A significant event for the Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) community – the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences has just announced the winners of the 2024 Lithuanian Science Awards. Among the recipients of one of the six prestigious awards are VILNIUS TECH Vice-Rector for Science and Innovation, Prof. Dr. Dalius Navakauskas, and his student, Prof. Dr. Dalius Matuzevičius.

The award recognizes a 15-year-long cycle of fundamental and applied scientific research conducted by a team of scientists from Vilnius Gediminas Technical University and Vilnius University. Their project, titled "Epigenetic and Genetic Biomarkers for Disease Diagnosis and Personalized Therapy: Mechanism Studies, Method Development, and Application Areas (2009–2023),” has become a major scientific breakthrough in disease diagnostics and personalized therapy. This research opens entirely new opportunities for personalized healthcare and will accelerate disease treatment.

"This was the first initiative of this scale and nature in Lithuania, where we brought together researchers from different universities and scientific disciplines to study molecular mechanisms by integrating computational informatics and experimental biology. As a result, we proposed, developed, and tested AI-driven image processing solutions – specialized strategies, methodologies, numerical models, algorithms, and intelligent electronic systems – designed to automate and accelerate the study of cancer and stem cell roles," says 2024 Lithuanian Science Award laureate Prof. Dr. Dalius Navakauskas.

VILNIUS TECH researchers have developed new strategic methods and numerical models based on the study of epigenetic and genetic biomarkers. They also created specialized algorithms that enable automated research of cancer and stem cell biomarkers. Applied research has proven the benefits of these technologies in accelerating biomarker detection and cell analysis.

"What is especially important is that we have established interdisciplinary research schools that shape the future of scientific studies, nurture new talent, and inspire innovative research in regenerative medicine and computational informatics," notes Prof. Dr. Dalius Navakauskas.

The award ceremony will take place at the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences on March 4 at 1:00 PM and will be broadcast live on LRT Plius.

Congratulations to the entire team of laureates!