Inspiring a New Generation of Clinical Researchers in Europe

Client: Semmelweis University

At Semmelweis University, a transformative educational journey empowers hundreds of emerging scholars with the tools, mentorship, and global perspectives to lead the next era of medical discovery.

On October 16, 1846, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston hosted the first public surgery performed with ether anesthesia, signifying the beginning of modern anesthesiology. Just a few months later, Hungarian surgeons successfully performed the procedure. That same year, Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian physician and scholar, significantly contributed to the field of medicine by demonstrating how hand washing with chlorinated lime solutions led to better patient outcomes. This advancement also improved surgical outcomes and has saved millions of lives ever since.

Cross-continent collaboration has long been a hallmark of modern medicine, with significant advancements resulting from the shared contributions of the global health care community. 

Founded in 1769, Semmelweis University is the oldest medical university in Hungary. With six faculties and a doctoral school, it covers wide-ranging aspects of medical and health sciences. The university is also the largest provider of health care services in Hungary: its clinics treat more than 2.5 million cases yearly. In 1969, the institution adopted the name of its renowned professor, Ignaz Semmelweis.

Even though the Central European region has produced outstanding researchers, a critical mass has been missing due to the lack of high-level, cross-border postgraduate training in clinical research. Seeing an opportunity for the region to increase its capacity to conduct impactful studies, publish scientific papers, and secure research funding on an international scale, Semmelweis University worked with Harvard Medical School to design and deliver a customized yearlong postgraduate educational experience, the Clinical Science Scholars Program at Semmelweis University, to high potential researchers in Hungary and Eastern Europe.

Many of the participants come from Semmelweis University and are in roles as clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, student residents, or recent graduates. Program participants also come from countries outside Hungary, including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia.

The program’s rigorous curriculum is focused on the application of key concepts. Topics covered include designing and conducting clinical research, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data, and writing grant proposals. Participants also develop their soft skills in areas such as teamwork and leadership. Scholars are expected to develop and submit a research proposal as a capstone project with mentorship from Harvard Medical School and Semmelweis University faculty members. 

Through the program, participants gain a peer network of international clinical researchers. Over three years, in the first three cohorts, more than 200 researchers are gaining knowledge, skills, and connections to elevate their research capabilities and the potential of their institutions locally and globally.

Capstone projects have included:

• SAeVE-IPF: Preventing acute exacerbations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with azithromycin - Dorottya Fesu
• Comparing the clinical success of two different CAD/CAM full cuspal coverage onlays - Eszter Agnes Szalai
• Semaglutide for prostate cancer patients on androgen deprivation therapy – A phase II, double blind, randomized-controlled trial - Tamas Fazekas