SEMMELWEIS SYMPOSIUM 2026
16-18 November 2026 – Budapest Hungary
Semmelweis University’s Basic Medical Science Center
We are pleased to invite you to the 2026 Semmelweis Symposium, to be held between 16-18 November 2026 in Budapest. As the university’s most prestigious annual scientific event, the Symposium highlights the latest scientific advancements and innovations, fostering valuable opportunities for international collaboration, networking, and education.
This year’s scientific program will focus on
Integrated Cancer Research: Collaboration for Impact
Join us for an inspiring scientific experience with:
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Plenary sessions by international experts
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High-quality educational programs and workshops
Keynote lectures will be delivered by internationally renowned experts, distinguished alumni, and esteemed collaborators of Semmelweis University. Sessions and poster presentations will explore emerging trends in medicine, dentistry, pharmaceutical, and health sciences, ensuring a comprehensive and inspiring scientific experience.
Scientific Organizing Comittee:
- Dr Béla Merkely, Chair
- Dr. Magdolna Dank, Chair
- Dr. Balázs Győrffy, Chair
Scientific Program Committee Members:
- Dr. Csaba Bödör
- Dr. Zsófia Drobni
- Dr. Lóránd Erőss
- Dr. Péter Ferdinandy
- Dr. Lajos Kemény
- Dr. András Kiss
- Dr. Balázs Lintner
- Dr. Tamás Masszi
- Dr. Pál Maurovich Horvath
- Dr. Péter Nagy
- Dr. Péter Nyirády
- Dr. Attila Patócs
- Dr. Attila Szabó
- Dr. Zoltán Varga
PROGRAM
16th November 2026
| 12.00-13.00 | Registration |
| 13:00-13:20 | Opening Ceremony |
| 13.00-13:05 | Opening by Chair of the Organizing Committee Balázs Győrffy Semmelweis University, Hungary |
| 13.05-13.15 | Rector’s welcome message Béla Merkely Semmelweis University, Hungary |
| 13:15-13:20 | Welcome message of EUniWell CAS Symposium and Introduction of EUniWell Champion Beáta Pethesné Dávid Semmelweis University, Hungary |
| 13.20-14.50 | Sesson I. Chairpersons: Csaba Bödör, Semmelweis University and Lajos Pusztai Yale School of Medicine |
| 13.20-13.50 | “Spatial and Molecular Biomarkers in Breast Cancer: Decoding Complexity for Precision Therapy” Keynote Speaker: Giampaolo Bianchini Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Italy |
| 13.50-14.10 | “Precision Medicine in Oncohematology” Csaba Bödör Semmelweis University, Hungary |
| 14.10-14.30 | “From spatial discovery to mRNA therapeutic design: a translational platform for precision cancer immunotherapy” Jennifer A. Lo Harvard Medical School, USA |
| 14.30-14.50 | “Cardio-oncology: from clinical observation to science” Pietro Ameri University of Genova, Italy |
| 14.50-15.20 | Coffee Break & Poster Viewing |
| 15.20-17.10 | Session II. Chairpersons: András Kiss, Semmelweis University and Stefan Prekovic, Center for Molecular Institute Utrecht |
| 15.20-15:50 | “Molecular pathology tumour diagnostics – A 20 years journey to comprehensive analysis” Keynote Speaker: Peter Schirmacher Karl Ruprecht University Heidelberg, Germany |
| 15.50-16.10 | “Dormancy’s Dice: The Long Game of ER+ Breast Cancer” Luca Magnani Institute of Cancer Research London, UK |
| 16.10-16.30 | “Advancing Precision Medicine in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia” Richard Rosenquist Brandell Karolinska Institute, Sweden |
| 16.30-16.50 | “Selenoprotein targeting in cancer therapy” Elias Arnér Karolinska Institute, Sweden |
| 16.50-17.10 | “The heart as an off-target organ: cardiovascular toxicity of modern cancer therapy” Zsófia Drobni Semmelweis University, Hungary |
| 17.10-18.10 | Poster Session |
| 17.20-19.00 | Welcome Reception & Networking |
17th November 2026
| 8.00-8.30 | Registration |
| 8.30-10.20 | Sesson III. Chairpersons: Balázs Győrffy, Semmelweis University and Luca Magnani Institute of Cancer Research London |
| 8.30-9.00 | “Metabolic Adaptation as a Therapeutic Opportunity” Keynote Speaker: Yatrik Shah University of Michigan, USA |
| 9.00-9.20 | “Treating advanced cancer – targeting cachexia, improving QoL and survival” Stefan Anker Charité Berlin, Germany |
| 9.20-9.40 | “Precision epigenetics for incurable neuroendocrine prostate cancer” Francesco Crea The Open University, UK |
| 9.40-10.00 | “Towards integrating mass-spectrometry based proteomis into the portfolio of molecular pathology” Oliver Schilling Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg, Germany |
| 10.00-10.20 | „Robotisation in Neurosurgery” Erőss Lóránd Semmelweis University, Hungary |
| 10.20-10.50 | Coffee Break & Poster Viewing |
| 10.50-12.20 | Sesson IV. Chairpersons: Magdolna Dank Semmelweis University and Rudolf de Boer Erasmus MC, Thorax Center Rotterdam |
| 10.50-11.20 | “Is It Time for Precision Pathology in Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma?” Keynote Speaker: Matteo Fassan University of Padua, Italy |
| 11.20-11.40 | “Independent validation for cancer biomarkers” Balázs Győrffy Semmelweis University, Hungary |
| 11.40-12.00 | “Optimization of antibody drug conjugates with Artificial Intelligence and biophysics” Alberto Ocana Hospital Huan Carlos Madrid, Spain |
| 12.00-12.20 | “Oncohistones: Hijacking Chromatin and Metabolism to Drive Oncogenesis” Nada Jabado McGill University Montreal, Canada |
| 12.20-13.20 | Lunch Break & Poster Session |
| 13.20-15.10 | Session V. Chairpersons: Zoltán Varga Semmelweis University and Nada Jabado McGill University Montreal |
| 13.20-13.50 | “Reverse cardio-oncology: incident cancer in CV diseasecardio oncology” Keynote Speaker: Rudolf de Boer Erasmus MC, Thorax Center Rotterdam, Netherlands |
| 13.50-14.10 | “Epigenetic plasticity as a driver of cancer progression and therapy response” Wilbert Zwart The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Netherlands |
| 14.10-14.30 | “Translational URO-Oncology: The Emerging Role of Biomarkers in Precision Urological Care” Peter Nyirady Semmelweis University, Hungary |
| 14.30-14.50 | “Exploiting embryonal hallmarks of pediatric cancer” Stefan Pfister German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg, Germany |
| 14.50-15:20 | Coffee Break & Poster Viewing |
| 15.20-16.50 | EHA Session VI. Chairpersons: Konstanze Döhner EHA, Csaba Bödör Semmelweis Symposium |
| 15.20-15.50 | “The Evolving Landscape of Targeted Frontline Therapy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia” Keynote Speaker: Konstanze Döhner President of the European Hematology Assocation |
| 15.50-16.10 | “Investigation of spatial heterogeneity in B-cell lymphomas” Bence Bátai Semmelweis University Hungary / Charité Berlin, Germany |
| 16.10-16.30 | “Neuroimaging -guided targeted surgical approaches in Neurological and psychiatric conditions” Volker Coenen Freiburg University, Germany |
| 16:30-16:50 | “Mixed Chimerism Platform via Bone Marrow Transplantation for Harnessing Graft-vs-Malignancy Effect and for Inducing Donor Specific Organ Tolerance” Bimalangshu R Dey Harvard Medical School, USA |
18th November 2026
| 8.00-8.30 | Registration |
| 8.30-10.00 | Sesson VII. Chairpersons: Lajos Kemény Semmelweis University and Peter Schirmacher Karls Rurecht University Heidelberg |
| 8.30-9.00 | “Parkinsons Disease and Melanoma: mechanistic connection and clues for melanoma prevention” Keynote Speaker: David E. Fisher Harvard Medical School, USA |
| 9.00-9.20 | “Cardiovascular health during and after treatment for breast cancer: Moving towards improved outcomes” Ana Barac Inova Fairfax Hospital, USA |
| 9.20-9.40 | “Interventional Oncology in Integrated Cancer Care” Ákos Pál Deák Semmelweis University, Hungary |
| 9.40-10.00 | “Transcriptional regulation of intestinal tumorigenesis” Vincent Cavailles IRCM Montpellier Cancer Research Institute, France |
| 10.00-10.30 | Coffee Break & Poster Viewing |
| 10.30-12.10 | Sesson VIII. Chairpersons: Tibor Szarvas, Semmelweis University and Elias Arner, Karolinska Institute |
| 10.30-11.00 | “Perioperative Apalutamide with radical prostatectomy for high-risk localized prostate cancer” Keynote Speaker: Boris Hadaschik University Duisburg-Essen, Germany |
| 11.00-11.20 | “Cell-free DNA fragmentomics as an emerging approach for early cancer detection” Dennis Lo The Chinese University in Hong Kong |
| 11.20-11.40 | “Mapping Therapeutic Vulnerabilities in Melanoma: From Molecular Heterogeneity to Immune Escape” Lajos Kemény Semmelweis University, Hungary |
| 11.40-12.00 | “Molecular mechanisms underlying prostate cancer bone metastasis” Yuuki Imai Ehime University, Japan |
| 12.00-13.00 | Lunch Break & Poster Session |
| 13.00-14.50 | Session IX. Chairpersons: Csaba Bödör, Semmelweis University and Paaladinesh Thavendiranathan, University of Toronto |
| 13.00-13.30 | “Integrating Genomics into Clinical Management of Bone Marrow Failure and Leukemia Predispositio” Keynote Speaker: Marcin Wlodarski St. Jude Children Research Hospital Memphis, USA |
| 13.30-13.50 | “AI based pathology of colorectal cancer screening” András Kiss Semmelweis University, Hungary |
| 13.50-14.10 | “Improving precision in risk stratification for cardiovascular disease in patients with cancer – what do we know, what are the knowledge gaps” Paaladinesh Thavendiranathan University of Toronto, Canada |
| 14.10-14.30 | “Discovery of a potent inducible pathway that supports survival of cells in oxidative or therapeutic stress” Edward E. Schmidt Montana State University, USA |
| 14.30-15.00 | Coffee Break & Poster Viewing |
| 15:00-16:30 | Session X. Chairpersons: Balazs Győrffy, Semmelweis University and Yatrik Shah, University of Michigan |
| 15:00-15:30 | “ctDNA monitoring during follow-up of early-stage breast cancer” Keynote Speaker: Lajos Pusztai Yale School of Medicine, USA |
| 15:30-15:50 | “The regulatory logic of cancer cell identity” Stefan Prekovic Center for Molecular Institute Utrecht, Netherlands |
| 15:50-16:10 | “CCR5 Inhibitors for metastatic cancer: priming the tumor microenvironment – Bench to Bedside” Richard Pestell Pennsylvania Cancer and Regenerative Medicine Center, USA |
| 16:10-16:30 | “AI in Medical Imaging: From Algorithms to Clinical Impact” Pál Maurovich-Horvat Semmelweis University, Hungary |
| 16.30-17.00 | Closing Ceremony |
| 16.30-16.40 | Closing by the Chair of the Organizing Committee Magdolna Dank Semmelwis University |
| 16.40-16.45 | EUniWell Champion Katalin Fogarasi Semmelwis University |
| 16.45-17:00 | Rector’s Closing Remarks Béla Merkely Semmelwis University |
SPONSORS
