11 doctoral students per year
9 researcher awards
37 publications per year
Institute for Digestive Research
In 2011, the Institute for Digestive Research was established by the decision of the LSMU Senate and has been headed by Prof. Dr. Juozas Kupčinskas. The Institute has three laboratories: the Clinical and Molecular Gastroenterology Laboratory, the Surgical Gastroenterology Laboratory, and the Bioinformatics Laboratory.
Main objectives of the Institute for Digestive Research:
- State-of-the-art fundamental, preclinical and clinical research in the digestive system and liver diseases
- Expansion and dissemination of scientific knowledge and experience in the fields of functioning of the human digestive system, treatment, prevention and control of diseases and quality of life (well-being)
- Researcher training and participation in the LSMU, Lithuanian and international research programmes
- Effective use of the research evidence in the healthcare system, educational process, and health innovation
History
In 2000, a research group of the Department of Gastroenterology was established at the Department of Gastroenterology Kaunas Medical University (KMU). The research group was subsequently reorganised into the Research Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (headed by Prof. L. Kupčinskas) by the decision of the Senate of KMU in 2008. In 2004, the Surgical Gastroenterology Laboratory (headed by Dr. A. Gulbinas) was established at the Research Institute of Biomedical Sciences at KMU (headed by Dr. A.Gulbinas). The successful fundamental and clinical research on digestive system diseases conducted by both laboratories prompted the LSMU Senate to merge them into the Institute for Digestive Research under the Faculty of Medicine of the Medical Academy at LSMU in 2011.
In 2017, the Bioinformatics Laboratory was established by the decision of the LSMU Senate. Currently, the Institute for Digestive Research has three laboratories: the Clinical and Molecular Gastroenterology Laboratory, the Surgical Gastroenterology Laboratory, and the Bioinformatics Laboratory.
Scientific achievements, awards
2022 – the Lithuanian Science Prize 2022 was awarded to Prof. Jurgita Skiecevičiene, Prof. Juozas Kupčinskas, Prof. Laimas Jonaičius, Prof. Gediminas Kiudelis
2017 – Dr. S. Juzėnas Ist place winner in the contest LSMU “PhD Student 2017”
2017 – doctoral student G. Streleckienė was awarded for the best oral presentation by Scientific Committee of the “Fit for the Future” in Gastroenterology Section (Berlin, Germany)
2016 – the Kaunas City Scientist Award awarded for achievements in the field of physical, biomedical, agricultural and technological sciences to Prof. Habil. Dr. L. Kupčinskas
2016 – Assoc. Prof. Dr. J. Kupčinskas given the name of the most promising medical doctor in Kaunas city
2017 – Dr. J. Skiecevičienė IIIrd place winner in the contest LSMU “Young Scientist 2016”
2015 – Dr. A. Jasukaitienė (Jakštaitė) was awarded for the best paper by Federation of European Physiological Society (FEPS) and the Baltic Physiological Society
2015 – Assoc. Prof. Dr. J. Kupčinskas IInd place winner in the contest LSMU “Young Scientist 2015”
2014 – Prof. A. Gulbinas was awarded for the best poster and oral presentations by the organizing committee of the 11th World Congress of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA World Congress 2014)
2014 – Dr. A. Jasukaitienė (Jakštaitė) awarded the National Scholar Award by the Scientific committee of United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week
2013 – Dr. J. Skiecevičienė Ist place winner in the contest LSMU “Young Scientist 2013”
2012 – Prof. Habil. Dr. L. Kupčinskas selected as the most prominent research in medicine in 2002-2012 by the magazine “Veidas” in the project “Mini-Nobel 2012”
2011 – Prof. Habil. Dr. L. Kupčinkas awarded the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (Class 5)
2011 – Dr. J. Skiecevičienė awarded for the best thesis in the biomedical field from the Lithuanian Society of Young Researchers
2010 – Prof. Habil. Dr. L. Kupčinskas received the Lithuanian Science Prize for the work “Digestive system diseases: the role of microflora and genetic factors in etiopathogenesis of diseases, new aspects of diagnosis and treatment”, 1996–2009
2010 – Dr. J. Skiecevičienė (Šventoraitytė) Ist place winner in the contest LSMU “PhD Student 2010”
2009 – Prof. Habil. Dr. L. Kupčinskas given the name of the honorary Lithuanian medical doctor and a symbol of honour
2008 – Prof. Habil. Dr. L. Kupčinskas received the award “The Tree of Life” from the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Ministry of Health and the Confederation of Industrialists for his research work in the field of medicine and natural sciences
Institute for Digestive Research
+370 37 326 898
Eivenių 4, Kaunas
Prof. Juozas Kupčinskas
Head of the Institute for Digestive Research