National Competitive and Excellence Program

Eight winning projects of the University have received a more than 6-billion-forint funding support from the National Research Development and Innovation Fund. In the case of five applications, university institutes and clinics were considered consortium leaders. Within the framework of the National Competitiveness and Excellence Program (NCEP), funding is provided to projects that are designed to significantly improve the efficiency of therapy of diseases with a high mortality risk.

Central-Hungarian consortia established by Hungarian higher education institutions, research institutes and enterprises were invited to submit their application to the NCEP. The program aims to support R&D activities strategically important for the competitiveness of the country and to support the creation of marketable products, services and technologies with significant intellectual value.

The institutes and clinics of the university are involved in eight winning projects, with the university receiving more than 6 billion HUF funding alone. At the consortium level, however, nearly 10 billion HUF were granted to projects that the university participated in. Most of the support has been awarded to the National Heart Program (over 2.6 billion HUF), but in close second came the “Hungarian Oncogene and Personalized Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy National Program”, a university level program receiving a 1-billion-forint funding, as well as a project determined to increase the efficiency of the Electromagnetic Cancer Therapy Device.

National Heart program

National Heart Program
NVKP Research Groups (of Semmelweis University)

Heart and Vascular Center (coordinator institute)

Address: 1122 Budapest, Városmajor u. 68.
E-mail: merkely.bela@med.semmelweis-univ.hu, office@cirg.hu, radovits.tamas@med.semmelweis-univ.hu
Project leader: Prof. Béla Merkely
Deputy Project Leaders: Dr. Pál Maurovich-Horvat, Dr. András Radovits
Leading Researchers: Dr. Gábor Földes, Dr. Hajnalka Vágó, Dr. Violetta Kékesi, Dr. Attila Kovács, Dr. Balázs Sax

Overview

As a university clinic, the Heart and Vascular Center is working on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Besides a full cardiology profile (transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, Holter ECG, exercise stress test, cardio-CT, cardio-MR) the principal role of our clinic is to perform invasive cardiology procedures of all types. The Experimental Research Laboratory is closely connected to the clinical profile of the Heart and Vascular Center and provides ample opportunities to assess the morphological, biochemical, immunological and genetic changes associated with cardiovascular diseases. The clinical work is accompanied by experimental and clinical research. At the Heart and Vascular Center research mainly involves ischemic heart diseases, cardiomyopathies as well as the diagnosis and therapy of arrhythmias.

Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy

Address: 1089 Budapest, Nagyvárad tér 4.
E-mail: peter.ferdinandy@med.semmelweis-univ.hu; pharmacology@med.semmelweis-univ.hu
Project leader: Prof. Péter Ferdinandy
Leading Researchers: Dr. Anikó Görbe, Dr. Zoltán Giricz

Overview

As a university institute, the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy takes part in the discovery and development of several drugs marketed internationally. The cardiovascular and metabolic research group of the Department is a member of The National Heart Program consortium. The group focuses on the identification of cardioprotective mechanisms and pharmacologically relevant signaling pathways. The aim of their investigations is the identification of new therapeutic and diagnostic targets with the potential of further development into diagnostic and therapeutic options for ischemic heart diseases.

Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology

Address: 1094 Budapest, Tűzoltó u. 37-47.
E-mail: kellermayer.miklos@med.semmelweis-univ.hu
Project leader: Prof. Miklós Kellermayer
Leading Researchers: Dr. Tamás Hegedűs, Dr. Zsolt Mártonfalvi, Dr. Szabolcs Osváth, Dr. Krisztián Szigeti

Overview

Our research activity extends from molecular and cellular biophysics to nanobiotechnology, radiation biophysics and in vivo imaging. We explore biological problems that can be tackled with the theoretical and experimental arsenal of physics and biophysics. The structure and dynamics of biomolecules with a focus on mechanoenzymes and elastic proteins are of particular interest. Our department houses a Nanobiotechnology and In Vivo Imaging Center (NIVIC) with an array of novel instrumentation for manipulating single biomolecules and for following biological processes occurring within the living organism.

Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology

Address: 1089 Budapest, Nagyvárad tér 4.
E-mail: buzas.edit@med.semmelweis-univ.hu
Project leader: Prof. Edit Buzás
Leading Researchers: Dr. Éva Pállinger, dr. Viola Tamási, dr. Tamás Visnovitz, dr. Barbara Sódar

Overview

As a university institute, the Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology has an outstanding research experience in the field of extracellular vesicles. Within the National Heart Program the Department will focus on

i) the characterization of extracellular vesicle-mediated intercellular communication within the pericardial space,
ii) the biological impact of the association of lipoproteins with extracellular vesicles and
iii) the identification of cardiomyocyte-derived circulating extracellular vesicle biomarkers

Other projects

Increasing the efficiency of the electromagnetic cancer therapy device, its introduction to the market and the preparation for its integration into oncological therapy

Project leader: Dr. Zoltán Benyó
E-mail: benyo.zoltan@med.semmelweis-univ.hu
Department: Department of Clinical Experimental Research

Overview

Project number: NVKP 16-1-2016-0042

Participants:
Semmelweis University
Oncotherm Innovációs és Kereskedelmi Kft. (Oncotherm Innovation and Trading Ltd.)

Research objective: Mapping the biological and biophysical responses in malign tumours induced by modulated electro-hyperthermia, identifying potential therapy mechanisms; anti-tumour immune responses and angiogenesis in particular. The research results could become a basis for the development of in vivo tumour vaccination methodology enabled by radio frequency fields and the dissemination of its clinical application. Clinical objective: Current project enables the high quality clinical research, and the foundation of a training and reference centre at Semmelweis University.

Development objective: The development and construction of new clinical equipment based on research results and experiences.

Marketing objective: The development of a complex therapy device that could expand the export of Oncotherm Ltd. on the international market and whose success could greatly increase the reputation of Hungarian R&D activities on international level.

Preclinical Research Group Leader: Dr. Zoltán Benyó, Department of Clinical Experimental Research

Lead researchers:
Department of Clinical Experimental Research: Dr. Andrea Balogh, Dr. Péter Hamar, Dr. Tamás Kaucsár, Dr. Zsombor Lacza, Dr. Zsuzsanna Miklós
1st Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research: Dr. Tibor Krenács, Dr. Tamás Vancsik
Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology: Dr. Károly Liliom, Dr. Domokos Máthé

Clinical Research Group Leader: Dr. Magdolna Dank
Oncology Centre Lead researchers: Dr. Erika Borbényi, Dr. Orsolya Dohán, Dr. Marcell Szász A., Dr. László Torgyik

Duration: 2017.01.01 – 2019.12.31.

Screening for mutations predisposing for solid tumours of childhood with poor prognosis and identifying biomarkers for the optimization of personalised treatment

Leader: Dr. Balázs Győrffy
E-mail: gyorffy.balazs@med.semmelweis-univ.hu
Department: 2nd Department of Paediatrics

Overview

Project number: NVKP 16-1-2016-0037

Participants:
Semmelweis University
Hungarian Academy of Sciences Research Centre for Natural Sciences
Meditop Gyógyszeripari Kft. (Meditop Pharmaceutical Ltd.)

Lead researchers: Dr. Otília Menyhárt, Dr. Miklós Garami, Dr. Gyöngyi Munkácsy

Field of research: The focus of the research are tumours of the central nervous system, in particular medulloblastoma, the most common type of malign brain tumours of childhood.

Duration: 2017.01.01 – 2019.12.31.

Atherosclerosis in focus: identifying new therapy targets and drugs

Leader: Dr. László Hunyady
E-mail: hunyady.laszlo@med.semmelweis-univ.hu
Department: Department of Physiology

Overview

Project number: NVKP_16-1-2016-0039

Participants:
Semmelweis University
ImmunoGenes Korlátolt Felelősségű Társaság (ImmunoGenes Ltd.)
National Agricultural Research and Innovation Centre

Field of research: The objective of the consortium is to achieve an efficient therapy of atherosclerosis through research using innovative, molecular biological and genetic technologies and the translation of their results.

Duration: 2017.01.01 – 2019.12.31.

Development of bioconjugates and their modules for targeted treatments of cancers with high mortality rate

Leader: Dr. László Kőhidai
E-mail: kohlasz2@gmail.com
Department: Department of Genetic, Cellular and Immunobiology

Overview

Project number: NVKP 16-1-2016-0036

Participants:
Eötvös Loránd University
Semmelweis University
ComInnex Kutatás-Fejlesztési Zártkörűen Működő Részvénytársaság ( ComInnex R&D Ltd.)

Field of research: cell physiology, tumourbiology, targeted drug delivery

Duration: 2017.01.01 – 2019.12.31.

Website: http://gsi.semmelweis.hu/index.php/en/research/research-groups/chemotaxis

Hungarian Oncogenomics and Personalized Tumour Diagnostics and Therapy Program

Leader: Dr. András Matolcsy /Deputy: Dr. Csaba Bödör
E-mail: matolcsy@korb1.sote.hu; bodor.csaba1@med.semmelweis-univ.hu
Department: 1st Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research

Overview

Project number: NVKP_16-1-2016-0004

Participants:
Semmelweis University
3D Histech Korlátolt Felelősségű Társaság (3D Histech Ltd.)
Eötvös Loránd University

Field of research: oncogenomics

The project is realised by the collaboration of Semmelweis University’s pathologists and oncologists and the bioinformatics research groups of Eötvös Loránd University (the multidisciplinary research group of the Department of Physics of Complex Systems). The company (3DHISTECH) participating in the research development program develops and produces equipment suitable for automatic diagnostics.

A program aims to identify the oncogenic deviances of the Hungarian population. Special molecular diagnostic panels suitable for use in tissue samples, “liquid biopsy samples” and digital imaging devices will be developed for the early detection and monitoring of such abnormalities and the identification of therapy targets.

The main objective of the project is the identification of new targeted therapies and biomarkers of the most common cancer types in Hungary (breast cancer, colorectal cancer, melanoma, lung cancer, haematological, urological and liver cancers) through integrative molecular profiling as well as technology and device development to be used in everyday diagnostics.

Duration: 2017.01.01 – 2019.12.31.  

Development of the diagnostics and therapy of RASopathy disorders

Overview

Project number: VKP 16-1-2016-0020

Participants:
Eötvös Loránd University
Semmelweis University’s Molecular Oncology Research group (Leader: Dr. József Tímár, 2nd Department of Pathology)
ComInnex Kutatás-Fejlesztési Zártkörűen Működő Részvénytársaság (ComInnex R&D Ltd.)

Field of research: melanoma, lung cancer, colorectal cancer

Duration: 2017.01.01 – 2019.12.31.  

Material scientific research and development for the realisation of medical diagnostics based on extracellular vesicles

Overview

Project number: NVKP_16-1-2016-0007

Participants:
Hungarian Academy of Sciences Research Centre for Natural Sciences
THOR Laboratories Műszaki Kutató-Fejlesztő, Gyártó, Kereskedelmi és Szolgáltató Kft. (THOR Laboratories Ltd.)
IDACO Szolgáltató és Tanácsadó Kft. (IDACO Ltd.)
Semmelweis University