Revolutionary anti-cancer therapy, successful student startups
In 2024, the title of ELTE Innovative Researcher was jointly awarded to Antal Csámpai and Gábor Mező for the development of an imipridone derivative applicable in anti-cancer therapies.
Antal Csámpai's team has developed a globally competitive anti-cancer active ingredient. Their revolutionary drug molecule exerts its tumor-fighting effects at doses several orders of magnitude lower than existing medications. It selectively destroys cancer cells, causes fewer side effects, and is significantly easier to produce compared to other treatments. The TBP-333 imipridone derivative identified by the researchers stands out among similar molecules due to its low toxicity and remarkable anti-tumor efficacy. The invention, co-developed with colleagues from Semmelweis University, is being patented across numerous countries and regions worldwide. Its potential application could save the lives of millions.
Today, all faculties of ELTE are producing innovative achievements that promise significant social benefits. As an example of this, at the event, Ildikó Horn, the creator of the top entry in the Faculty of Humanities’ innovation call, was invited to the stage. Under her leadership, the HistoRave historian web application framework was developed, combining professional expertise with modern technological solutions. This framework holds the potential to create a valuable tool for interactive history education, serving both teachers and students effectively in the future.
The university also annually recognizes young individuals who, during their studies, focus on creating valuable developments and launching businesses. Over the past year, several students have showcased their ideas at various forums and received accolades for their efforts.
The following student teams achieved podium finishes at the closing event of the Hungarian Startup University Program at ELTE:
- Joylin – the private tutor recommendation service (Csaba Pocsári, project initiator, Bora Bárány and Katalin Ilauszki, co-founders). Joylin is the only service that recommends the most suitable private tutor tailored to the needs of students, all for free. Tutors only pay for the service when they gain a new student. The team's goal is to provide the highest quality support in the private tutoring market.
- Hiraeth Labs (Bence Soóki-Tóth, Balázs Sándor, and Bence Fazekas, co-founders) is the first intelligent application that helps with doctor-patient communication, overcoming language barriers and misunderstandings in medical contexts.
- Stratumax (Marcell Gajdos, project initiator, Eszter Reichenbach and Mark Wagner, co-founders) is the first online platform that connects 3D printer owners with customers, enabling faster, cheaper, and more sustainable manufacturing.
The Hungarian winner of the CHARM-EU inter-university alliance’s first sustainability-themed startup competition was the GuardenAI team. The project aims to eliminate the need for chemical interventions in agricultural pest control by leveraging machine learning, ensuring healthier food reaches our tables. Nándor Kelecsenyi and Ákos Csik developed an autonomous robot equipped with advanced artificial intelligence and laser technology. The system identifies insects responsible for potato infections and eliminates them using lasers.