HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged 
The overwhelming majority of our biological knowledge stems from the study of organisms found in our immediate surroundings or from within our own bodies. This holds true for bacteria as well, as the most well-studied species are from environments inhabited by humans or from within the human body itself. However, there are numerous conditions where the majority of these species are unable to survive but other bacteria are able to survive and even thrive. One such example are species belonging to the genus Psychrobacter, which can be found living in the icy terrain of Antarctica.
The Systems Immunology Research Group at HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged led by Máté Manczinger is participating in a HORIZON-HEALTH-2023-DISEASE-03 project named ID-DarkMatter-NCD.
The Algae4IBD project (https://algae4ibd.eu/) brings together 21 researcher institutes and companies from 11 countries to unify their expertise in different fields to help patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Chronic inflammation of the digestive tract is a very complex disease for which there is no universally applicable treatment. Since algae are known to produce specific bioactive molecules, they are a promising source when looking for new therapeutic agents.
The overwhelming majority of our biological knowledge stems from the study of organisms found in our immediate surroundings or from within our own bodies. This holds true for bacteria as well, as the most well-studied species are from environments inhabited by humans or from within the human body itself. However, there are numerous conditions where the majority of these species are unable to survive but other bacteria are able to survive and even thrive. One such example are species belonging to the genus Psychrobacter, which can be found living in the icy terrain of Antarctica.
The Systems Immunology Research Group at HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged led by Máté Manczinger is participating in a HORIZON-HEALTH-2023-DISEASE-03 project named ID-DarkMatter-NCD.
The Algae4IBD project (https://algae4ibd.eu/) brings together 21 researcher institutes and companies from 11 countries to unify their expertise in different fields to help patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Chronic inflammation of the digestive tract is a very complex disease for which there is no universally applicable treatment. Since algae are known to produce specific bioactive molecules, they are a promising source when looking for new therapeutic agents.
The HUN Biological Research Centre, Szeged (HUN-REN BRC Szeged) is an outstanding institution of the internationally acknowledged Hungarian biological research. The HUN-REN Biological Research Centre was founded in 1973. The 4 institutes of HUN-REN BRC - the Institutes of Biophysics, Biochemistry, Genetics and Plant Biology - employ about 260 scientists whose work is hall-marked by highly appreciated international scientific publications and patents. The research topics include several fields of molecular and cell biology from the industrial utilization of bacteria through controlled improvement of cultivated plants to the problems of human health and environmental protection. HUN-REN BRC is mainly a scientific basic research centre, but scientists of HUN-REN BRC play an initiative role in the foundation and promotion of biotechnological companies, as well as in educational duties. The successful activity and high-level scientific research pursued in HUN-REN BRC were also acknowledged by the European Molecular Biological Organization (EMBO) and in 2000 the European Union awarded the title of “Centre of Excellence“ to HUN-REN BRC. A brief overview of the institute can be looked at here.
The HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged is one of the largest life science research facilities of the HUN-REN HQ. Its activity covers all areas of modern biology. It is organized into four institutes, corresponding to the diversity of the investigated fields: biophysics, biochemistry, genetics, plant biology. The activities of the Center involve primarily basic science, but practical application of the results also represents a high priority.
Researchers of the HUN-REN BRC teach at various universities, such as the University of Szeged, the Eötvös Loránd University, the University of West Hungary and the University of Debrecen. About 70 Ph.D. students and the same number of undergraduate students work on their Ph.D. theses and diploma works, respectively, in the four institutes of HUN-REN BRC. Seminars and lectures are organized for researchers and students on a regular basis. Every year since 1972, a 10-month International Training Course (ITC) has been organized for foreign graduate students.
To support scientific research, the HUN-REN BRC has organized several laboratories that offer different kinds of services.
