“Health Takes the Lead” project awarded

A project titled “Health Takes the Lead”, developed by the Student Scientific Circle of Heart Diseases at Wroclaw Medical University (UMW) in partnership with the Solvro Scientific Circle from Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, has been awarded funding in the city’s FAST grant competition. The initiative is coordinated by Dr. Piotr Gajewski from the UMW Clinic of Intensive Cardiac Therapy.

The goal of the project is to raise public awareness about cardiovascular diseases and their prevention, as well as to promote an active and healthy lifestyle among Wrocław residents. To support this mission, the students will develop a mobile application that offers walking and cycling routes across the city, tailored for health-promoting activities.

The new app builds on the earlier Solvro project “Find Your Route”, initially created for cyclists. The expanded version will include more trail options and introduce walking routes. It will also feature interactive functionalities such as point-based gamification, hydration tips, calorie estimates for each route, and even personalized playlists designed to match walking pace and rhythm.

“As part of the project, we plan to organize at least six educational activities in recreational areas around Wrocław,” says Julia Soczyńska, chair of the Heart Diseases Scientific Circle. “We will set up info points near the designated trails to share health knowledge directly with the public.”

At these stands, visitors will receive leaflets with suggested walking tours and health advice, as

 well as take part in music therapy sessions—both through live performances (including violin, as highlighted in the project’s name) and audio tracks played from sound systems. The team also aims to study how music affects physiological parameters such as blood pressure.

“If we confirm a positive impact of music on cardiovascular function, we hope to introduce a relaxation module into the app, which users could access independently at home,” adds Julia Soczyńska.

The project brings together students from UMW, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, and the Karol Lipiński Academy of Music. Each partner contributes its unique expertise—UMW students provide health education content and lead public engagement, Solvro members take charge of app development and digital infrastructure, and music students design and deliver the therapeutic audio experiences.

The final event is scheduled for September 28, one day before World Heart Day.