Szeged University Medical Alumni Association

21/01/2026

Study conducted with the participation of SZTE has led to a breakthrough in the prevention of diabetes complications

One of the world's most prestigious medical journals, The New England Journal of Medicine, recently published an article co-authored by Prof. Dr. Tamás Várkonyi, Head of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center of the University of Szeged. The international study examined the role of tirzepatide, used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, in reducing cardiovascular risks. The scientific significance of the study is well demonstrated by the fact that more than 600 research sites in 30 countries participated in the four-year study, during which data from more than 13,000 patients were collected.

’We studied a drug that was originally developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Tirzepatide is an upgraded member of a family of drugs that enhance the effect of the hormone system activated through the intestinal tract. Diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by 2-4 times, so we must seize every possible means to reduce this risk. The primary endpoints of the study included cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction and stroke. We studied the active agent tirzepatid in one active arm and a well-established drug in the other active arm. The study confirmed that tirzepatide reduces the incidence of the three cardiovascular diseases mentioned above to the same extent as the comparator drug. What is new is that this is the first drug that acts through the intestinal tract and can enhance the effects of two hormones at the same time. We also collected data on the extent to which it reduces blood sugar levels, body weight and blood lipids, and we saw a marked improvement in these parameters as well’, said Prof. Dr. Tamás Várkonyi. With tirzepatide, patients lost an average of more than 11 kilograms, which is significantly more weight loss than with previously used drugs.

The drug is administered once a week in the form of an injection. Serious side effects were rare, with mild gastrointestinal complaints such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which significantly improve over time.

Prof. Dr. Tamás Várkonyi participated in the research as the Hungarian national coordinator, and patients from the SZTE were also included in the study. According to the Professor, it is a great honor for the University of Szeged and the Department of Internal Medicine to have been selected for the study, ’which also provides feedback on the effectiveness of our previous clinical pharmacology studies.’ The article was written by North American, Australian and European researchers, with a professor from the University of Szeged being the only co-author from a Central and Eastern European university. The study is expected to be widely cited, as the professional community has been eagerly awaiting the results.

Founded in 1812, The New England Journal of Medicine is one of the world's oldest and best-known medical journals. It is ranked Q1 with an impact factor of 78.5, placing it among the international scientific elite.

12/01/2026

SZTE Research Involving Astronauts Could Boost the Success of Long-Duration Space Missions

What kinds of microbiome changes occur during space travel? How can these shifts be prevented or managed? And how can the microbiome’s dynamics in space be precisely measured, monitored, and influenced using laboratory models and real astronaut data? These were some of the central questions examined by researchers at the University of Szeged (SZTE) in a study carried out with the involvement of astronauts working aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The project’s findings not only hold the potential to play a key role in keeping astronauts healthy during long-duration space missions but may also offer valuable insights here on Earth – for instance, in understanding how stress affects the human microbiome.

Long-duration space missions – including future expeditions to Mars – will depend heavily on protecting astronaut health, which in turn is critical to the success of the entire mission. Recognizing this, scientists at the University of Szeged have developed a research project that may play an important role in meeting this need. Such research is essential, as astronauts are exposed to intense physiological and psychological stress during spaceflight, and these extreme conditions can disrupt the human microbiome – the complex community of microorganisms that supports digestion, immune defense, inflammation control, and numerous metabolic processes. When this balance is disturbed, astronauts may become more vulnerable to infections, inflammatory responses, digestive problems, and a wide range of metabolic disorders.

Led by Dr. Dóra Tombácz, Associate Professor at the Department of Medical Biology of the University of Szeged’s Medical School, the Hungarian research team designed a project to examine how microgravity, cosmic radiation, dietary changes, and other mission-specific stressors jointly influence the gut and oral microbiota, as well as the microbial composition of urine (the so-called urobiome). In short, the research aims to uncover how spaceflight reshapes the human microbiome.

The research examines changes in the gut, urine, and oral microbiome. For this reason, samples from the participating astronauts were collected before launch of the Axiom-4 mission last summer, at multiple points during their stay in space, and after their return to Earth. The Szeged team aims to understand the scale and nature of microbiome shifts during spaceflights.

’Our goal is to complete the analysis of all incoming samples and data by late spring or early summer next year, by which time we expect to publish at least one paper summarizing our results. This research is pioneering in several ways. Earlier studies of a similar nature did not have access to the advanced technologies we can now use; in addition, our work includes not only DNA-based but also RNA-based analyses. We are also examining the urinary microbiome under spaceflight conditions – a completely new direction that may yield highly valuable insights. While previous research focused solely on bacterial communities, our project employs methods that enable us to map the full spectrum of viruses as well, collectively known as the virome. Taken together, these advances provide a foundation for future therapeutic studies that could significantly improve the protection of astronaut health during space missions and, in turn, support mission success. However, it is important to note that extreme stress on Earth can also disrupt the human microbiome – and the knowledge gained from this project may help us address such changes more effectively in the future,’ said Dr. Dóra Tombácz.

09/01/2026

https://www.med.u-szeged.hu/fs/2025/in-memoriam-prof-dr?objectParentFolderId=31283

It is with shock and sincere sorrow that we bid farewell to Professor Emeritus József Molnár, who passed away quietly at the age of 89.

08/01/2026

New era in rehabilitation

A human kinesiology laboratory was inaugurated at the Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School in December. From now on, rehabilitation will be supported by state-of-the-art robot technology for patients who sustained an accident, stroke or brain injury. Robotic technology introduces a new era in Szeged: faster and more effective recovery for patients combined with more efficient and personalized rehabilitation.

’We have created a comprehensive laboratory that deals with kinesiology and its diagnostics, expands the range of rehabilitation tools and helps to develop movement and certain cognitive functions more effectively’, explained Gábor Fazekas, head of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine.

The laboratory primarily serves a therapeutic function, but most of the equipment can also be used for the assessment of physical condition and function. Rehabilitation in the lab complements traditional physiotherapy and other techniques. Its main target group is neurological patients, such as those recovering from stroke or brain injury. In addition, the lab is also useful in the treatment of certain musculoskeletal injuries, hand or lower limb fractures, and conditions following prosthetic replacement surgeries.

Gábor Fazekas said that some of the equipment in the lab helps patients with a poorer functional status to perform movements without the need for weight-bearing, while other devices allow patients to use their own muscle strength entirely. A treadmill-like device helps patients relearn how to walk by projecting a landscape onto a screen in front of them or using light signals to show them where to step and what obstacles to avoid. Music also helps patients follow the rhythm of walking, which is useful not only in cases of neurological diseases but also in patients with severely visual impairment.

A total of 11 rehabilitation devices have been purchased. These include robotic devices and devices that can be operated using the patient's own muscle strength. A device similar to an exercise bike is also used to develop movement coordination and muscle strength, with the amount of force required per pedal stroke being adjustable. An exoskeleton, which partially relieves the load on the limbs and resembles an external skeleton, also helps patients relearn how to walk. For the upper limbs, devices connected to screens are also used, some of which assist in the fine motor movements of the fingers, while others allow patients to practise using their shoulders and elbows by performing various tasks. Devices that can be used after hand injuries, lower limb fractures or prosthetic implantations are also available.

Csaba Lengyel, president of the Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, said that the investment represents innovative value. Thanks to robot technology, personalized rehabilitation programs can be implemented. The devices enable the ex*****on of very precise, repeatable movements, which aid in effective, individualized development.

’The expert-led, robot-equipped laboratory provides a controlled environment, contributing significantly to the development of new therapeutic methods. Similar to the skills lab, this infrastructure also plays an important role in the practical training of our students and, in addition to healing, takes our research and innovation activities to a new level’, emphasized Prof. Dr. Csaba Lengyel.

’Healthcare today is shifting towards one-day surgery and non-invasive care. However, stroke and polytrauma patients cannot go home in a few days. At the University of Szeged, which functions as a regional centre, we encounter many such patients, and their rehabilitation must also be accelerated. Robotics helps in this. There are machines that can save up to two months of nursing time, and robots do not get tired – unlike humans’. As an example, he mentioned a device used for patients with spinal cord injuries, which helps them stand up and sit in a wheelchair in the first few weeks, saving two months of nursing time.

During the exercises, a wealth of data is collected about the patients, which can be processed to improve care. Sensors and analytical algorithms integrated into the system enable real-time motion analysis and objective performance evaluation. This provides accurate feedback on the patient's progress in a way that is understandable to the patient. The devices also play a motivational role during rehabilitation: patients can track their own progress with objective data, such as the distance taken, which supports perseverance and improvement.

Photos: Karnok Csaba (delmagyar.hu)

07/01/2026

We haven't had much snow here in Szeged for the past 10 years or so. Now the amount is worth documenting and showing

06/01/2026

World’s First MINItrace Magni Cyclotron arrives at SZTE

For decades, the University of Szeged has been at the forefront of nuclear medicine research and diagnostics. The SZTE Regional Cyclotron and Radiopharmaceutical Supply Center, currently under construction, is a unique facility that will enable the production of radioisotopes using cyclotron technology, followed by the on-site manufacture of radiopharmaceuticals for medical imaging.
In December 2025, we reached another milestone: the device manufactured for the University of Szeged – the MINItrace Magni cyclotron – has arrived at the new center. With the installation of the MINItrace Magni cyclotron, the commissioning of a key component of the cyclotron facility is now underway. Despite its compact design – with a footprint of just 7.2 m², roughly the size of a commercial refrigerator – the system produces radioactive isotopes reliably and cost-effectively.

This development significantly expands the possibilities of medical imaging while improving patient access to advanced diagnostic procedures. By enabling hospitals to produce isotopes locally for molecular imaging, the MINItrace Magni helps meet the growing global demand for personalized healthcare. Beyond its production capacity, the MINItrace Magni enables the next generation of research and development, supporting the creation of new radiopharmaceuticals not only for diagnostic use but also for theranostic applications.

The Rector of the university, Prof. Dr. László Rovó, also noted the pivotal role of Prof. Dr. László Pávics in advancing prostate cancer treatment – an area in which the new equipment is expected to unlock significant additional potential. A recent milestone in this work is the launch of a treatment at the University of Szeged’s Institute of Nuclear Medicine that is currently unique in Hungary. This targeted radioisotope therapy improves survival outcomes for patients with advanced prostate cancer. The innovative approach is closely linked to Professor Pávics’s work, which also enabled the first prostate-specific radiopharmaceutical treatment in Hungary to be carried out at the University of Szeged.

Alongside standard nuclear medicine equipment, the institute has also introduced state-of-the-art hybrid imaging technologies. Prof. Pávics emphasized the role of a new generation of residents who are open to innovation and eager to embrace emerging methods. Supported by dedicated physicians and highly skilled technologists, their work is further reinforced by an interdisciplinary team of radiopharmacologists, physicists, and engineers – together ensuring that all professional, technical, and regulatory requirements are met to operate a center of excellence in nuclear medicine and theranostics.

SZTE has a tradition spanning several decades in research and diagnostic activities related to nuclear medicine. At the same time, the discipline continues to evolve, and beyond diagnostics it is playing an increasingly important role in therapeutic procedures as well. As a regional service center, SZTE performs more than 3,000 PET/CT examinations each year. Until now, we have had to obtain the radiopharmaceutical preparations needed for such examinations from external sources, which has meant a significant additional cost. There are radiopharmaceuticals for research and therapeutic purposes that, due to transport distances, are currently either not available at all or only at very high cost. This is precisely the gap our new center will address. In the region, including nearby cross-border areas, there is no similar production capacity, even though future demand for any available capacity is expected to be high,” the Chancellor of the university, Dr. Judit Fendler, highlighted.

05/01/2026

🎓 Congratulations!

We are proud to announce that six teachers of our Mecical School have been nominated University Professors by the Head of State. We warmly congratulate our colleagues on this well-deserved honor and wish them continued success in their academic careers.

Dr. Csaba Bereczki, Department of Pediatrics

Dr. Norbert Buzás Norbert, Department of Health Economics

Dr. Csaba Csonka, Department of Biochemistry

Dr. András Farkas, Department of Internal Medicine

Dr. Krisztina Buzás Körmöndi, Department of Immunology

Dr. Nikolett Nagy, Department of Medical Genetics

22/12/2025

18/12/2025

Proud to present some fantastic news about our Class of 2003 alumnus, Professor Charalampos (Haris) Tzoulis

16/12/2025

Professor Furák has established a two-day European course at the Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, which brings together the very best representatives of the continent's profession: experienced thoracic surgeons teach traditional techniques to the younger generation.

https://www.med.u-szeged.hu/fs/2025/open-access-for?objectParentFolderId=31283

13/12/2025

'Although the department has not yet been launched, I already have a 3- and 5-year plan in place, which includes equipment development, a rehabilitation unit, dedicated physiotherapists and psychiatrist for the department, but we would like to focus on educating parents in the new unit as well.'

https://www.med.u-szeged.hu/fs/2025/szeged-will-serve-as-the?objectParentFolderId=31282

11/12/2025

The Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center at the University of Szeged has been awarded the highest recognition level, Diamond Status, by the Angels Initiative in the ESO Angels Awards in 2025. In essence, a Diamond award means a hospital is a leader in acute stroke management, consistently delivering life-saving care at the highest possible standard.

In addition, Csongrád-Csanád County received 'Angels Region' status from the Angels Initiative for its high-quality performance in stroke care. The award ceremony was held on December 9, 2025, at the University of Szeged.

Established in 2016, the Angels Initiative is an international, not-for-profit, public–private partnership. It is run in collaboration with the World Stroke Organization, European Stroke Organisation, and regional and national stroke societies in over 50 countries. The Angels Initiative aims to increase the global number of stroke-ready hospitals and to optimize the quality of existing stroke units. Angels consultants also establish quality monitoring frameworks using online audit platforms such as the Registry of Stroke Care Quality (RES-Q), which forms the basis of the Angels award system (gold/platinum/diamond) for all stroke-ready hospitals across the world.