The lecture series named after György Hevesy was created by the Association of Hungarian Chemists and the German Chemical Society (GDCh). The first lectures were organized in Hungary and Germany in 2008. Candidates for giving the lecture are nominated by the two organizations, followed by the selection of the researcher by a four-member committee consisting of the most famous German chemists (Barbara Kirchner, Tobias Beck, Angela Casini, Christoph Schneider).
The high-level professional recognition was recently won by Gyula Tircsó, head of the Department of Physical Chemistry of the Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen. The professor conducts research in the field of chemistry of medical imaging. His research focuses on improving the physico-chemical properties of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agents, as well as, more recently, replacing (potentially) toxic gadolinium complexes with other contrast agents. These are primarily based on manganese(II) compounds that are less harmful to living organisms, but have the same or even better parameters. The use of Mn(II) complexes establishes the connection between MRI and nuclear medicine (Positron Emission Tomography, PET) due to the diversity of diagnostic Mn(II) isotopes.
- The award reflects the recognition of radiochemists. On the one hand, this shows me that the activities of the Rare (earth) metal Research Group under my leadership are also visible from abroad. On the other hand, an award marked by the name of a Hungarian Nobel laureate chemist is particularly significant for all Hungarian researchers. I consider it important to point out that the work of the research group founded by professor emeritus Ernő Brücher - which, until the early 2000s, mainly involved the chemical examination of contrast agents used in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - has now been acknowledged in the field of nuclear medicine with this award, the professor emphasized.
Gyula Tircsó added: this successful professional work required the supportive cooperation of Debrecen researchers in the fields of radiochemistry, medicine, and physics, as well as of contributing partners (Faculty of Medicine, UD- ÁOK and Department of Nuclear Medicine, ScanoMed, ELKH Atomki). We wish to continue our joint work in the future as well.
The invitations arrived from German universities where significant research in the field of nuclear medicine is being carried out. According to plans, Gyula Tircsó will give his lectures at the universities of Heidelberg, Tübingen and Jülich between October 26-28.
Before Gyula Tircsó, six researchers had been invited to give their lecture, which is regarded as a remarkable professional recognition (Ferenc Fülöp, Szeges, Lutz F. Tietze, Göttingen, Pál Ormos, Szeged, Zoltán Kónya, Szeged, Gerald Brezesinski, Potsdam, and Karsten Krohn, Padereborn).
The lecture series is named after György Hevesy (1885-1966), a Hungarian chemist who also conducted research and taught in Germany. In 1943, he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of the radioactive tracer method.
For more information about the György Hevesy lecture series please go here .
Press center – CzA
