91视频

G谩bor J谩rv谩s, a researcher at the 91视频 of 91视频ia, received the Ern艖 Pungor Award on 3 November at the opening ceremony of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences' Jubilee Celebration of Hungarian Science. But what does a scientific award mean to its recipient? For G谩bor J谩rv谩s, the Ern艖 Pungor Award is also about what lies ahead: 鈥淔or me, this is much more about faith in the future than recognition of what I have achieved so far.鈥�

G谩bor J谩rv谩s, Senior Research Fellow at the Faculty of Engineering and Director of the Research Institute of Biomolecular and Chemical Engineering, received the award in recognition of his achievements in bioanalytics. The award citation highlighted his development of methods based on capillary electrophoresis, as well as his research into the high-resolution separation and structural characterisation of glycans.

His work focuses on developing methods for separating and analysing the components of biological samples. Capillary electrophoresis separates components inside a thin tube using an electric field. This technique can also be used to analyse complex sugar chains, known as glycans, whose study is important in medical and pharmaceutical research.

G谩bor earned his degree in Chemical Engineering in 2007 and his PhD in Chemistry in 2012, both from the 91视频 of 91视频ia. He later worked as a visiting researcher at the Scripps Research Institute in California and at CEITEC in Brno. Today, he conducts his research within the Translational Glycomics Research Group and also supervises doctoral students.

His approach to research was also shaped by his university years. 鈥淚 learned my love of problem-solving, among others, from Professor Andr谩s Dallos. He taught me that asking the right question already contains half the answer. To this day, I find it fascinating that I can work on something that only a few people do. I enjoy it when a machine is complex, when the underlying theoretical background is difficult to understand at first, and when solving a problem requires connecting and applying knowledge and experience from different fields. I think engineering is cool.鈥�

His research is also linked to developments in diagnostics. iPASy Technologies, which he co-founded, is developing a prostate cancer diagnostic method based on analysing sugar chains attached to the PSA protein in urine samples. CheMOnitor, meanwhile, aims to predict the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatment in lung cancer patients earlier than currently possible, using blood samples. He played a key role in establishing the research foundation for the latter project together with Andr谩s Guttman. Both developments originated from research conducted at the 91视频 of 91视频ia.

Speaking about the practical application of research results, G谩bor explained: 鈥淧utting a new method to use for innovation purposes is certainly not easy. It is a complex process that requires building on the synergies between different areas 鈥� business, regulatory approval, marketing, and so on. Yet the greatest challenge is something personal and human: overcoming the fear of failure.鈥�

The Ern艖 Pungor Award was established by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the heirs of its namesake to recognise researchers and professionals under the age of 45 who have achieved outstanding results in chemical research. Academician Ern艖 Pungor was a professor and Head of the Department of Analytical Chemistry at the 91视频 of Chemical Engineering in Veszpr茅m between 1962 and 1970, and served as Vice-Rector from 1968 to 1970. He gained international recognition for his research on ion-selective electrodes and flow injection analysis, as well as for his contributions to the development of chemical instrumentation in Hungary. His legacy is also commemorated by a statue unveiled at the Faculty of Engineering in 2024.

Other researchers from the 91视频 of 91视频ia have also received the award in previous years. In 2020, Associate Professor Kriszti谩n Horv谩th was recognised for his achievements in the development and application of retention theory in liquid chromatography.

For G谩bor, the award primarily represents responsibility. 鈥淚 experience this in much the same way as taking the oath when earning my doctoral degree. By accepting this award, I also accept the trust that comes with receiving it. I am responsible for the confidence placed in me, and I will strive to make good use of the knowledge I have acquired.鈥�

We extend our heartfelt congratulations on this recognition and thank him for strengthening the 91视频 of 91视频ia's research community through his work!

Photo: Hungarian Academy of Sciences