Semmelweis IMPACT lab and personalised cancer care

The molecular pathology laboratory called IMPACT was opened on 5 October 2026 at the Institute of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research of Semmelweis University. According to the university, this development makes optical genome mapping part of routine patient care in Hungary for the first time. We summarise what the new lab can do, how it relates to personalised cancer treatment, and what it could mean for patients.

What is IMPACT, and where does it operate?

The laboratory’s full name is Integrated Molecular Pathology Laboratory for Clinical Translation. According to the university’s official announcement, the opening created an integrated genomics centre within the Institute of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research.

According to data published on the university’s social media page, the total cost of establishing the laboratory was close to HUF 500 million. The same post says that the institute’s molecular division already carries out more than 20,000 tests a year for a wide range of clinical centres across the country, meaning the lab’s work extends well beyond a single hospital.

Optical genome mapping: the key novelty highlighted by the university

According to the university’s report, at the opening Rector Béla Merkely highlighted that the development makes optical genome mapping part of routine patient care in Hungary for the first time. In the university’s wording, this means the method has not previously been among the tools of everyday diagnostics in Hungary.

In general terms, optical genome mapping works by imaging long stretches of DNA at high resolution, making larger structural rearrangements in the genome visible. This may include, for example, a chromosome segment being deleted, duplicated or moved elsewhere. Sequencing methods that read short DNA fragments do not always detect these changes clearly, so the two techniques can complement each other well.

How does genome sequencing help with treatment selection?

Cancers are driven by alterations that accumulate in the genetic material of cells, and these can differ from one patient to another. Two tumours arising in the same organ may show very different genetic patterns and may therefore respond to different treatments.

According to the university’s international communications channel, next-generation genome sequencing (NGS) helps oncologists choose targeted, personalised drug therapies. The same statement identifies support for clinical application and bedside medical decision-making as one of the lab’s main aims.

Alongside next-generation sequencing, the university’s social media page also mentions methylation analysis. DNA methylation is a chemical marking that influences whether a gene is active; its pattern can also help classify certain tumour types more accurately.

What tests does the institute carry out?

According to the institute’s diagnostic profile description, the molecular pathology division carries out biomarker testing in oncohaematology (blood-forming cancers), solid tumours and cardiogenetics. These can be divided into three main groups:

• Diagnostic tests: help determine exactly what disease is present.
• Prognostic tests: may indicate the expected course of the disease.
• Predictive tests: may help forecast whether a given treatment is likely to be effective.

The institute’s website also lists whole exome sequencing, liquid biopsy and bioinformatic analyses supported by machine learning. In general, liquid biopsy is a method that looks for genetic traces from a tumour in a blood sample, so in some cases it may be less burdensome for the patient than taking a tissue sample. Further information on the lab’s organisational structure and collaborations is available on the molecular diagnostics laboratory unit page.

Why does this matter at national level?

Cancer is one of the most serious public health problems in Hungary. According to a 2023 article by the specialist outlet Medical Online, cancer causes 32,000 to 34,000 deaths a year in Hungary, while the number of newly registered cases exceeds 75,000 annually. The same article also reported on comprehensive genetic profiling funded by NEAK and Semmelweis University’s role in publicly funded testing.

The university’s international communications also presents the development as a capacity expansion for the Central and Eastern European region. HIPER Jobs’ healthcare news feed also noted that the opening coincided with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and according to the report the laboratory may also support specialist training and cancer research.

What does all this mean for patients?

The new lab primarily works in the background: based on samples submitted by treating physicians, it produces genetic information that can support more precise diagnosis and the choice of treatment. Whether such testing is justified for a given patient, and what therapy may be considered, is always a professional decision by the medical team and also depends on the type and stage of the tumour.

Precision oncology does not promise a cure in every case, but it can make it possible to tailor treatment as closely as possible to the characteristics of the particular tumour. This article provides general information and does not constitute medical advice; for specific questions, it is worth consulting the treating physician or an oncologist.