The Institute for Pathological and Experimental Cancer Research celebrates its anniversary with a commemorative year – Semmelweis Hírek

The institute celebrated its 180th anniversary with a jubilee academic session.

“This institute was the first institute of pathology not only in Hungary, but in the entire Central European region, and since then it has played a prominent role not only in traditional histology, but also in molecular diagnostics, research and education. Research and education here are of great value to the health sector.” “. Judit Bidlo, Deputy State Secretary responsible for the professional administration of healthcare at the Ministry of the Interior, at the ceremonial scientific meeting organized on the occasion of the 180th anniversary of the founding of the Institute of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research at Semmelweis University.

In his greeting, he pointed out that this year marks the hundredth anniversary of the issuance of the first legislation regarding the rules for the use of specialized titles. He also stated that vocational training in pathology was introduced under that name in 1999 – as autopsy had been called for decades – and in recent years, an average of 15-17 people have applied for training. In 2007, two new specialized tests, diagnostic cytology and molecular diagnostics, were introduced. Dr. Judit Bidlo stated that the institute is distinguished because it carries out its activities in a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach and uses the latest scientific results, and its work contributes to early detection of diseases, making treatment decisions, and healing patients. Patients.

Lajos Aranyi delivered his inaugural lecture on 10 April 1844, thus beginning the course of a new and independent order. Now, 180 years later, in the room that bears his name, we are assessing where pathology has been during this time, said Dr. University President Bella Merkle at the opening of the ceremonial session and commemorative year that began on the occasion of the jubilee. He stressed: Just as Semmelweis University, looking back at more than 250 years of history, is able to move forward on the path of innovation based on tradition, the past, present and future meet in a 180-year-old institute. Pathological and experimental cancer research. When the building was handed over in 1878, it was the most modern institute of mortuary dissection in Europe, and today it is the leading pathology institute in our country, which also continuously enhances the university's international reputation. The Rector highlighted: In 2007, digital pathology education began here for the first time in the world, and the institute plays a leading role in domestic and international oncology research, and is at the forefront of classical histology and molecular diagnostics.

“I hope that the coming years and decades will bring development on a similar scale to pathology, and that they can continue to nurture the burning light of science, keeping in mind the legacy of their great predecessors.” Bella Merkle

Regarding the early years of home pathology, its local development, the history of the institute in the last century, and its most prominent leaders and researchers of European and international fame, Dr. This was stated by András Matolcsi, President of the Foundation, in his welcoming speech. He pointed out that after the turn of the millennium, Dr. After Laszlo Köper was appointed President of the Institute, a new era began in the life of the Institute. At the same time, the building, research and laboratory infrastructure had to be renovated, diagnostic and pathological research activities had to be reorganized, and the institute's income had to be stabilized. An important element of the new concept was that pathology activities were centralized first at the university and then in the region, and later in many cases – such as hematology-oncology, molecular oncology, pulmonology or cardiac genetics – they began to function as national centres.

For this reason, the toolkit had to be updated, and then they started to digitize and automate as many activities as possible. As a result, compared to 2001, the institute has grown to become the largest domestic service provider, with 9,000 biopsies processed at that time, more than 65,000 samples are analyzed today, and digital pathology diagnosis and education are also useful in organizing international cadaver courses. The annual budget, rising to approximately HUF 2.5 billion, made it possible to renovate the institute's building in neo-Renaissance style and create new laboratories, thus creating the most modern new generation gene sequencing laboratory in Central Europe, or the zoological house of the institute, said Dr. Andras Matolcsi, adding that molecular diagnostics currently accounts for two-thirds of the institute's income.

I owe a debt of gratitude to the staff of the Institute, who accept that it is not enough to be good enough, but to be the best, and in addition, by giving extra performance, they constantly contribute to the success of the Institute – added Dr. Andras Matolksi.

Dr. Pankras Hoogendoorn, Professor of Pathology at Leiden University, gave a lecture on the European perspective of scientific research. The professor recalled the joint projects with Semmelweis University, then explained: Change is taking place in scientific life, and development cannot be stopped. “Times are changing: we have to provide global answers to global questions, especially since science now has a global impact on the economy as well,” he said. He said that international engagement in the field of science stems from a fundamental medical need, which in the field of pathology is evident in factors such as the unity of the WHO classification of diseases, the digitization of pathology, and the identification of an increasing number of diseases. For rare diseases, genetic heterogeneity, or the development of genetic technology.

Dr. Mikael Björnstedt, Professor of Pathology at Karolinska University, spoke appreciatively about the details of the 14-year collaboration between their institute and Semmelweis University. In addition to organizational cooperation, joint methodological development, educational exchange programs, and joint courses, as well as clinical research and translation projects, the professor confirmed that Dr. Andras Matolksi has been a guest professor at Karolinska University for many years, and was himself awarded an honorary doctorate by Semmelweis University in 2017. Regarding the future of pathology, he believes that in addition to genomics, the focus should be on transcriptomics and proteomics, and that precision pathology It has a great future, especially through AI-assisted image analysis procedures.

Dr. Csaba Budur, University Professor at the Institute, presented successes in the fields of molecular hematology, molecular oncology and cardiac genetics – including the Institute's transformation into a national center for pediatric leukemia, freely available comprehensive genomic profiling of some oncology diseases using NEAK funding, as well as Introducing cardiac tests that make follow-up of heart transplant patients less painful and leading to endocardial biopsies – and spoke about established diagnostic programs.

Dr. Anna Sebastian, chief scientific researcher at the Institute, drew attention to the tradition of cancer research here: The Department of Experimental Cancer Research at the Budapest Institute of Pathology was founded exactly 90 years ago, in 1934. He also described the role played by previous distinguished researchers at the Institute in developing research Cancer locally and internationally. Working groups involved in solid tumor and rare cancer disease research can draw on a very broad, half-century-old knowledge base in basic research, state-of-the-art technology and about 250 human cancer cell lines, also as live cell, 3D cell modeling options available for experiments. He also explained the most important research programs of the work teams.

In the second half of the festive session, participants were able to listen to lectures on the details of curriculum reform related to pathology education, the operation of the National Center for Hematology, and diagnostic and research activities for flow cytometry, in addition to the most important research and diagnostic activities. Milestones related to the complete digitalization of the organization, and they can also gain insight into digital daily life.

During the meeting, a short film was shown about the work of the Institute on the occasion of the jubilee year.

At the end of the celebratory session, Dr. spoke. Andras Matolksi, Director of the Institute, and Dr. Deputy Director Csaba Budur laid a wreath on the bust of the institute's founder, Lajos Arani.

Melinda Catalin Kiss
Photo: Balint Barta – Semmelweis University