"You can't just sit on a gold mine" – interview with Dr. Judit Moldvay, head of the Department of Pulmonology at the University of Szeged
Dr. Judit Moldvay is a doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, head physician at the National Korányi Pulmonology Institute, lecturer at Semmelweis University, and, since 2024, head of the Department of Pulmonary at the University of Szeged.
In a New Light: How SZTE Researchers Are Redefining What We Know About Methane
More than twenty-five years ago, a research initiative on methane was launched in Szeged, opening entirely new perspectives on how inflammatory processes can be treated. Today, methane – once dismissed as an inert atmospheric bystander – is emerging as a surprising ally in the fight against inflammation. Building on this long-running work, Professor Dr. Mihály Boros and his team are now exploring methane’s biological effects in research that may reshape how we understand and treat inflammatory diseases. We spoke with Professor Boros about the discoveries emerging from their project, supported by HU-rizon, an international research-excellence program funded by Hungary’s National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDI Office).
Breakthrough in Orthopedic Surgery: First Robotic Hip Replacement Procedure Successfully Completed at SZTE
The University of Szeged has reached another major milestone: on September 12, Prof. Dr. Daniel Kendoff – a world-renowned orthopedic and trauma surgeon, specialist in robot-assisted surgery, and Director of the ENDO Clinic in Berlin – performed the first CORI robot-assisted hip replacement surgery at the Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedics at SZTE’s Clinical Center. This was the first time such an operation was carried out within the framework of the publicly funded healthcare system in Hungary.
SZTE Student Designs Menstrual Pain-Relief Belt with Support from Startup Program
Can targeted pressure really relieve menstrual cramps? And what does science say about the menstrual cycle behind all that pain? We spoke with Nikolett Häger, a medical student at the University of Szeged, about her innovation developed with support from the Hungarian Startup University Program (HSUP): a menstrual pain-relief belt designed to reduce discomfort for women.
When Academia and Industry Join Forces: University of Szeged and MSD Establish Joint Department
The University of Szeged and MSD have established a joint Pharmaceutical Industry Partnership Department, marking a new chapter in their collaboration. This initiative builds on a long-standing partnership – further strengthened in 2023 through clinical trial cooperation – and seeks to foster innovation in research, education, and pharmaceutical development. The agreement was officially signed in Szeged by Prof. Dr. László Rovó, Rector of the University of Szeged; Prof. Dr. Ildikó Csóka, Director-General for Strategic Planning; Prof. Dr. Zsolt Szakonyi, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy; Sean R. Smith, Managing Director of MSD Pharma Hungary Kft.; and Dr. Szabolcs Barótfi, Director of Clinical Research at MSD Hungary.
Advancing Biomedical Science: Host–Pathogen Interaction Center Inaugurated at the University of Szeged with Support from Alumna and Nobel Laureate Katalin Karikó
On May 12, the University of Szeged held an official ceremony to inaugurate its new research unit: the Host–Pathogen Interaction Center. Located within the Institute of Biology, the Center features Hungary’s only in vivo experimental station of its kind, alongside five newly renovated laboratories. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to support the development of antimicrobial therapies, with a particular focus on antifungal treatments – addressing a pressing yet often overlooked public health concern. The project was made possible through both professional and financial support from Katalin Karikó, an SZTE alumna and recipient of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
SZTE Enters Strategic Partnerships with Leading South American Research Institutions on its 444 Anniversary
The origins of the University of Szeged date back to May 12, 1581, when István Báthory established the Jesuit College in Cluj-Napoca – an institution recognized as SZTE's legal predecessor. Exactly 444 years later, the University marked this anniversary with a symbolic “birthday gift”: the signing of two strategic partnership agreements. Supported by two of South America’s leading scientific and healthcare institutions, these partnerships are set to position SZTE among the global research elite in emerging and internationally significant fields of healthcare research and education.
First radioisotope prostate-specific tumour therapy in Hungary performed in Szeged
The Department of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Szeged, led by Prof. Dr. László Pávics, has performed the first radioligand treatment in Hungary, opening a new way in the treatment of prostate cancer patients.
