A team led by Prof. Andrzej Pawłowski from our Faculty, is developing a process control system to assist anaesthesiologists in patient anaesthesia. Works on the project could start thanks to a grant of PLN 2.6 million from the National Science Centre.

In his research, the scientist will focus on developing a patient-oriented, personalised, and automated anaesthesia process control system.

– The automated system will prioritise the patient to avoid undesirable effects of drug deficiency or overdose – explains Prof. Andrzej Pawłowski from the Department of Control Systems and Mechatronics.

At the same time, the system will reduce the anaesthetist's workload while also limiting the impact of human factors related to stressful working conditions and fatigue, which are particularly significant during long operations.

– The main goal is to develop optimised and personalised control algorithms in the process of intravenous anaesthesia, using an innovative and interdisciplinary approach – says the researcher.

Fewer complications?

The personalised control system for total intravenous anaesthesia, according to Prof. Andrzej Pawłowski, is expected to enhance patient safety through a tailored regulation scheme and precise, optimal drug dosing.

– It will help address some serious issues faced by the public health sector by reducing the number of potential intraoperative and postoperative complications, thus contributing to a shorter hospitalisation time – observes Prof. Pawłowski.

The research will be conducted in collaboration with doctors from the Medical Faculty at Wrocław University of Science and Technology. – Their knowledge and understanding of medical procedures will be crucial in correctly defining both the goals and the limitations of the control algorithms – says the researcher.

Furthermore, the scientist will continue international collaboration with the University of Almeria (Spain) and the University of Brescia (Italy), where he had carried out his individual grant under the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie programme, also related to the automation of the anaesthesia process.

Millions for research

The primary aim of the Sonata Bis competition by the National Science Centre is to support the formation of new research teams conducting basic scientific research.

Its 14th edition was aimed at researchers who obtained their doctoral degree between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2019.

IA total of 417 applications were submitted to the NSC, and grants were awarded to 63 individuals, including five scientists representing Wrocław University of Science and Technology. Together with Prof. Pawłowski, they are also:

– Prof. Marcin Poręba (Faculty of Chemistry): The first antibody-drug conjugates in Alzheimer's disease therapy – funding amount of PLN 4.9 million.

– Dr. Marco Deiana (Faculty of Chemistry): Quad-TNT: Phototherapy targeted at G-quadruplex structures for the treatment of triple-negative tumours – funding amount of PLN 4 million.

– Daria Podstawczyk (Faculty of Chemistry): MORPH4D: Optimisation of the properties of stimuli-responsive hydrogels for printing, designing, and volumetric 4D manufacturing of soft actuators – funding amount of PLN 3.2 million.

– Dr. Francisco Pena-Benitez (Faculty of Fundamental Problems of Technology): Beyond standard hydrodynamics: Research on exotic fluids – funding amount of PLN 2.6 million.

Scientists from WUST received a total of over PLN 17.5 million.