History of the Centre for Translational Medicine

The history of translational medicine – from research to healing

One of the greatest challenges of modern medicine today is not the lack of new scientific findings, but the slow pace of their practical application. Translational medicine answers this challenge: its goal is to ensure that laboratory discoveries, clinical research and innovations reach patients as quickly and efficiently as possible, becoming tangible benefits for society.

In Hungary, the translational mindset gained fresh momentum in 2016, when the first Translational Medicine Centre was established under the leadership of Professor Péter Hegyi at the University of Pécs. The initiative was supported by the Translational Medicine Foundation, which provided methodological foundations, digital infrastructure and an international network.

The model’s success soon grew to national scale: St George Hospital in Székesfehérvár and Heim Pál Children’s Hospital in Budapest also joined.

Semmelweis University CTM – at the forefront of Europe

Since its foundation in 2021, the Centre for Translational Medicine (CTM) of Semmelweis University has become one of Europe’s largest and fastest-growing TM centres. The Centre provides a platform where basic research, clinical care, education and data-driven innovation work closely together. Our goal is to set science in motion for healing, so that research results serve patient care not years later, but from the very moment they are produced.

A key mission of the CTM is training the next generation of healthcare professionals. Students gain not only scientific knowledge but also hands-on experience, enabling them to make a direct impact on the quality of patient care.

International expansion – the future of the CTM

The translational medicine model will reach a new milestone in 2025:

• at the University of Szeged and

• at the University of Vienna
PhD training as well as supervisor master training will be launched.

This not only increases the programme’s international weight, but also allows students and lecturers to become part of a cross-institutional knowledge community – a scientific network that is already building tomorrow’s healthcare today.

Technological and research-support background

The CTM is not only an educational centre but also a resource hub supporting research:

through the ECDMS system we work with reliable, validated healthcare data,
we support studies with methodological, biostatistical, IT and AI expertise,
and we play an active role in data-driven clinical innovation.

Strategic Partners

Translational Medicine Foundation – provides an ECDMS IT system and e-learning materials to support scientific research, strengthening research infrastructure and digital training.
National Biomedical Foundation – develops e-learning materials and recruits young researchers within the National Academy of Scientist Education programme, ensuring future scientific talent.
University of Szeged & University of Vienna – key members of the international translational-medicine training network from 2025.

Collaborating Healthcare Institutions

Heim Pál National Pediatric Institute – 11 members
Fejér County Szent György University Teaching Hospital – 8 members
Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Hospital & Outpatient Clinic – 7 members
Hungarian Defence Forces Medical Centre (Military Hospital) – 4 members
University of Pécs – 3 members
Vas County Markusovszky University Teaching Hospital – 3 members
Markusovszky Hospital, Szombathely – 3 members
Jósa András Teaching Hospital, Nyíregyháza – 2 members
Tirgu Mures Emergency Clinical County Hospital – 2 members
Veszprém County Csolnoky Ferenc Hospital – 2 members
Szent György Hospital, Székesfehérvár – 1 member
Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Hatvan – 1 member
Uzsoki Street Hospital – 1 member
Bács-Kiskun County Hospital, Kecskemét/Kalocsa – 2 members
New Saint John Hospital & Outpatient Clinic – 1 member
Szent Borbála Hospital – 1 member
Somogy County Kaposi Mór Teaching Hospital – 1 member
Zala County Saint Rafael Hospital – 1 member
Toldy Ferenc Hospital – 2 members
Szent Imre University Teaching Hospital, Budapest – 2 members
Budapest Dr. Jenő Manninger Trauma Centre – 1 member
György Gottsegen National Cardiological Institute – 1 member
György Gottsegen National Cardiological Institute – 1 member
University Hospital Martin, Slovakia – 1 member
Quzhou People’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University – 1 member
Regional Institute of Oncology, Iași, Romania – 1 member
Sfântul Spiridon County Emergency Hospital, Iași, Romania – 2 members
Institute of Pneumophysiology “Marius Nasta”, Bucharest, Romania – 1 member
National Institute of Diabetes, Nutrition & Metabolic Diseases “N.C. Paulescu”, Bucharest, Romania – 1 member
Saint Mary Emergency Children Hospital – 1 member
Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Szeged – 1 member
Department of Neurology, University Clinical Center of Kosovo – 1 member
Toldy Ferenc Hospital – Surgical Department – 1 member
South Buda Regional Hospital (Szent Imre University Teaching Hospital), Surgical Department – 1 member

Other Collaborating Organisations, Companies & Departments

Novo Nordisk – 1 member
Preventrend Ltd. – 1 member
Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Social Sciences – 1 member
Ziv Medical Centre, Tzfat, Israel – 1 member
Candena Slovakia – 1 member
Hungarian National Bank (The Central Bank of Hungary) – 1 member
Clinic of Stomatology & Maxillofacial Surgery, UNLP Košice – 1 member
Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine & Pharmacy, Iași – 1 member
Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest – 1 member
Kőbánya Fekete István Elementary School – 1 member

Results

The results from 2021 to 2025 speak for themselves:

Join us!

If you are looking for a community where science serves people rather than itself, the Centre for Translational Medicine is for you. Whether you are a student, lecturer, researcher or partner institution – the future of healthcare starts here, with you.

Contact: tmk@semmelweis.hu