Departments

Studies

Studies and scientific research in the Department of Physics, Mathematics and Biophysics belong to fundamental science disciplines, which shape the academic attitude. The staff of the Department have adapted these disciplines to biomedical programmes and have adjusted them to the needs of all the faculties of the University. Currently, Basics of Higher Mathematics, Basics of Probability Theory and Mathematical Statistics, Computer Science are delivered together with subjects of Medical and Biological Physics. These subjects are delivered to students of all the faculties because they are relevant today. Starting with the academic year 2012-2013, the course unit of Bioinformatics has been offered to students in the study programmes of Medical and Veterinary Genetics as well as Medical and Veterinary Biochemistry. The elective course unit of Basics of Scientific Work Organisation, which deals with medical research studies, their planning and organisation according to evidence-based medicine principles and requirements, is delivered to the third year students from the Faculties of Medicine, Odontology and Pharmacy. This course deepens students’ knowledge of Mathematical Statistics and helps in final scientific works. Furthermore, in the Department, the biostatistics course Mathematical Statistics and Informatics in Biomedicine is delivered to PhD students of biomedical sciences. It deals with various regression models, generalised linear models, planning of mathematical experiment, survival analysis and other multivariate statistical analysis. Statistical evaluation of research data using IBM SPSS Statistics software is a very important issue in today’s medical science. Also, Mathematical Statistics and Computer Science are taught to listeners of medical refresher courses.

Research

The scientists of the Department participate in the University scientific programme "Functioning mechanisms of living tissues". The main scientific topics are: a) Mathematical-Physical Modeling of Transesophageal Atrial Pacing’s Method and the Properties of Biomaterial Surface; b) Study of Variation of Thin Island Films Surface Roughness; c) Development and Analysis of Informational Clinical Decision Support Method; d) Methods for Evaluation of Signals Reflecting Heart Activity Based on Biophysical Models and Multivariate Analysis; e) Eigenvalue Problem for Differential Operator with Nonlocal Integral Conditions.

The staff of the Department collaborate closely not only with Lithuanian universities (Kaunas University of Technology, Vytautas Magnus University and Vilnius University) but also with foreign universities (University of Michigan in the USA, Institute of Physiology in the University of Oslo in Norway, University of Rennes in France).

Contacts

Doc. dr. Renata Paukštaitienė
Chief of Department
Tel. (8 37) 327370
E-mail: renata.paukstaitiene@lsmuni.lt

Dalia Bagdonienė
Administrator
Tel. (8 37) 327367

E-mail: dalia.bagdoniene@lsmuni.lt

Department of Biochemistry

Mission

The department’s mission is to provide help to the students of all Health Sciences study programmes in gaining appropriate knowledge of the basics of biochemistry and skills necessary for the analysis, assessment and interpretation of laboratory data of humans and animals; to investigate molecular mechanisms of damage to tissues and organs and to perform analysis of innovative food products quality.

About the Department

The Biochemistry Department is located in the both academies of LUHS. In the Medical Academy there are 3 teaching laboratories, one of them is designed for student practical training of most common biochemistry procedures and methods within Medical and Veterinary Biochemistry study programme. The laboratory is equipped for computerised spectrophotometry, oximetry, immunohistochemical assay, etc. The other two laboratories are for medical chemistry and biochemistry studies of Odontology, Pharmacy, Medicine, Public Health, Nursing, Food Science and Animal Science programmes 1^st and 2^nd year students.

In the Veterinary Academy there are three more laboratories for teaching and one for scientific research. One of the teaching laboratories is specializing in food chemical analysis. The research laboratory is equipped with new gas-chromatography system adapted for analysis of food and biological specimen components.

Personnel

Academic staff of the Department is comprised of 29 teachers: nine professors, eight associate professors, seven lecturers and five assistant lecturers. The studies administrator, two laboratory managers and five senior laboratory technicians provide service of the studies.  

History

The Department of Biochemistry started as a Department of Physiology and Physiological Chemistry founded in 1921 by professor Vladas Lašas at the High Courses of Lithuania. Under the same name the department operated until 1944 in the Medicine faculty of Vytautas Magnus University. All those years professor Vladas Lašas was the Head of Department. In the year 1944, the Department of Physiology and Physiological Chemistry was divided into two separate units. One of them became Department of Biological and General Chemistry with professor Alfonsas Gabrėnas as the Head. Later, when Institute of Medicine was established in Kaunas in 1950, it became the Department of Chemistry. In 1953, the department was divided again forming the Department of Biological and Organic Chemistry. In 1956-1966, its Head was professor Alfonsas Gabrėnas, succeeded by academician professor Antanas Praškevičius. In 1987, the department was re-named to Department of Biological and Bioorganic Chemistry. The subject courses the department delivered were oriented toward medical biochemistry and clinical biochemistry. Since 2000, the department has been entitled Biochemistry Department, managed until 2004 by academician professor Antanas Praškevičius, and afterwards by professor Laima Ivanovienė.

Kaunas University of Medicine and Lithuanian Academy of Veterinary joined together in 2010 to become Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. The Department of Biochemistry has expanded and participates in teaching of most LUHS programmes.

Studies

The department is responsible for I cycle study programme of Medical and Veterinary Biochemistry. The most remarkable representatives of department’s academic staff are the members of Medical and Veterinary Biochemistry programme committee. The department provides study courses on medical chemistry, biochemistry and biological chemistry for Odontology, Pharmacy, Veterinary medicine, Animal Technologies (I cycle), Nursing (I cycle), Public Health (I cycle), Food Science(I cycle), Veterinary Food Safety (I cycle), and Animal Science (I cycle) study programmes. The major part of pedagogical work comes from department’s activities in integrated study programme of Medicine: the study course of Medical chemistry is provided for 1^st year students, the department contributes to teaching of almost all problem-based pre-clinical modules of 2^nd and 3^rd year, and some clinical medicine modules of the 4^th year. The academic staff of the department act as bachelor and master thesis supervisors in Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Food Science, Veterinary Food Safety, and Medical and Veterinary Biochemistry study programmes.

The department’s teachers are involved in PhD student training. They lecture and provide seminar sessions for PhD students in fields of Medicine, Biology, and Veterinary Medicine.

Research

Teachers and PhD students at the Biochemistry Department conduct scientific research in two areas: 1. Molecular mechanisms of tissue and organ damage; 2. Complex evaluation of innovative foods. The research is carried out in tight cooperation with Neuroscience institute, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery at Hospital of LUHS Kauno Klinikos, and other research centres of LUHS.

Most important projects of the Department.

Results of the researches are presented in conferences and scientific journals with citation indexes of Clarivate Analytics Web of Science. During the recent five years, 39 such articles were published.

Scientific research papers.

Research posters of PhD students were nominated at conferences and other scientific events:  Evelina Rekuvienė (supervisor prof. R.Morkūnienė) was II prize holder at 9th Lithuanian Neuroscience Conference in 2017 (LUHS, Kaunas) and I prize holder at 8th Lithuanian Neuroscience Conference in 2016 (Vilnius).

International cooperation

Connections with National Institute for Public Health and Environment (Bilthoven, the Netherlands), Geneva University (Switzerland), Cambridge University (UK), and other European universities help to improve the methods of teaching, to master in implementation of new methods in scientific research at LUHS, and assist in development of new contacts.

Public activity

Academic staff of the Department contribute to public activity developed by LUHS. We take part in educational events organized by high-schools by making presentations about study programmes of LUHS and sharing information about entry requirements. Teachers of high-schools also come to the department for educational purposes:  a group of chemistry teachers visited the department in 2017. In 2018 by initiative of Association of Biology Teachers and Association of Chemistry Teachers, the department organized two sessions on advanced methods of DNA analysis.

Contacts

Head of the department: prof. Laima Ivanovienė
Email: laima.ivanoviene@lsmuni.lt
Phone: +370 37 327323

Studies

The Department of Disaster Medicine is responsible for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in a number of programmes at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. The main tasks involve teaching disaster medicine to students of the Faculties of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Public Health as well as first aid training to students of the Faculties of Nursing and Pharmacy. Students who have completed the basic course can choose different elective courses, e.g. Emergency Medical Care in Critical Environmental Conditions, Medical Management of Mass Disasters and Terrorism, Basic Skills in Emergency Procedures, Principles of Patient Communication in Emergency Situations, etc. The Department also participates in a number of training courses for postgraduate sudents, doctors and nurses in Lithuania and abroad.

The teaching staff are certified as training instructors in various international organisations: European Resuscitation Council (ERC), American Heart Organization (AHA), Advanced Life Support Group (UK), American College of Surgeons, Critical Incidents Stress Management Foundation, etc.

The Department of Disaster Medicine is a leader in innovative training methods using interactive lectures and seminars, simulation training, video and web-based teaching. Students may use extensive library resources in disaster and emergency medicine, prepared by staff of the Tepartment: Textbook of the First Aid, Study books on Advanced Life Support, Prehospital and Advanced Trauma Life Support.

Research

The Department of Disaster Medicine is a coordinator of the Emergency medicine research programme at the LSMU. Much of the basic research carried out at the Department is aimed at the effective methods of resuscitation and resuscitation training. Extensive research is also carried out on the abdominal pain management, mechanics of spinal immobilisation and experimental modeling of factors involved in neuroprotective processes. The researchers of the Department participate in various research projects with partners from Maryland (USA), Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) and other Lithuanian universities. The experts of the Department are actively engaged in development projects of Emergency and Trauma Systems in Lithuania, Latvia, Kazachstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, etc.

Contacts

Prof. dr. Dinas Vaitkaitis
Chief of Department
Tel. (8 37) 327331

E-mail: dinas.vaitkaitis@lsmuni.lt

Laima Martusevičienė
Administrator
Tel. (8 37) 327331

E-mail: dimed@lsmuni.lt, laimute.martuseviciene@lsmuni.lt

About us

The Department of Histology and Embryology was established in 1923 in the Faculty of Medicine of Lithuanian University in Kaunas. The first head of the Department was Eber Landau, Professor of Bern University in Switzerland. Prof. E.Landau worked in the Department until 1932. In 1934, another foreign Professor Vera Danchakova was employed. Prof. V. Danchakova arrived from Columbia University (USA, New York) in 1934 and stayed until 1937. From 1939 to 1971, the Department of Histology and Embryology was headed by prof. Blažiejus Abraitis, from 1971 to 1994 by prof. Albertas Vitkus, from 1994 to 2003 by assoc. prof. Kęstutis Baltrušaitis, from 2003 to 2017 by Professor Angelija Valančiūtė. In 2017 Professor Ingrida Balnytė was elected the head of the Department.

The Department of Histology and Embryology owns three microscopy laboratories equipped with modern facilities. During laboratory work, every student is supplied with a binocular microscope Olympus and a wide collection of histological slides. Every study laboratory is supplied by an image demonstration system which allows interactive demonstration of images from histological slides and facilitates the teaching process.

The Department of Histology and Embryology also owns the Museum of Embryology with more than 100 items. The collection of preparations started before the Second World War and was well preserved. The collection of the Museum includes preparations of spontaneously aborted normal embryos and embryos with various birth defectsat different stages of development. Our Department also owns a collection of old microscopes that were used for Histology studies during different periods. 

Studies

The Department of Histology and Embryology is responsible for teaching the Human Histology and Embryology subject to the first year students of the Faculty of Medicine as well as in integrated modules of the second and the third years of medical studies. These modules are the following: Basics of Pre-clinical Studies and Locomotion, Nutrient Uptake and Homeostasis, Respiration and Circulation, Fundamentals of Neuroscience, Human Reproductive Health and Essentials of Clinical Studies, Immune Response and Infection. The modules include lectures, laboratory work, seminars and tutorials. The Department of Histology and Embryology is coordinating the part Reproduction and Inheritance of the module Human Reproductive Health and Essentials of Clinical Studies. Human Histology and Embryology subject is delivered to the first year and the second year students of the Faculty of Odontology. Histology is also studied by students of Medical and Veterinary Biochemistry and Medical and Veterinary Genetics. Subject Embryology and Developmental Genetics is studied by students of Medical and Veterinary Genetics. Midwifery students study Embryology and Embryo Development at our Department during their third year of studies. General and Special Histology topics are instructed to Health Psychology students in modules Psychophysiology and Biological Basis of Behaviour and Cognitive Psychology. Our academic staff members also participate in several elective courses, as well as in supervising students’ scientific research, and postgraduate studies (PhD doctoral studies).

Research

Research at the Department of Histology and Embryology has 2 main directions: 1. Research in experimental oncology, employing two models: a) chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model to investigate tumour-induced angiogenesis, tumour cell invasion and proliferation; b) investigation of spontaneous lung tumours in Balb-C mice following urethane injections. 2. Investigation of age-related changes of female and male reproductive system.

Experimental research employing CAM and spontaneous lung tumours allow testing effects of different drugs on tissues, clearing out their influence on angiogenesis, tumour cells proliferation and invasion. Experimental research is also conducted onartificially formed tumours from cells, cultivated at Living tissue laboratory, which was recently established at the Department. Immunohistochemical, in vivo biomicroscopical and histomorphometrical investigations are performed at the Department.

The academics of the Histology and Embryology Department are members of Lithuanian Morphology Society, they present the results of their research in national and international scientific conferences. 

Contacts

Prof. Ingrida Balnytė

Head of the Department

Tel. (8 37) 327282

E-mail: ingrida.balnyte@lsmuni.lt

Dalė Baranauskienė

Administrator

Tel. (8 37) 327281

E-mail: dale.baranauskiene@lsmuni.lt

The mission of the Department of Languages and Education is to develop the humanities competence in medical professionals. The Department of Languages and Education is a department of the University implementing the academic studies on the humanities and social sciences.

Educational courses have been delivered in the Department of Languages since 1999. In 2002, the Senate of Kaunas University of Medicine approved the name of the Department of Languages and Education.  In 2003, the Center of Teacher Educational Competence (CTEC) was established in the Department; in 2015 it became a structural unit of the LSMU Study Center – the Department of Teacher Educational Competence.

The compulsory study courses such as Introduction to Studies and the module on Professional Language are delivered to the students of all faculties. The module on Professional Language includes three subjects: Latin Professional Terminology, Professional Foreign Language (English, German, French or Russian), and Professional Lithuanian and Culture.  Along with mentioned above the following elective courses are delivered: the Second Foreign Language (English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and Danish), Medical Translation, Basics of Russian Medical Terminology, Scientific Style, Introduction to the Science of Education.

The research theme of the department is “Research on the Effectiveness of Specialized Socializing the University Studies in Biomedical Sciences”. Research dates: 01-01-2017 – 31-12-2021.

The research aims to determine the effectiveness of the socializing the biomedical studies on the basis of philology and education methodology, by studying the results achieved according to the intended tasks:

1. To carry out studies on the results of general and special skills development.
2. To carry out studies on the results of communication and co-operation competence development.
3. To carry out studies on the results of application of fields, forms, and techniques of communication.
4. To carry out studies on the results of the development of general and professional values.

Expected results: a prepared methodology for determining and improving the effectiveness of socializing the biomedical studies; prepared tools / techniques developed, developed and tested educational methods / ways, which determine the effectiveness of socializing the biomedical studies.

Main research areas.

Theoretical - search for the possibilities of combining linguistic and educational research methodologies in determining the effectiveness of socializing the biomedical studies.

Practical:

• Application of theories of education and philology in the development and adaptation of  effectiveness research tools;
• Combining the linguistic and educational research methodologies to study the results of effectiveness of socializing the biomedical studies.

The teachers of the Department are members of EERA (European Educational Research Association), Association of Classics (Societas Classica), Language Teachers' Association of Lithuania (LKPA), the Lithuanian Applied Linguistics Association, and the Lithuanian Association of French Teachers.

The Department of Languages and Education cooperates with the Language Department of the Medical Faculty of Charles University in Prague, Ankara University Language Centre, the Department of Didactics and Education of the Faculty of Philosophy and Education, University of Valencia, Spain; and the Departments of Foreign and Lithuanian Languages of Vilnius College.

Contacts

Head of the department: prof. Raimonda Brunevičiūtė
Email: raimonda.bruneviciute@lsmuni.lt
Phone: +370 37 330352