The institution shares its position with Stanford University and surpasses prestigious centres such as the University of Oxford and Yale University.

The ranking, which evaluates the research achievements and scientific reputation of institutions across 104 countries, included 2,250 of the world’s top universities.

The Wrocław-based institution is the highest-ranked Polish medical university in any field in this year’s edition.

According to university officials, the breakthrough performance was driven by the Institute of Heart Diseases, operating within the University Clinical Hospital in Wrocław.

The institute, established just six years ago, has quickly gained international recognition for its high-impact research and pioneering clinical work.

“Polish cardiology should not have any complexes. On the contrary, it is a national source of pride,” said Professor Piotr Ponikowski, Rector of Wrocław Medical University and director of the Institute of Heart Diseases. “We prove this every day through our work and results.”

Despite operating with fewer resources than many of its global counterparts, the institute has prioritized high-quality research.

Professor Ponikowski added that scientific excellence has been the key to narrowing the gap with better-funded institutions.

Since its inception, the institute has performed over 200 heart transplants and 80 procedures involving long-term left ventricular assist devices.

It is the youngest transplant centre in Poland and continues to set clinical milestones. In recent weeks, the Wrocław team became the first in Poland to perform a transcatheter implantation of the Tendyne mitral valve on a beating heart, avoiding the need for open-chest surgery.

The institute is also preparing to launch a dedicated centre for paediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery, aiming to provide specialized care for children with congenital heart defects.

kak/ zan/