Periodic Reporting for period 5 - HCEMM (Establishing the Hungarian Center of Excellence for Molecular Medicine in partnership with EMBL)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-07-01 al 2023-12-31
Senescence, or gradual deterioration of function with age, is a process seen in most multicellular life, including humans. The explanation behind it is complex and not yet fully explored – it is the result of environmental effects as well as various evolutionary compromises and trade-offs. In humans, senescence is associated with the gradually increasing risk of various, often non-communicable diseases. Effective diagnostics and therapies for age-related disease are important in improving human life quality.
Global life expectancy has been rising steadily since the start of the 20th century. Unfortunately, this was not completely mirrored by an increase in healthy life expectancy - the part of life spent in generally good health. In other words; people live longer, but they also spend more time burdened by disease – in fact, several health conditions affect elderly demographics disproportionately. This increasingly strains society: the vast majority of health expenditure is spent on people older than 65, and the proportion of this group in the population is growing. It is imperative that research targets age-related disease to alleviate some of the burden on society by increasing healthy life expectancy and promoting healthy ageing.
The Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine (HCEMM) was founded specifically for that purpose. Together with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), the advanced partner, HCEMM has recruited (and retained) the best scientists and established a network of sites - currently at the founding organizations Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Semmelweis University, Budapest and the University of Szeged - with the intention of expanding this network over time to all institutions involved in translational medicine in Hungary. Incorporated as a non-profit company, HCEMM Ltd. explores new avenues to increase the impact of Hungarian research and development in the field of molecular medicine and to establish solid connections to the biomedical industry worldwide.
The project aimed to:
1. Develop an autonomous Research Institute with the ability to contribute to the renewal of the Hungarian research and innovation system, via the establishment of the Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine;
2. Improve the international standing of Hungary in the field of molecular medicine in a strong partnership with EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory)
3. Provision cutting-edge technologies, opportunities for cross-fertilization and scientific autonomy as well as freedom to conduct innovative research for Hungarian scientists;
4. Actively contribute to the education and training of researchers in the area of molecular medicine for the next generation of scientists;
5. Cooperate with industry by ensuring the transfer of technology and knowledge to industrial partners based in Hungary as well as worldwide, by promoting research groups to form spin-off companies and by attracting related translational projects with associations or companies to contribute to sustainable development and value for society, and by providing services;
6. Participate in the wide-ranging social debate on the scientific and technological aspects of molecular medicine, by actively engaging in objective communication on science, with a focus on educating the public and being receptive to their needs.
Global life expectancy has been rising steadily since the start of the 20th century. Unfortunately, this was not completely mirrored by an increase in healthy life expectancy - the part of life spent in generally good health. In other words; people live longer, but they also spend more time burdened by disease – in fact, several health conditions affect elderly demographics disproportionately. This increasingly strains society: the vast majority of health expenditure is spent on people older than 65, and the proportion of this group in the population is growing. It is imperative that research targets age-related disease to alleviate some of the burden on society by increasing healthy life expectancy and promoting healthy ageing.
The Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine (HCEMM) was founded specifically for that purpose. Together with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), the advanced partner, HCEMM has recruited (and retained) the best scientists and established a network of sites - currently at the founding organizations Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Semmelweis University, Budapest and the University of Szeged - with the intention of expanding this network over time to all institutions involved in translational medicine in Hungary. Incorporated as a non-profit company, HCEMM Ltd. explores new avenues to increase the impact of Hungarian research and development in the field of molecular medicine and to establish solid connections to the biomedical industry worldwide.
The project aimed to:
1. Develop an autonomous Research Institute with the ability to contribute to the renewal of the Hungarian research and innovation system, via the establishment of the Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine;
2. Improve the international standing of Hungary in the field of molecular medicine in a strong partnership with EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory)
3. Provision cutting-edge technologies, opportunities for cross-fertilization and scientific autonomy as well as freedom to conduct innovative research for Hungarian scientists;
4. Actively contribute to the education and training of researchers in the area of molecular medicine for the next generation of scientists;
5. Cooperate with industry by ensuring the transfer of technology and knowledge to industrial partners based in Hungary as well as worldwide, by promoting research groups to form spin-off companies and by attracting related translational projects with associations or companies to contribute to sustainable development and value for society, and by providing services;
6. Participate in the wide-ranging social debate on the scientific and technological aspects of molecular medicine, by actively engaging in objective communication on science, with a focus on educating the public and being receptive to their needs.
• Until December 2023, the scientific recruitment and all scientific work packages have been accelerated in the fields of knowledge transfer, training and education, scientific activities, communication and open access supporting the development of a new Centre of Excellence.
• EMBL has intensively supported the project in all fields with all the best practices, continuous advice, significant personnel efforts and several visits by HCEMM members to Heidelberg and EMBL members to Budapest and Szeged. EMBL has expressed interest in further continuing the ongoing cooperation.
• The new HCEMM Headquarters building (Incubator House at Szeged Science Park) was inaugurated in January 2022. The HCEMM Administration began to occupy the building in April 2022 and the first Core Group took up work in July 2022. By the end of 2023, laboratories have been furnished and occupied by Core Groups.
• In total, 20 HCEMM Matching Research Groups and 6 HCEMM Core Groups are now active in the fields of Immuno-inflammatory Diseases, Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases and Genomic Instability and Cancer and Infectious Diseases with Special Emphasis on Co-Morbidities.
• Four Advanced Core Facilities have been established: HCEMM-USZ Functional Cell Biology and Immunology, HCEMM-BRC Single Cell Omics, HCEMM-SU In Vivo Imaging, and Scientific Computing.
• HCEMM scientists have published 306 journal articles with 31.6% in the Top 10 Journals, and filing of the first patents is under way.
• HCEMM has achieved Hungarian National Laboratory Status and also is the recipient of a Hungarian Thematic Excellence award. These are the first funds which will extend the lifespan of HCEMM beyond the end of the EU Teaming Grant period. The HCEMM has already been awarded ERA-NET, Eurostars and Horizon Europe grants and is continuously applying for further funding.
• A Business Development Team has been formed at the HCEMM headquarters, which focuses on further intensifying the interaction with industrial partners.
• HCEMM established a significant online presence with over 7000 total followers across multiple platforms, as well regular events for engaging with the public and communicating science, such as HCEMM Science Café.
• EMBL has intensively supported the project in all fields with all the best practices, continuous advice, significant personnel efforts and several visits by HCEMM members to Heidelberg and EMBL members to Budapest and Szeged. EMBL has expressed interest in further continuing the ongoing cooperation.
• The new HCEMM Headquarters building (Incubator House at Szeged Science Park) was inaugurated in January 2022. The HCEMM Administration began to occupy the building in April 2022 and the first Core Group took up work in July 2022. By the end of 2023, laboratories have been furnished and occupied by Core Groups.
• In total, 20 HCEMM Matching Research Groups and 6 HCEMM Core Groups are now active in the fields of Immuno-inflammatory Diseases, Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases and Genomic Instability and Cancer and Infectious Diseases with Special Emphasis on Co-Morbidities.
• Four Advanced Core Facilities have been established: HCEMM-USZ Functional Cell Biology and Immunology, HCEMM-BRC Single Cell Omics, HCEMM-SU In Vivo Imaging, and Scientific Computing.
• HCEMM scientists have published 306 journal articles with 31.6% in the Top 10 Journals, and filing of the first patents is under way.
• HCEMM has achieved Hungarian National Laboratory Status and also is the recipient of a Hungarian Thematic Excellence award. These are the first funds which will extend the lifespan of HCEMM beyond the end of the EU Teaming Grant period. The HCEMM has already been awarded ERA-NET, Eurostars and Horizon Europe grants and is continuously applying for further funding.
• A Business Development Team has been formed at the HCEMM headquarters, which focuses on further intensifying the interaction with industrial partners.
• HCEMM established a significant online presence with over 7000 total followers across multiple platforms, as well regular events for engaging with the public and communicating science, such as HCEMM Science Café.
The Consortium expects that, due to the project implementation, the scientific capacities of Hungary will increase and therefore it will improve its chances to seek competitive funding in the international fora. It is also expected that Hungary will engage in a strategic growth path pointing to long-term opportunities for economic development. It will significantly improve its research and innovation culture and benefits will also accrue to the institutions from the more intensive research and innovation performers, in terms of access to new research avenues, creativity and sources for increased mobility (inwards and outwards) of qualified scientists.