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
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
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
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
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.