Empowering Poland's Clinical Research

The Medical Research Agency of Poland was established in 2019 to address the lack of a central body to manage clinical studies in Poland. The core functions of the MRA include funding research in medical and health sciences, focusing on clinical, observational, and epidemiological studies, as well as medical experiments. The Agency was also tasked with designing the Governmental Plan for the Development of the Biomedical Sector in Poland for 2022–2031. Additionally, the MRA issues expert opinions and reports and initiates independent research and development projects. 

While the number of medical universities in Poland has increased in recent years, there was a workforce gap and unmet need for researchers with the knowledge and skills to lead research projects, manage clinical trials, and serve as principal investigators. In response, the Agency turned to Harvard Medical School to design and deliver the Polish Clinical Scholars Research Training program. Through this flagship learning opportunity, funded by the Polish government, five cohorts of 100 professionals are participating in an intensive postgraduate certificate program over five years. The yearlong program includes three in-person workshops—two in Poland and one at Harvard Medical School in Boston—as well as online learning, team assignments, and a capstone project. The program’s curriculum enhances the participants’ abilities to design and conduct clinical research, analyze, interpret, and present clinical research data; write successful grant proposals; and lead clinical teams in diverse health care settings.

The MRA has achieved or surpassed the planned milestones throughout five years of activities. The total number of signed co-financing agreements reached 315, worth over USD 1.03 billion (PLN 4.3 billion), averaging USD 3.3 million (PLN 13.7 million) per project. These non-commercial clinical trials concentrate on three primary research areas: cardiovascular diseases, oncology/hematology, and neurology/psychiatry. As part of the signed agreements, over 51,000 patients, including more than 13,000 with rare diseases, will be enrolled in the studies, with nearly 12,000 already recruited. This data highlights the MRA's focus on advancing clinical research in critical medical fields and underscores its commitment to addressing unmet medical needs, particularly in rare diseases and pediatric care. In 2025 alone, the Agency will distribute another 500 million USD from the European Union and national funds for clinical and biotechnology research projects. 

The alumni of Harvard Medical School’s Polish Clinical Scholars Research Training program are spearheading a new era of top-tier clinical research in Poland. With over 400 supervised projects, 33 clinical trial support centers, favorable market conditions, and other enabling infrastructure and support systems, Poland aspires to be the best location for clinical trials in Europe.