“As this is one of the highest achievements in the category of abstracts on thrombosis, I am honored to receive this recognition”, said dr. Imre Varjú. The Young Investigator Awards recognizes the best presentation or meeting abstract by a young investigator every year – as presented or delivered to an international meeting on a topic related to the fields of thrombosis and hemostasis. Dr. Varjú, assistant professor of the Department of Biochemistry earned the recognition for his presentation held at the STH 2020 Virtual Congress. The presentation revealed how citrullinated fibrinogen in venous thrombi was identified and showed that in vitro citrullination of this fibrinogen contributes to a clot structure that is lysis-resistant, but mechanically vulnerable and consequently more prone to embolization. These research results have contributed to better understanding the structure of thrombi and the molecular factors influencing thrombosis treatments.
Dr. Imre Varjú earned his medical degree at the Faculty of Medicine of Semmelweis University in 2011 and received his PhD degree in 2015, under the supervision of professor dr. Kraszimir Kolev, deputy director of the Department of Biochemistry. Later he was granted a Fulbright Scholarship to conduct further research at Harvard University, where he studied mouse thrombosis models for his research. In his research, venous blood clot, similar in structure and form to thrombus in human veins, was induced in experimental animals, which was later removed surgically.
“The purpose of my postdoctoral studies was to integrate the model in Hungary and use it for research purposes” – pointed out dr. Imre Varjú. Since he returned from the United States of America, dr. Varjú has been working in the research team of his former mentor dr. Kraszimir Kolev at the Department of Biochemistry. Dr. Varjú is the first author of a recently published study which is based on the thrombosis-model. The article has 15 authors, including researchers of the Harvard University, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Semmelweis University. The article was published in the prestigious medical journal Circulation Research at the end of May.
This article is the result of a 5 year long international collaboration involving a series of experiments – explained dr. Imre Varjú.
His Mammen award winning presentation was held about the same topic. The assistant professor of the Department of Biochemistry emphasized the importance of all the experience he gained in the Health Communication program at Columbia University.
“In addition to my dedication for research I have a strong passion for health communication. Science is not enough in itself, effective health communication is critical to health and well-being. The pandemic showed us the importance of implementing and introducing scientific research results to the public in an understandable way.”
He highlighted Semmelweis University’s education program, its working groups and the Students’ Scientific Association led by Dr. Béla Merkely, rector which provided him with a solid foundation in medical science. Thanks to the solid foundation in medicine, he could learn and utilize the model of venous thrombosis at Harvard University. During the program at Columbia University he acquired the method of efficient communication of scientific results to the public.
“The Mammen Award has a special importance for me, which is not only about me, but it is also a recognition of my academic career – the scientific workshops and study programs”, added dr. Varjú. Dr. Imre Varjú is looking forward to making good use of his previous experiences at Semmelweis University.
Ádám Szabó
Photo: Attila Kovács – Semmelweis Egyetem
Translation: Norbert Lukács
