Director's Summary

"What you do today is what shapes the future." – Marcus Aurelius

Leading the Institute of Translational Medicine at the University of Pécs was one of the most significant milestones of my career. This was my first opportunity to serve as a Director, and I began this journey with great excitement, momentum, and a deep sense of responsibility.

From the beginning, I was driven by a clear goal: to understand how pathophysiological knowledge and the latest scientific results can be organized for the benefit of patients and utilized directly at the bedside. Translational research previously conducted in Szeged made it clear to me that discovery alone is not enough. A new approach was needed: translational medicine, whose central task is implementation—the integration of knowledge into everyday clinical practice.

Our Institute developed this model, which gained international recognition, including a publication in Nature Medicine. This represented a true shift in perspective: science does not exist for its own sake, but for the patients.

The road, however, was far from obstacle-free. We faced many difficulties, but these always pushed us forward. As Marcus Aurelius said: "The impediment to action advances action." This thought accompanied the development of the Institute throughout.

I am particularly proud of the Institute's community. I am grateful to those colleagues who joined us and together laid the foundation for a new scientific and educational perspective. The achievements of the past decade—dynamic growth, outstanding scientific performance, clinical trials involving nearly 20,000 patients, and the training of over 5,500 students—all reflect this collective effort.

A key to our success was collaboration. Close relationships with partner departments and clinical institutes played a vital role, especially the cooperation with the Department of Gastroenterology at the First Department of Internal Medicine, which created a true bridge between research and patient care.

After ten years, I will continue my work at the Institute in a new position. My goal is to continue supporting and developing the Institute's activities, though no longer in the role of Director. For me, this period was a true school of leadership: I learned much and changed much.

As Seneca put it: "While we teach, we learn."

Thank you to everyone.

Péter Hegyi

Director of the Institute of Translational Medicine (2016-2025)

A Decade of Success: Dynamic Growth and International Excellence

The past ten years have been one of the most successful eras in the Institute's history, characterized not only by spectacular growth in numbers but also by an extraordinary diversification of professional activities. By integrating the translational perspective, the Institute has become a defining player in domestic and international scientific life, where research, education, and patient care form an organic unity.

Pillars of our professional development and results:

  • Dynamic Community Building: Our staff has more than doubled since 2016 (from 31 to 71 members). We have successfully maintained a stable professional core: many of our colleagues have been with us for more than 5 years, and several for 25–30 years.

  • World-Class Scientific Output: Over the past decade, we have published 865 papers with a combined impact factor exceeding 3,800. The weight of our results is confirmed by more than 16,000 independent citations and regular presence in prestigious (D1 category) journals.

  • Clinical Research and Data Assets: We have become a major player in the field of clinical trials. Within the framework of 81 authorized studies and 33 registries, we manage more than 9.4 million data points involving nearly 20,000 patients, providing a unique foundation for modernizing patient care.

  • Successful Funding: Our grant activity is demonstrated by 50 awarded projects, including strategic large-scale programs such as STAY ALIVE. Additionally, we supported the Institute's work through grants from Richter, NKFIH, and UNKP, among others.

  • Educational Hub and Talent Management: In recent years, we were responsible for the training of more than 5,500 medical, dental, and pharmacy students. We also place a strong emphasis on talent management, evidenced by our students' successes in TDK and OTDK conferences and 29 successfully completed PhD defenses.

  • Institutional and Individual Recognition: Continuous professional quality is reflected in the multiple "Excellent Institute" titles, "Excellent Teacher" and "Practice Leader" awards for our teaching staff, a total of 72 "Owl" awards from the Faculty's Authors' Celebration, and numerous prestigious state and professional honors.

The Institute's development has proven that the translational approach—the direct transfer of research results into healing—is not only a scientific success but also the guarantee for the future of healthcare. Therefore, our Institute remains committed to progress, gaining new momentum under our newly appointed Director, András Garami.