In addition to health care tasks, Semmelweis University’s clinicians also deal with the scientific study of epidemics. Researchers and affected PhD students are continuously monitoring the domestic and international situation related to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and the related literature, and are collecting data in various research projects to learn more about the virus’s mechanism and its spread geographically and in time. The university will also use the donation made by Katinka Hosszú to fund epidemiological analysis of the coronavirus.
“I wanted to help in some way in the current situation, so I asked rector Dr. Béla Merkely, who is also our team physician, what was the best way. Based on his recommendation, the Iron team (Máté Gelencsér, Tamás Batházi and myself) have donated HUF 1.5 million for coronavirus-related research to the Semmelweis University Foundation,” Hosszú wrote in a Facebook post, calling on others as well to do the same if they can.
The Semmelweis University Foundation was established by Dr. János Szentágothai and Dr. Ottó Ribári in 1992 to support the university’s educational, health care, and research activities. The foundation undertakes public benefit activities and performs public functions in the areas of health promotion, disease prevention, health care and health rehabilitation, scientific activities, research, education, skill development, and the dissemination of knowledge. For further information and ways to support the foundation, visits its website.
Eszter Keresztes
Translation: Tamás Deme
Photo: Katinka Hosszú’s Facebook page
