I am a researcher driven by curiosity about how the brain is protected – and how this protection can fail in disease. My research focuses on the neurovascular unit and the blood–brain barrier, with a particular interest in how cancer cells enter the brain and form metastases. By uncovering these mechanisms, we aim to identify potential therapeutic targets.

A central aspect of my work is mentoring students and colleagues, motivating them, and supporting them in building successful and fulfilling scientific careers. I also enjoy teaching and science communication, engaging both future researchers and the broader public. I believe science should be inclusive and accessible, and I have been involved in advocacy initiatives that promote equal opportunities for early-career researchers.

Being a scientist is both challenging and deeply rewarding – a continuous journey of questioning, discovery and understanding.

SCIENCE IS MY GREATEST ADVENTURE!

Education

2003: Diploma in medicine, UMF Tg. Mureș, Romania
2009: PhD in theoretical medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
2025: Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (DSc)

Publications

Google scholar
Hungarian Science Bibliography
Researchgate

Research grants as principal investigator

  • three closed NKFIH-OTKA grants: PD100958 (2012–2015), “Role of the neural environment in the transmigration of melanoma cells through the blood-brain barrier”; FK124114 (2017–2021), “Role of brain pericytes in the formation of central nervous system metastases”; K135475 (2020–2026), “Tumour cell-induced pericyte responses during brain metastasis development”
  • two UEFISCDI grants: PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2016-1352 (2018–2020), “Interaction of pericytes with melanoma and breast cancer cells during formation of cerebral metastases”; PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2019-1302 (2020–2022), “Brain pericytes as key modulators of the perivascular metastatic niche”
  • one collaborative research grant: University of Szeged – HUN-REN Biological Research Centre: SZTE SZAOK-KKA No:2022/5S729 (2022–2025), “Aging-associated neuroinflammation: studies on KAT knock-out mice and newly synthesized kynurenic acid analogs” (co-PI)
  • current project: NKFIH-ADVANCED 152806 (2026–2029), “Regulatory functions of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) in the neurovascular unit”
Scientific interest

blood–brain barrier, neurovascular unit, cerebral endothelium, pericytes, tight junctions, signalling, brain metastases, melanoma, breast cancer, metastatic niche, proteases, exosomes, miRNAs, neuroinflammation, inflammasomes, ageing

Selected honours and awards

  • 2012: Bolyai Fellowship (Hungarian Academy of Sciences)
  • 2013: Junior Award of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
  • 2016: Bolyai Fellowship (Hungarian Academy of Sciences)
  • 2021: L'Oréal-UNESCO for Women and Science Hungarian Scholarship
  • 2023: Scholarship for scientists raising children (Hungarian Academy of Sciences)

Other scientific activities

  • reviewer for more than 30 scientific journals, evaluator of national and international project proposals, opponent in MSc and PhD committees
  • membership in young academies:
    • 2021–2026: member, Hungarian Young Academy
    • 2022–2023: executive board member, Hungarian Young Academy
    • 2023–2025: co-chair, Hungarian Young Academy
    • 2022–2029: member, Young Academy of Europe
  • 2025–2026: organizer, Young Researchers’ Seminar Series, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre
  • science communication activity:
    • Researchers’ Night lecturer (since 2014)
    • Brain Awareness Week lecturer (since 2018)