The Proteomics Core Facility of the University of Debrecen, which primarily focuses on studying proteins, has been recognised as one of the best research facilities in Hungary. The compilation of the list that contains the best 50 Hungarian research facilities was initiated by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office.
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Faculty of Medicine of UD established the Proteomics Core Facility in 2005. The development of a laboratory service system was considered important in order to ensure that the instruments purchased by the individual organisational units are available to the entire research community of the university. The department took a leading role in the realisation of the project. The first head of Facility was professor József Tőzsér.
- In the beginning, we had to cope with serious challenges, mainly because of the lack of proper maintenance services for our existing instruments and due to our limited financial resources. However, we gained valuable experience regarding how a service laboratory should be operated. Éva Csősz took over the management of the laboratory in 2010 to make it one of the leading facilities dealing with proteomic research in Hungary. This most recent title recognises the efforts that she has made over the years - highlighted József Tőzsér, Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Faculty of Medicine of UD, vice rector for health industry innovation and education development of UD.
The primary task of the laboratory as a service provider is to perform protein analyses. The researchers identify proteins in tissue, cell, tear, sweat, saliva and blood samples at the facility, according to the clients’ request.
- We receive orders for examinations from university units and businesses alike. We apply mass spectrometry and chromatography, which allows us to generate large amounts of data. In order to ensure quality, in addition to highly expensive, state-of-the-art instruments, professionals with a high level of expertise are also needed, researchers who are able to decide which out of the available methods should be used, or how to approach a specific issue of task. This is very important, because in most cases we have only a few samples, and this means that we rarely have a “second chance”, so we need to select the most appropriate method in order to produce results - explained associate professor Éva Csősz, head of the Proteomics Core Facility.
Éva Csősz pointed out that they consider talent management and keeping PhD students highly important. In parallel with the investigations they perform as service providers, they also conduct various research programmes, which includes taking biological samples from individuals suffering from different diseases. For a long time, they used only tear samples, but later they began to take saliva and sweat samples, too.
- Among other things, we have conducted investigations in relation to diabetic retinopathy, the damage of the retina as a result of diabetes. There are certain proteins in the tear samples taken from diabetes patients, which, through changes in their quantity, may indicate a high risk of the disease, allowing doctors to warn their patients. Also, in the tear of Alzheimer patients we have identified proteins that are not present in other people’s tear. This finding may help doctors to diagnose the disease - explained the head of the laboratory.
The experience obtained in the course of completing various research tasks is used for improving the quality of the services provided by the Facility. Also, they broaden the range of services with methods developed during internal research projects.
As another international recognition of her accomplishments, in 2021 Éva Csősz was elected member of the board of the European Proteomics Association.
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