Semmelweis University is a leading institution of higher education in Hungary and the Central European region within the area of medicine and health sciences. Its main commitment is based on the integrity of education, research, and healing, which make Semmelweis University an internationally renowned center of knowledge.
Research, development, and innovation comprise an important part of the University’s three-fold mission. The target of research at the university are early diagnostics and therapy, disease prevention, and active aging. Currently, there are 300 research groups at the university including 31 international and 94 Hungarian research grants. Semmelweis University received the prestigious Research University title for the second time in 2013.
Highlighted projects
Outcome prediction of heart failure patients
Heart failure is an ever-growing epidemic and therefore, the greatest challenge of current cardiology. Beyond established drug therapies, non-pharmacological solutions have evolved to represent meaningful therapeutic options. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is one of them: this special pacemaker aims to restore normal cardiac muscle contraction in a given subset of heart failure patients. However, a non-negligible proportion of patients did not respond favorably, therefore, the appropriate patient selection and prediction of outcomes are of pivotal importance for everyday practice. Using a retrospective database comprising nearly all of the patients who received CRT devices at the Heart and Vascular Center of Semmelweis University, we have developed the machine learning-based SEMMELWEIS-CRT score to predict short- and mid-term all-cause mortality in this patient population. Our score has clearly outperformed the conventional risk stratification tools and available online at (www.semmelweiscrtscore.com). Currently, we are seeking international collaborations for external validation and moreover, to extend its capabilities beyond CRT patients.
Data-driven management of patients with myocardial infarction
Compared to European data, Hungarian cardiovascular morbidity and mortality statistics are poor. Despite receiving acute care of the European level, patients with myocardial infarction face especially adverse outcomes. By comparing national and international databases, we are aimed at exploring the risk factor pattern of Hungarian patients leading to this phenomenon. The VMAJOR-MI registry comprises data of over 12000 patients and will serve as the main input for such analyses. In the midterm, we plan to create a personalized risk stratification system that will support patient management, medical decision-making, and ultimately may result in the improved prognosis of myocardial infarction patients.
Sports cardiology
Hungary is famous for its great athletes but also for the well-established complex sports cardiology program settled. The Heart and Vascular Center has now over 10 years of experience in investigating and managing elite and also amateur athletes. The multi-modality screening approach (for example by ECG, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, echocardiography, cardiac MRI and CT, etc.) allows a comprehensive assessment of exercise-induced physiological and sometimes pathological cardiac changes. Over time, a huge database has been created to address the main questions of sports cardiology: Can we predict sports performance? How can we optimize the training load? Will our data help us to lay the foundation stone of personalized sports medicine? And, importantly, can we prevent the sudden cardiac death of athletes?