About the Fibrosis Research Group

Our group consists of researchers from various scientific fields, including medical doctors, biologists, biochemical engineers and experienced technicians complementing each other’s knowledge in order to enhance the efficiency of our work. The main goal of our research group is to investigate the pathomechanism of tissue fibrosis.
Beside basic research, we put a great emphasis on collaborations with industrial companies to develop antifibrotic drugs. As a part of Semmelweis University we also take our share in scientific education, ensuring possibilities for undergraduate and postgraduate students. We hope that our experiments contribute to the better understanding of the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of fibrosis, revealing novel therapeutic targets and anti-fibrotic drugs.

INFRASTRUCTURE

The 1^st Department of Paediatrics is responsible for the healthcare of more than 30,000 children in central Hungary and is also a treatment center for several chronic illnesses including kidney and urinary tract diseases, diabetes, neonatal hypoxia, inflammatory bowel diseases and congenital metabolic disorders.
In addition to patient care and education of medical students, our Department is also engaged in clinical and basic research. Numerous working groups operate in the research laboratory, including the Fibrosis research group supported by various academic and government grants. In our research group there is a strong collaboration between basic scientists, laboratory experts and clinicians that created a strongly focused and innovative milieu which enables the complex investigation of the pathomechanism, therapy and outcome of a diseases in a single institute.

Our research laboratory has excellent infrastructural background. For the in vivo experiments a special animal house was built in the past years where the suitable ventilation, sterile filtered air, temperation and cyclic lighting of the animals are insured. We perform a wide range of molecular biological techniques that are needed for translational fucosed research studies from bench-to-bedside and the technical equipment includes all tools that are essential for basic molecular biology (PCR, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, ELISA, FACS, in vitro techniques and genetic engineering methods). Through core facilities at the Semmelweis University and in cooperation with the Eötvös Lóránd University, additional techniques e.g. confocal imaging, are also available if needed. Our research team collaborates with several Hungarian and international research centers. Our senior researchers were guest researchers in the USA, England and Germany. These collaborations continue to provide excellent opportunities to build international relations.

SENIOR RESEARCHERS

Ádám Vannay, PhD

Head of the research group, CEO and founder of biotech companies. Graduated as a medical doctor. Earned more than 20 years’ experience in basic science and drug development. Holder of numerous scientific awards, including Semmelweis Innovation Awards, Merit Award, János Bolyai Scholarship, Prima Primissima – Junior Prima Award. Main focus of his interest is the treatment of tissue fibrosis.

Beáta Szebeni, PhD

Graduated as a biologist. Senior research fellow with more than 15 years’ experience in basic science. Holder of numerous scientific awards, including Semmelweis Innovation Award, Academic Youth Award of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Skilled in scientific writing, design and performance of molecular biologic measurements.

Domonkos Pap, PhD

Graduated as a biologist. Senior research fellow with more than 10 years’ experience in basic science and drug development. Holder of numerous scientific awards, including Semmelweis Innovation Award, Prima Primissima – Junior Prima Award, Róbert Bárány Award, János Bolyai Scholarship. Skilled in scientific writing, design and performance of in vitro and in vivo experimental models.

Apor Veres-Székely, PhD

Graduated as a biochemical engineer and a clinical laboratory scientist. Research fellow with more than 10 years’ experience in basic science and drug development. Holder of numerous scientific awards, including Semmelweis Innovation Award, Merit Award, New National Excellence Program Awards. Skilled in design, performance and optimization of in vitro experimental models, bioassays and molecular technics.

Colleagues

Mária Bernáth – laboratory assistant

Eszter Lévai, MD – PhD student

Graduated as a medical doctor, engaged in the field of peritoneal dialysis research since starting as a research student in 2013. Her research experience ranges from clinical registry work to practicing basic science methods (in vitro, in vivo experiments). She spent 2,5 years working in basic research in University Hospital Heidelberg with various exchange opportunities. Holder of numerous scholarships – Jellinek Harry Scholarship, EJP RD Research Mobility Scholarship, New National Excellence Program Awards.

Csenge Szász, MD – PhD student

Graduated as a medical doctor, participated in Students’ Scientific Association for 3 years, practicing basic science methods. Became first place on Semmelweis University Students’ Scientific Conference in pediatrics section.

Péter Bokrossy – PhD student

Graduated as an environmental engineer and a pharmaceutical biotechnologist. During his studies and participation in the Students’ Scientific Association, he got 5 years of practice in basic science. In his master’s thesis, he investigated the effect of peritoneal dialysis fluid-derived extracellular vesicles on the mechanism of fibrosis. He started his PhD in 2023 in the field of extracellular vesicles and fibrosis. Holder of numerous scholarships – Semmelweis 250+ scholarship, New National Excellence Program Scholarship. Skilled in graphical analysis and graphic design.