Aleksandra Rutkowska, Ph.D., D.Sc., of the Medical University of Gdańsk has been appointed as Poland’s sole representative on the Management Committee of the international COST Action EndLess initiative, CA25174. She has also assumed the role of leader of Working Group 4, responsible for translating scientific knowledge into practice, developing training activities and promoting science communication.
COST, European Cooperation in Science and Technology, is a European organisation that supports scientific collaboration and the establishment of international research networks.
Aleksandra Rutkowska, Ph.D., D.Sc. is a researcher at the Department of Coordinated Care within the Institute of Nursing and Midwifery at the MUG and President of DetoxED Sp. z o.o., a spin-off company established by the Medical University of Gdańsk and Gdańsk University of Technology. Her work combines scientific research with the development of educational tools and the implementation of solutions supporting preventive healthcare.
EndLess – Reducing Endocrine Disruptor Exposure for a Healthy Start for Future Generations – is a four-year European initiative dedicated to reducing exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Particular attention is given to pregnancy and early childhood, both of which are critical periods for the health of future generations. The network brings together researchers and specialists from various disciplines to advance scientific knowledge and develop practical solutions for protecting human health.
Working Group 4, Knowledge Translation, Training and Science Communication, led by the MUG researcher, will focus on facilitating the application of research findings in education and preventive healthcare. Its responsibilities include preparing educational materials for families and healthcare professionals, developing content for digital tools and contributing to the design of training programmes.
As the group's leader, Aleksandra Rutkowska, Ph.D., D.Sc. will coordinate the activities of an international team and establish priorities for its work.
Her new appointment builds on her previous scientific and innovation activities. She is the originator of the CheckED application, developed by the DetoxED team. The tool helps users identify everyday sources of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and supports measures to reduce such exposure.
As part of the new LIFE MUMs project, implemented between 2026 and 2030, she is also leading the development of a new, pink-themed version of the CheckED application, designed specifically for pregnant women and tailored to their information and educational needs.
Following LIFE MUMs, EndLess is the second international initiative launched recently that combines our researcher’s scientific expertise with the practical implementation capabilities of DetoxED. Her membership of the Management Committee and leadership of Working Group 4 strengthen MUG's involvement in European collaboration on environmental health and disease prevention, particularly in relation to protecting pregnant women and safeguarding the health of future generations.
These activities also demonstrate how scientific findings can be translated into practical applications, including health education and tools that support families in making informed decisions.
Participation in EndLess also creates professional development opportunities for the MUG academic community, particularly PhD students and early-career researchers. They can join international working groups, develop their competencies through specialised Training Schools and apply, through dedicated calls for applications, for financial support for Short-Term Scientific Missions and the presentation of their research findings at scientific conferences.
Further information about the initiative is available at COST Action CA25174 – EndLess.
