Over 400 presentations featured at the 27th edition of the PhD Scientific Days

The three-day event was opened by Dr. Zoltán Benyó, President of the Doctoral Council. Dr. Péter Ferdinandy, Vice-Rector for Science and Innovations, spoke about Semmelweis University’s ambition of becoming the leading force in the region’s healthcare innovation ecosystem. He emphasized that moving up in university rankings had a positive impact on the level of funding and investment the institution received, which in turn could increase the resources available for research and salaries. In addition, successful international participation further enhanced the institution’s visibility and reputation, making it more attractive to the most outstanding researchers and students, while also fostering international collaboration. Together, these factors could help open new opportunities in patient care, which in turn could lead to further improvements in the quality of care, he added.

Dr. Péter Ferdinandy noted that enhancing scientific output had been made possible by increasing the number and quality of publications, which in turn had been achieved by boosting the number of PhD students and their research activity – a goal supported by the introduction of flexible PhD programs. Speaking about the impact of research, he said that publications not only enhanced the reputation of the researcher and their institution but also advanced science. “Without inventions we cannot truly help patients and improve their well-being, since new drugs, medical devices, and services all enter the market as inventions,” he explained. “New products and services are protected by intellectual property rights against unauthorized use until the lengthy and costly development process is completed,” the vice-rector concluded.

During the evening opening ceremony, Rector Dr. Béla Merkely emphasized that research was rarely a linear process; it was accompanied by questions, dead ends, rethinking, and unexpected insights. At the same time, as he explained, there were no clear-cut failures in science: We could and needed to learn from everything. “It is curiosity and perseverance that drive researchers forward: the desire to better understand the world and to use their knowledge to help shape it. In our profession – medicine and health sciences – this means nothing less than treating the patients entrusted to us even better, even faster, and even more effectively, thereby protecting their health,” he highlighted. As he pointed out, the event served as a forum for showcasing scientific achievements, an opportunity for professional development, and a meeting place for the future research community – all while celebrating science: it was a tribute to hard work, innovative thinking, and a passionate thirst for knowledge. “Semmelweis University therefore considers the improvement of doctoral education and the support of the next generation of researchers to be a task of strategic importance. We are proud that our doctoral community is constantly growing, and we support our students with new educational formats, scholarship programs, and support services. Meanwhile, an increasing number of outstanding scientific achievements and publications reinforce our university’s excellence and international visibility,” Dr. Béla Merkely noted.

During the three-day event, doctoral students introduced their research in 50 sessions, comprising 169 oral and 254 poster presentations. The presentations focused on cardiovascular medicine and research, conservative medicine, dental research, health sciences, mental health sciences, molecular medicine, neurosciences, pathological and oncological sciences, pharmaceutical sciences and health technologies, surgical medicine, as well as theoretical and translational medicine.

The Excellent PhD Supervisor Awards were presented during the conference, followed by plenary lectures by the recipients. Dr. Gábor Nyíri, Head of the Cerebral Cortex Research Group at the Institute of Experimental Medicine (KOKI), conducts research focused on cellular and synaptic mechanisms underlying cognitive processes and neuropsychiatric disorders. His contributions have helped clarify how disruptions in these systems can lead to conditions such as epilepsy, anxiety, and schizophrenia. He has five PhD students with active student status, one graduated PhD student and five students with doctoral degrees; his Hirsch index is 23.

Dr. Fanni Rencz is Professor at the Institute of Social and Political Sciences at Corvinus University of Budapest. Her work focuses on patient-reported outcomes, quality of life measurement, and the economic evaluation of healthcare interventions. Through her research, she has contributed significantly to improving the assessment of treatment effectiveness from the patient’s perspective. She has three PhD students with active student status and five students with doctoral degrees; her Hirsch index is 23.

Professor Dr. Zoltán Benyó is an internationally recognized expert in cardiovascular physiology and vascular biology. His research has substantially advanced our understanding of the regulation of cerebral blood flow and microcirculation. Through his pioneering work, he has provided important insights into the mechanisms underlying stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases. He has five PhD students with active student status, six graduated PhD students and 14 students with doctoral degrees; his independent Hirsch index is 23.

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The event also saw the presentation of additional professional awards. President Dr. Zoltán Benyó conferred the Best Employee of the Doctoral Office Prize on Tímea Kovácsné Ollé, registrar at the Doctoral College. The president of the Doctoral College and Dr. Patrik Kreuter, President of the Doctoral Students’ Union (DÖK) presented certificates of recognition to the Semmelweis 250+ Excellence PhD Scholarship holders. The event was brought to a close with Dr. Zoltán Benyó awarding certificates of recognition to the most outstanding presenters in each section.

Judit Dőtsch
Photos by Bálint Barta, Boglárka Zellei – Semmelweis University