He places a great emphasis on scientific work and encourages clinicians to engage in research alongside their medical duties. As he has always been interested in space research and extreme physical activities in sports, he is pleased to coordinate the work of three Ph.D. students in these fields. In April, Prof. Dr. Peter Ferdinandy was named Supervisor of the Month (Year 1).
Prof. Dr. Ferdinandy’s involvement with the Centre for Translational Medicine is multifaceted. He has an insight into CTM not only because he is the Vice-Rector for Science and Innovations at Semmelweis University, but also because he is a supervisor who assists the Ph.D. students of the Centre. “An important goal of our university is to increase the number of Ph.D. students. This mission is fostered by our RDI Support System, of which the Centre for Translational Medicine is an important part. CTM helps integrating research, development, and innovation into the university system.” Prof. Dr. Ferdinandy joined the CTM as a supervisor to gain an insider’s view of the system and to know how the work is going there. He currently coordinates the work of three first-year Ph.D. students with his two colleagues. They are primarily focused on space and sports research. The idea came from the fact that Semmelweis University participates as a healthcare and research background institution in the HUNOR Hungarian Astronaut Program.
One of Prof. Dr. Ferdinandy’s Ph.D. students is pharmacist Amir Makolli, who wants to gain new insights on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes of drugs in varied gravitational environments. His research aims to provide insights into how space conditions may affect the efficacy and safety of drugs, contributing to the development of guidelines for future space missions. Zsuzsanna Pásztorné Benyó is a dietician, whose Ph.D. topic is also related to space research. Her vision is to achieve healthy longevity in space and on Earth. Viktória Barna is also a dietitian, who is exploring the benefits of physical activity in everyday life. She wants to provide clear evidence on which activities are beneficial and which are harmful. The topic of space research and extreme physical activity in sports has always been close to Prof. Dr. Ferdinandy, as he was already involved in sports research in the 1990s – so he is pleased to follow the students’ progress.
“I consult with them weekly about their research. We have project meetings and group meetings every week, I try to attend them as well. I think their work is of very high quality. The students’ first scientific paper is in the final stages, and the second is progressing well. In the future, I would like to help new Ph.D. students as a supervisor, and from September, we plan to establish an independent sports and space group within CTM. Several students and potential supervisors have already expressed interest in joining this group. Its topic is of particular interest to students who are involved in sports medicine, pharmacology, orthopedics, cardiology, dietetics, and physiotherapy.”
(Szabó Emese)