The University of Szeged (SZTE) and AstraZeneca have elevated their long-standing cooperation to a new strategic level, focusing on data-driven healthcare research, expanded clinical trials, public health programs, and medical education.
The enhanced partnership will support projects tackling both widespread public health issues and rare diseases. Through joint innovation and advanced data utilization, the collaboration aims to improve patient journey management and contribute to both Hungarian and international scientific developments.
Speaking at the announcement, Prof. Dr. László Rovó, Rector of the University of Szeged, emphasized SZTE’s unique capability to integrate research, education, and healthcare. “With our clinics, research bases, and training institutions covering all layers of society, we can diagnose, treat, research, and educate — and this collaboration with AstraZeneca allows us to do all that more effectively,” he stated.
Dr. Mátyás Faluvégi, Biopharma Director at AstraZeneca, highlighted the importance of using wide-ranging patient data to enhance disease prevention and therapy strategies, particularly for chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disorders — some of Hungary’s leading causes of death.
As part of the new framework, the two institutions have already launched pilot projects focusing on the early detection and improved management of diabetes. The joint initiatives also aim to identify key risk factors and develop targeted treatments to slow disease progression.
Prof. Dr. Ildikó Csóka, Strategic Director at SZTE, noted the significance of aligning values with a corporate partner and building a true ecosystem. “Our goal is to connect research, industry, and real-world healthcare, ensuring that innovation and practice feed into one another,” she said.
Kuuno Vaher, AstraZeneca’s Central Europe Cluster Director, emphasized Hungary’s strong digital infrastructure and scientific potential. He underlined that AstraZeneca’s global experience and extensive medical database will play a crucial role in advancing new therapies and sharing knowledge across fields like oncology, immunology, and rare diseases.
The partnership between SZTE and AstraZeneca represents a major step toward building a more integrated, innovative, and patient-centered healthcare system — not only for the Southern Great Plain region of Hungary, but for the wider European community.
Source: University of Szeged (SZTE)
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