Establishing the Hungarian Center of Excellence for Molecular Medicine in partnership with EMBL

Project Information

HCEMM

Grant agreement ID: 739593

DOI

10.3030/739593

Project closed

EC signature date 13 February 2017

Start date 1 April 2017

End date 30 September 2025

Funded under

• Teaming of excellent research institutions and low performing RDI regions

Total cost

€ 14 997 310,00

EU contribution

€ 14 997 310,00

Coordinated by

HCEMM NONPROFIT KORLATOLT FELELOSSEGU TARSASAG
Hungary

Periodic Reporting for period 6 - HCEMM (Establishing the Hungarian Center of Excellence for Molecular Medicine in partnership with EMBL)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Gradual deterioration of function with age, is a process seen in most multicellular life, including humans. In humans, ageing 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. With the advent of Molecular Medicine, it is now possible to find novel markers for disease onset and new treatment options, which can be used to contribute to healthy ageing of the population.

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. 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 and improve quality of life by increasing healthy life expectancy and promoting healthy ageing. This is especially important in Hungary, where life expectancy still considerably lags behind the European average.

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 main objective of the HCEMM Teaming Project are:
1. Development of 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. Improvement of the international standing of Hungary in the field of molecular medicine in a strong partnership with EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory);
3. Provision of cutting-edge technologies, opportunities for cross-fertilization and scientific autonomy as well as freedom to conduct innovative research for Hungarian scientists;
4. Active contributions to the education and training of researchers in the area of molecular medicine for the next generation of scientists;
5. Cooperation 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. Participation 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.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

• Until December 2023, the establishment of the Research Group was completed and all scientific work packages have been accelerated in the fields of scientific activities, knowledge transfer, training and education, communication and open access publications, supporting the development of the new Centre of Excellence. The number of HCEMM-related personnel now exceeds 300 individuals.
• 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. Of special importance is the establishment of a dedicated grant writing support at EMBL. 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 are now fully occupied by the Core Research Groups and the ACF Scientific Computing.
• In total 22 HCEMM Matching Research Groups and 7 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 518 journal articles with 38.22% in the Top 10 Journals.
• 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. HCEMM Groups have already been awarded ERA-NET, Eurostars and Horizon Europe grants and are continuously applying for additional funding.
• A Business Development Team has been formed at the HCEMM headquarters, which focuses on further intensifying the interaction with industrial partners, with more than a dozen projects completed already.
• HCEMM has established a significant online presence with over 13000 total followers across multiple platforms, as well regular events for engaging with the public and communicating science, such as HCEMM Science Café.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

With the support by the H2020 Teaming initiative, it was possible to strengthen Hungary’s standing in Molecular Medicine, with special emphasis on Applied Science considerably. Using the EU Teaming funds, as well as national Hungarian sources, especially those provided by the Thematic Excellence and National Laboratory programs, it was possible to establish a new Research Institute, which is focused on the development of novel diagnostic assays for the early detection of ageing-related diseases and the improvement of treatment options. This benefits the patients and should over time also lower the health care cost incurred by the Hungarian healthcare providers, as the early detection of diseases fosters a positive outcome through the possibility for early intervention.

The strong EMBL partnership, which will continue beyond the H2020 Teaming Project, was the first example of a connection to an international partner. This has by now been augmented through the establishment of relationships with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) and the Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (acib GmbH). The HCEMM ACF Scientific Computing also participates in the Hungarian ELIXIR node. Additional relationships are being developed, indicating that the implementation of the HCEMM program has led to the establishment of a new key player for Molecular Medicine in Hungary.

HCEMM Logo

HCEMM Incubator House in the Science Park Szeged

Laboratory work in the HCEMM Incubator House