Semmelweis University

The 32nd Semmelweis Symposium, focusing on network medicine, featured 35 global speakers discussing network science, drug repurposing, and AI in healthcare. Keynotes highlighted the potential of network medicine to revolutionize disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

The EU EVEREST project, coordinated by Prof. Breandán Kennedy, aims to standardize methods for isolating and characterizing extracellular vesicles, crucial for ultra-targeted therapies. Funded by the MSCA programme under Horizon Europe, the €1.3m project involves 21 institutions from 11 countries and will run for 48 months starting in January 2025. The consortium includes top academic and non-academic partners across Europe, focusing on improving treatments for complex diseases like cancer and cardiovascular conditions.

Green polymers from renewable resources are crucial for sustainable medical applications, addressing challenges in biodegradability and bioconversion. Research into sustainable bioplastics drives material science innovation, aligning with circular economy principles. Innovations in soft robotics and biodegradable materials enhance biocompatibility of implants. Bone grafting and antibacterial materials research aim to improve dental and implant outcomes. 3D printing of polycaprolactone offers potential in assisted reproductive technologies. Emphasis on environmentally-friendly, recyclable materials supports the circular economy.

Study of 60 top-ranked medical schools finds only 9 mention technology in mission statements, and just 4 teach digital health technology (DHT) in curricula, mostly through innovation projects. Key findings include minimal alignment between mission statements and curricula content, and low DHT teaching despite its importance. Examples of schools integrating DHT, like Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and University of Zurich, highlight the need for multidisciplinary collaboration. The study suggests future research should explore factors enabling DHT integration and its impact on graduate practice.

KalVista Pharmaceuticals presented sebetralstat data at Bradykinin Symposium 2024, showing consistent efficacy and safety profiles across phase 2 and 3 trials, with rapid symptom relief and a safety profile comparable to placebo. Median time to treatment was 9 minutes for all attacks and 8 minutes for laryngeal attacks, with median time to symptom relief at 1.8 hours for all attacks and 1.3 hours for laryngeal attacks. Oral sebetralstat may address challenges of current injectable treatments for HAE.