Szeged University Medical Alumni Association

30/03/2026

Nobel Prize-winning technology has arrived in Szeged: biomolecules, microbes and cells can now be examined in their original form and at atomic resolution

Four new electron microscopes have arrived at the research center of the University of Szeged, including two instruments that utilize state-of-the-art cryo-electron microscopy technology. With the help of this new equipment, researchers can examine the structure of viruses, proteins or various nanoscale materials with unprecedented detail—even at atomic resolution.

Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is one of the greatest breakthroughs in structural biology over the past decade, and its development was recognized with the 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The platform enables researchers to study biological molecules exactly as they are present in living systems.

What makes cryo-electron microscopy unique is that samples are cooled extremely rapidly to nearly -196 °C. This method prevents water from forming ice crystals, so the original structure of the biomolecules remains unchanged.

It is as if we were freezing a moment in life. The molecules remain in the state in which they function in nature, allowing us to understand their behavior more precisely. This is particularly important, for example, in the study of viruses. This method allows for a detailed mapping of a virus’s structure, such as the protein it uses to bind to cells. If researchers can clearly see the three-dimensional structure of a biomolecule, such as a protein, they can more easily understand how other molecules, such as drug compounds, bind to it.

The method could also be important in the research on neurodegenerative diseases. Conditions such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease are often caused by the formation of protein aggregates—so-called plaques. Cryo-electron microscopy could help us understand how these structures form.

Cryo-electron microscopy has not been available in Hungary until now, so domestic researchers have often conducted these studies in foreign laboratories. According to plans, the new center will not only be available to researchers in Szeged in the future but may also play a role in national and international collaborations.

27/03/2026

Faces from the University of Szeged 😊💬

Meet Yousef Abughneim, a fifth-year medical student at the University of Szeged ⚕️📚

Balancing demanding studies with a passion for connecting people 🤝, Yousef embraces every challenge as a chance to grow—both as a future doctor and as an active member of the university community 💡✨.

As President of the International Student Union of Szeged, he combines his academic dedication 📚🩺 with his commitment to supporting fellow students, showing that personal growth and community involvement can go hand in hand.

🌍 Get to know Yousef in our latest interview 👇
https://u-szeged.hu/prospective-students/szte-faces-csempek/yousef-abughneim-from

25/03/2026

New Hope for Patients with Treatment-Resistant Psoriasis: Launch of the IMPRESS Research Program

Led by the University of Szeged, a new international research program called IMPRESS has been launched to find a breakthrough solution for the treatment of treatment-resistant psoriasis. The project focuses on patients who continue to experience persistent skin symptoms despite currently available state-of-the-art treatments, and who consequently live with a persistent, long-lasting decline in their quality of life.

What sets the IMPRESS research apart is that it examines the causes of resistance not in general terms, but at the level of local processes occurring within the skin. The researchers are mapping where and how different cells ’behave’ in healed, active, and treatment-resistant skin areas. This may help provide a more precise understanding of why inflammation persists in certain plaques even when other areas have already improved.

The program will be implemented in three consecutive phases between 2026 and 2029. The first phase focuses on collecting patient samples and elucidating the molecular background. In the second phase, researchers will develop a cell therapy product based on mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) for local application in a standardized, GMP-grade environment. In the third phase, a so-called Proof of Concept clinical trial will involve administering intradermal MSC treatment to therapy-resistant patients to evaluate the safety, tolerability and biological effects of the method.

The consortium, which is an international collaboration, is led by the University of Szeged, which is responsible for the clinical work, patient care integration and the conduct of the trials. The scientific director of the project is Prof. Dr. Lajos Kemény. The Uppsala University plays a key role in high-resolution molecular profiling and bioinformatics analysis. At the Servei de Teràpia Cel·lular del Banc de Sang i Teixists (STC/BST) center in Barcelona, Dr. Joaquim Vives supports clinical translation by ensuring GMP cell manufacturing and regulatory compliance. Two internationally recognized experts, Prof. Chris Griffiths and Dr. Su Lwin, assist the project as scientific advisors.

IMPRESS has both a scientific and a patient-centered goal: to uncover why the biology of certain psoriatic lesions is ’stubborn’ and, based on this, to develop a new, safe treatment pathway that can bring about a real improvement in patients’ quality of life.

17/03/2026

From slateboards to laptops: six decades of pediatric surgery in Szeged through the eyes of Professor Kristóf Füzesi

Prof. Dr. Kristóf Füzesi, a defining figure in the history of pediatric surgical care in Szeged attended the ceremonial inauguration of the renovated operating suite and the brand new pediatric emergency care unit at the Department of Pediatrics of the Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School in Szeged. Apropos of the event, we recalled in an interview how the department had evolved into its current state-of-the-art form over the past six decades.

Sixty years ago, on September 1, 1966, a self-contained pediatric surgery department started to operate in Szeged. This was a huge step, as pediatric surgery had not existed as an independent specialty in Hungary until then. Globally, it was also beginning to take shape at that time, and in Hungary—like in other Eastern European countries—only later did it become an independent specialty. ’As a newly certified adult surgeon, I had no background in pediatric surgery at the time. Our resources were very limited back then. We didn’t yet have access to English-language literature. I learned from a German-language book, for example, and I even sat for my board exam based on that knowledge. First in adult surgery, and then the pediatric surgery board exam built upon that. Pediatric surgery only became available as a standalone board exam later on,’ the professor recalled.

He explained that the pediatric surgery department initially drew heavily on his experience gained from study trips abroad: he had the opportunity to expand his knowledge in Halle, as well as in Zurich and Glasgow. As a result of his study trips to the United Kingdom, he introduced modern approaches to neonatal surgery, as well as pediatric urological and cleft palate surgery procedures in Szeged. He was the first in Hungary to perform endoscopic sclerotherapy for esophageal varices—a procedure in which abnormally dilated veins are closed off by injecting a special substance. He was a pioneer in endoscopic examination of the airways and in the bronchoscopic removal of foreign bodies from the respiratory tract.

’As pediatric surgeons, we encountered an extremely wide variety of professionally exciting cases, ranging from hydrocephalus to clubfoot, through chest and abdominal surgeries, all the way to urological procedures. It is these challenges that make our profession so rewarding,’ Prof. Füzesi said. He explained that several conditions with a nearly 100 percent mortality rate in the late 1960s, now have safe and reliable treatment methods. Examples include esophageal atresia, a developmental abnormality of the esophagus, as well as certain tumors such as Wilms’ tumor, a malignant kidney tumor that primarily affects young children and is now considered a curable disease. ’Today, the mortality rate of these diseases is very low. Based on my own experience, I can say that there has been tremendous progress in Hungary over the past decades,’ he said.

As the Professor put it, a surgeon is essentially an internist who can also perform surgeries. ’I have never considered my profession as one with merely an executive role. I enjoyed diagnostics just as much as the surgeries themselves. Pediatric surgery is a truly rewarding field. Nature does its part as well: it often helps, since children heal much faster and are much more resilient than adults. They usually recover if we don’t mess it up,’ the professor remarked.

For him, surgery has been a true passion and a lifelong vocation. He explained that whenever he went on vacation, no matter where he spent his time, by the end he was always eager to return to the clinic and operate again. ’I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of medicine, and for forty-five years I always looked forward to going to work. I’m lucky, because my profession and my hobby have always been very much the same,’ the professor said. Dr. Kristóf Füzesi continued to perform surgeries until he was seventy, and for years afterward, until he was seventy-five, he continued to participate in the training of medical students and residents.

Read the full article here: https://www.med.u-szeged.hu/english/2026/from-slateboards-to?objectParentFolderId=75834

13/03/2026

Benedek Bozóky, alumnus of the Medical School from the Class of 2015, represents the kind of versatility that defines modern academic medicine. A clinical oncologist and consultant, he is also a researcher in tumor biology as well as Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the Karolinska Institutet (Sweden), where he teaches courses for medical students and residents. Beyond his work in medicine and science, he also contributes to academic leadership as a member of the Board of Karolinska and remains deeply connected to his roots in Szeged. As one of the co-founders of the Szeged University Medical Alumni Association (SUMAA), he still actively contributes to the work of the Medical School’s Alumni Board. In recognition of his longstanding dedication to the community, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award at the school’s 40-year reunion.

A Szegedi Tudományegyetem honlapja. Hírek, információk jelentkezőknek, hallgatóknak, munkatársainknak és partnereinknek.

10/03/2026

Prof. Lajos Kemény delivers inaugural lecture as full ordinary member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Prof. Dr. Lajos Kemény, who was elected a full ordinary member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 2025, gave an inaugural lecture entitled 'The immunology of inflammatory skin diseases: from basic research to the bedside' on February 18, 2026. Heartfelt congratulations!

05/03/2026

The Department of Pathology at the Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School held a laudation event on February 27, 2026, on the occasion of Prof. Dr. László Tiszlavicz's 70th birthday. At the ceremony, the heads of the Medical School, as well as former and current colleagues and students, commemorated the professor's outstanding work.

https://www.med.u-szeged.hu/english/2026/former-lead-pathologist?objectParentFolderId=75834

03/03/2026

A white coat is more than a garment – it is a commitment. 🩻🩺

At this year’s White Coat Ceremony, students of the Hungarian, English and German programs stood side by side as they took their first symbolic step toward becoming physicians. With the Dean’s handshake, a new chapter has officially begun.

24/02/2026

A scientific article by authors from the Department of Medical Biology at the Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School (Zsolt Boldogkői and Dóra Tombácz), University of Szeged, has been published on the front page of mSystems, a prominent journal in Veterinary Microbiology.

Using longitudinal, long-term microbiome profiling in a dog model, the article explores how age, diet, and mode of birth shape the dynamics of gut microbial communities. Dogs are particularly suitable as a translational model because their gut microbiota is more similar to that of humans than that of other animals studied.

You can read the full article by clicking on this link: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msystems.01279-25

*Cover image: Expressive portrait of an adult Pumi, named Rozi, illustrating the canine model used for microbiome profiling.

17/02/2026

The joint development of the SZTE ETSZK and Mozaik Publishing, mozaMedical, has been selected as a finalist at the BETT Awards 2026!

The mozaMedical project, created in collaboration between the University of Szeged Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Studies and Mozaik Publishing, has made it to the finals of the prestigious BETT Awards 2026.

This achievement in an international field represents outstanding professional recognition for both the platform and the Health Sciences Faculty.

MozaMedical has been ranked among the top six innovations, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the project and the creative, high-level professional work of the development team behind it.

Mozaik Education, a Szeged-based company started out 25 years ago as a textbook publisher for primary and secondary education, publishing titles in all school subjects, and eventually becoming the market leader in Hungary. Mozaik recognized that, as the world around was advancing in terms of technology, the needs of teachers and students were also changing. That’s when Mozaik began developing its turn-key solution for digital education. MOZAIK Education is continually developing new software, interactive 3D, video and audio content and educational applications to meet the needs of education ministries, teachers and students, and publishers worldwide. Recently, they have expanded into the Higher Education field, with mozaMedical as one of their most exciting new developments — bringing immersive, interactive, and impactful learning to medical education. Visit www.mozaweb.com if you want to learn more.

We congratulate all contributors on this remarkable international success!

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.