a strong synergy effect in the spectrum of programme activities undertaken jointly by partner universities.
Innovation of LUC
Digital transformation, covering all areas of the economy, the public sphere and individual life, poses new challenges for scientific and academic institutions. For Lublin’s universities, through activities within the Digital Union, it will be possible to achieve a level that ensures their competitiveness not only at the national level,
but also internationally in a number of fields.
The socio-economic specificity of the Lublin region and its special location in the border area of the European Union influence the priority objectives of the Lublin Digital Union:
initiating joint programmes ensuring the achievement of significant synergies in the full scope of educational, research and organisational activities of partners and the Lublin academic community;
creating research, educational and logistical infrastructures, with extensive use of digital technologies, increasing the competitiveness of the Lublin academic community and the effectiveness of its activities on a national and international scale;
playing a leading role in digital transformation and the implementation of the region’s sustainable development programme, made possible by the transdisciplinary combination and enrichment at the EU level of the complementary competences of its partners;
undertaking joint social/economic/cultural initiatives, involving external partners: research, cultural, social and political institutions.
The project combines scientific disciplines:
medical sciences,
health sciences,
technical and telecommunications informatics,
computer science,
biomedical engineering,
social sciences,
management and quality sciences.
All activities are in line with the three missions of the university: education, scientific and research activities, and cooperation with the socio-economic environment.
We have a plan…
Through joint initiatives in the field of creating digital research infrastructures, both in terms of hardware and applications, we want to increase the efficiency of the entire academic community in Lublin.
Thanks to the launch of joint infrastructures, we will be able to implement the activities that would otherwise not be possible due to critical shortages of competent staff at individual universities as well as increasingly high individual operating costs.
LUC partner universities represent a wide range of high competences in areas that are important both in scientific and educational terms, as well as being key to the comprehensive regional development of the Lublin Province, the eastern part of Poland, and important on a national scale.
Due to the differences in the profiles of individual universities, the distribution of competences is characterised by a high degree of complementarity.
Project manager: Prof. Robert Rejdak, MD, PhD, Dr h. c. mult.
Head of the Department and Clinic of General and Paediatric Ophthalmology, USK No. 1
www.lubelskauniacyfrowa.eu
Project office: Medical University of Lublin
Al. Racławickie 1, 3rd floor, room 321
20 – 059 Lublin
tel. + 48 (81) 448 53 05
