Academic Excellence in Biomedical Research at Semmelweis University

Distinguished Reader!

The mission of this booklet is to provide an overview on
the research laboratories of highest merit at Semmelweis
University and to offer an opportunity for establishing new
scientific co-operation on the field of various disciplines.
This review can enhance the efficiency of joint efforts
between research groups on an international level, thus
offering multiply strength of fruitful scientific collaboration
and grant application.
Semmelweis University is widely recognized as one of
Europe's leading centers of medicine and health sciences.
With its 238-year-old tradition of academic excellence our
University ranks among the most prestigious Hungarian
research institutions where 1172 staff members in approximately
80 departments are involved in R & D activities.
Research projects in the preclinical and clinical departments
are supported by both Hungarian and international
programs. Contract research sponsored by pharmaceutical
companies is also an important part of scientific activity.
Selected research groups are supported jointly by the
University and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Our University is one of the recognized members of a vast
network of biomedical science; it is the site where academy
and industry come together, where the meaning of the
term multidiscipline really exists. The Szentágothai János
Knowledge Center (SJKC) is a center of excellence initiated
by Semmelweis University and supported by the National
Office for Research and Technology. The consortium also
includes Richter Gedeon Ltd., a leading Hungarian pharmaceutical
company, the Faculty of Information Technologies
of Pázmány Péter Catholic University and the
Institute of Experimental Medicine (Hungarian Academy
of Sciences).
Semmelweis University is also among the leading universities
in Hungary regarding the number of research
papers published in high quality international journals.
I sincerely hope that this review is a reliable indicator of
the high standard research activity at Semmelweis
University and it will succeed in its aim at promoting development
of inter-disciplinary teamwork.
Budapest, 2008

Tivadar Tulassay
Rector of Semmelweis University