About the "Akogo?" Foundation
The "Akogo?" Foundation was established in 2002 by Ewa Błaszczyk-Janczarska and Father Wojciech Drozdowicz, the parish priest at the Camaldolese Church of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw.
The foundation's mission is to address the complex challenges faced by individuals in a coma, filling a significant gap in the care of patients with severe brain injuries in Poland, which lacked structured support at the time the foundation began its work.
The Foundation has spearheaded numerous awareness campaigns to educate Polish society about the needs of coma patients. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Foundation initiated and developed a national program for the treatment of children in a coma (Phase B), which has since been incorporated into Poland’s public healthcare system.
One of the Foundation's most significant accomplishments is the construction of the "Alarm Clock" Clinic, the first model rehabilitation center for children in a coma in Poland. Since its opening in July 2013, the clinic, with its 15 beds for children aged 2-18, has achieved remarkable success, with over 120 children having awakened from a coma by December 2024. The Foundation is committed to providing care at the highest international standards, employing advanced diagnostic tools and neurorehabilitation techniques.
In partnership with Prof. Wojciech Maksymowicz, the Foundation played a key role in advocating for legislation enacted by the Ministry of Health in November 2016, which launched a treatment program for adults in a coma. As a result, the first "waking-up" ward for adults was opened at the University Hospital in Olsztyn in April 2017, with an initial capacity of eight patients and plans for future expansion. The Foundation continues to support this project by providing vital rehabilitation and medical equipment for the ward.
In 2023, we opened the "Alarm Clock" Clinic for adults at Bródnowski Hospital in Warsaw, ensuring that adult coma patients now receive the same specialized, high-quality care as children.
In addition to its clinical initiatives, the "Akogo?" Foundation is dedicated to advancing coma research in Poland by fostering the exchange of scientific knowledge and launching experimental treatment programs. In November 2015, the Foundation organized the International Scientific Conference on "The Latest Achievements in Diagnostics and Treatment of Coma," which brought together over 400 participants and featured renowned experts from Japan, Germany, Belgium, and Poland. This event led to the development of a project aimed at introducing innovative surgical procedures, including the implantation of central nervous system stimulators (posterior cord).
In December 2017, we organized a two-day conference that brought together world-renowned experts from the USA, Japan, Argentina, Germany, Italy, and Poland. These experts shared their research and insights on the application of stem cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
The Foundation continues to pursue experimental treatment programs and is expanding its efforts to include new clinical initiatives. In September 2020, the first meeting of the International Scientific Council of the "Akogo?" Foundation was held, further enhancing our commitment to international collaboration. In February 2020, the Foundation also opened the "Akogo-med" clinic, a consulting and medical facility where neurologists and neurosurgeons provide high-quality care. The profits from the clinic are directed towards supporting the Foundation's statutory goals.
Foundation’s statute - download now
The foundation's mission is to address the complex challenges faced by individuals in a coma, filling a significant gap in the care of patients with severe brain injuries in Poland, which lacked structured support at the time the foundation began its work.
The Foundation has spearheaded numerous awareness campaigns to educate Polish society about the needs of coma patients. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Foundation initiated and developed a national program for the treatment of children in a coma (Phase B), which has since been incorporated into Poland’s public healthcare system.
One of the Foundation's most significant accomplishments is the construction of the "Alarm Clock" Clinic, the first model rehabilitation center for children in a coma in Poland. Since its opening in July 2013, the clinic, with its 15 beds for children aged 2-18, has achieved remarkable success, with over 120 children having awakened from a coma by December 2024. The Foundation is committed to providing care at the highest international standards, employing advanced diagnostic tools and neurorehabilitation techniques.
In partnership with Prof. Wojciech Maksymowicz, the Foundation played a key role in advocating for legislation enacted by the Ministry of Health in November 2016, which launched a treatment program for adults in a coma. As a result, the first "waking-up" ward for adults was opened at the University Hospital in Olsztyn in April 2017, with an initial capacity of eight patients and plans for future expansion. The Foundation continues to support this project by providing vital rehabilitation and medical equipment for the ward.
In 2023, we opened the "Alarm Clock" Clinic for adults at Bródnowski Hospital in Warsaw, ensuring that adult coma patients now receive the same specialized, high-quality care as children.
In addition to its clinical initiatives, the "Akogo?" Foundation is dedicated to advancing coma research in Poland by fostering the exchange of scientific knowledge and launching experimental treatment programs. In November 2015, the Foundation organized the International Scientific Conference on "The Latest Achievements in Diagnostics and Treatment of Coma," which brought together over 400 participants and featured renowned experts from Japan, Germany, Belgium, and Poland. This event led to the development of a project aimed at introducing innovative surgical procedures, including the implantation of central nervous system stimulators (posterior cord).
In December 2017, we organized a two-day conference that brought together world-renowned experts from the USA, Japan, Argentina, Germany, Italy, and Poland. These experts shared their research and insights on the application of stem cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
The Foundation continues to pursue experimental treatment programs and is expanding its efforts to include new clinical initiatives. In September 2020, the first meeting of the International Scientific Council of the "Akogo?" Foundation was held, further enhancing our commitment to international collaboration. In February 2020, the Foundation also opened the "Akogo-med" clinic, a consulting and medical facility where neurologists and neurosurgeons provide high-quality care. The profits from the clinic are directed towards supporting the Foundation's statutory goals.
Foundation’s statute - download now
