The HU-RIZON application scheme, launched last year, aims to start international research projects led by excellent Hungarian scientific centers, with the participation of the world’s most prominent universities and research institutes. Projects are envisaged to be in line with the focus areas – digital transformation, healthy living, green transition, and circular economy – defined in the John von Neumann Program (NJP), the Hungarian strategic innovation action package, and should concentrate on solving social and economic challenges that are important for Hungary and the world at large, according to the website of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH). The international research excellence cooperation program for higher education institutions has allocated HUF 12 billion for proposals with a duration of 24-36 months, supporting their basic research, industrial (applied) research, and experimental developments.
Among the HU-RIZON 2024 winners were seven projects of Semmelweis University focusing on supporting preventive, curative, and care systems for healthy living.
4PMEDICINE – Systems study from pre-conception till infancy for early disease Prediction and Personalized Prevention in Pregnancy (2024-1.2.3-HU-RIZONT-2024-00062) – Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
The project will set up an international consortium of experts from different disciplines to address the huge health needs arising from the “great obstetrical syndromes” (e.g. preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, miscarriages) that cause serious complications in 40 percent of pregnancies, such as by developing personalized preventive tools and significantly reducing perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality, as well as public health expenditure.
BLISKINTHER – Preclinical studies for the development of novel targeted therapies of autoimmune blistering skin diseases (2024-1.2.3-HU-RIZONT-2024-00055) – Department of Physiology
The project will investigate the molecular mechanisms of pemphigoid diseases – rare autoimmune blistering skin or mucous membrane diseases – using genetic and pharmacological approaches, with special regard to the role of tyrosine kinases and complement components. The results of the project will benefit patients, basic and clinical dermatologists, talented junior scientists, as well as pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
mirnAI – Development of an artificial intelligence-based drug discovery platform: application of microRNA therapy for cardiometabolic and oncology diseases (2024-1.2.3-HU-RIZONT-2024-00026) – Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy
The non-coding oligonucleotide molecules, microRNAs (miRNA) targeting multiple genes, form a transcriptomic dynamic molecular network. Targeted perturbation of this network offers the possibility of treating diseases based on complex molecular mechanisms – these miRNAs, which can protect e.g. the ischemic heart, have been named ProtectomiRs. ProtectomiR therapy may represent a breakthrough in the treatment of complex diseases such as myocardial infarction. The project aims to discover novel miRNAs against myocardial infarction using a network theoretical bioinformatics approach involving artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
NLP-DESIGN – Artificial intelligence-based miniprotein design to target immunosuppression in cancer (2024-1.2.3-HU-RIZONT-2024-00003) – Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology
The project will use AI-aided protein engineering to modulate, among others, the functions of LILRB4 (leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B4), thereby altering the immunosuppressive environment of tumors; their aim is to identify drug molecules to minimize the interaction between LILRB4 and PMCA (plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase) and to study the effects and mechanisms of in silico screened molecules and designed NLPs (nanobody-like proteins) in cell cultures and patient-derived cancer organoids. This will provide a foundation for novel therapeutic approaches targeting a range of cancer types and establish a sophisticated organoid system for preclinical trials.
PAGE-HF – Proteomics and Genomics of End-Stage Heart Failure (2024-1.2.3-HU-RIZONT-2024-00059) – Department of Cardiology
The aim of the proposal is to advance our understanding of heart failure, which remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, through comprehensive genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic investigation of human myocardial and serum samples. Using state-of-the-art technologies, they aim to construct the largest multi-omics database of advanced heart failure in collaboration with the Institute of Applied Biotechnologies in Prague, the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, and the University of Basel, based on over 550 serum and myocardial samples collected over more than a decade from heart transplantations at Semmelweis University. This database could enable the identification of hundreds of potential new druggable targets, ultimately improving heart failure patients’ quality of life.
STAGE – Domestic development and prototype for a novel Sigma-1 receptor Targeted Anti-Glaucoma Eye drop (2024-1.2.3-HU-RIZONT-2024-00056) – Pediatric Center
The project aims at further development of the previously prepared eye drop containing FLU (Sigma-1 receptor agonist fluvoxamine), its pre-clinical validation, patenting of the formulation, and prototyping. The active substance has already been granted worldwide patent protection for the treatment of renal and pulmonary fibrosis, and a phase II clinical study demonstrated the protective effects of FLU in COVID-19-induced pulmonary disease. The current project aims to develop a FLU-containing eye drop that could significantly improve the treatment of glaucoma and patients’ quality of life.
TIDAL-RV – Translational investigation of volume overload-induced right ventricular dysfunction: from bench to machine learning-based clinical decision support (2024-1.2.3-HU-RIZONT-2024-00057) – Department of Cardiology
The dysfunction of the right ventricle, which provides pulmonary circulation, has recently been shown to be of extreme clinical relevance, especially in patients with tricuspid regurgitation (TR). The echocardiography and experimental research team of the Városmajor Heart and Vascular Center aims to gain a more complete picture of the basic physiology and pathophysiology of the right ventricle and the role of its dysfunction in the outcome of tricuspid regurgitation. The research will be carried out in an international collaboration with clinics at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
More details of the winning projects are available on the NKFIH website.
Ádám Szabó
Translation: Dr. Balázs Csizmadia
Photos by Bálint Barta – Semmelweis University (illustration)
