Prof. Dr. István Kiss, head of the Doctoral School of Health Sciences of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Pécs, is a prominent figure in Hungarian public health and epidemiological research. During his decades of scientific and educational work, he played a decisive role in the development of health science, with particular attention to the molecular epidemiology of tumors and the field of preventive medicine.

Studies and academic degrees

He obtained his medical degree from the Medical University of Pécs in 1986, summa cum laude, and then in 2005 he also obtained a law degree from the Faculty of Public Health and Law of the University of Pécs. He began his scientific career at the Institute of Medical Public Health of the University of Pécs. He currently works as a university professor.

He obtained his PhD degree in 2001 at the University of Pécs with his thesis entitled “Possibilities of applying molecular epidemiological methods”. His scientific recognition was further enhanced by his habilitation, which he obtained in 2008, and in 2014 he was awarded the title of Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences with his thesis entitled “Gene expressions and allelic polymorphisms as molecular epidemiological biomarkers of tumor prevention”.

Professional and managerial activities

He has been the head of the Institute of Public Health of the University of Pécs, Faculty of Medicine, since 2014, where he previously played a decisive role as deputy head of the institute and then as acting head of the institute. In addition, in 2023 he was invited to become the head of the Doctoral School of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Pécs, with which he plays an outstanding role in supporting postgraduate training and the scientific advancement of PhD students.

He is a member of several domestic and international scientific organizations, including the President of the National Association of Public Health Training and Research Centers, the Member of the Preventive Medicine Committee of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the "Against Cancer, for Man, for Tomorrow" Foundation and the "Genomics for Cancer Prevention" Foundation. He is also actively involved in supporting research related to health preservation and disease prevention.

Research activity

His research areas are extremely diverse, mainly molecular epidemiology, the genetic background of tumors, individual susceptibility factors, and the investigation of public health and environmental risk factors are at the center of his work. During his research, he participated in numerous international collaborations and focused on important topics such as the relationship between nutrition and tumors, the role of genetic polymorphisms in the development of cancer, and factors influencing individual susceptibility in oncological and public health studies.

His scientific projects include applications related to the Horizon 2020 and EU FP6-FP7 programs funded by the European Union, as well as several domestic and international research collaborations. For example, he participated in the “Chemicals as Contaminants in the Food Chain” (EU FP6) and the “Gene-Rácító a Rákkutatásért Alapítvány” programs, which investigated the genetic and environmental correlations of cancer diseases.

Publication and professional recognition

He is extremely active in publishing. He is the author of more than 100 scientific publications in English and 50 in Hungarian, as well as 34 textbook chapters and 7 professional books. His scientific work is supported by more than 1500 independent citations, and his Hirsch index is 23.

https://m2.mtmt.hu/gui2/?type=authors&mode=browse&sel=10010743&view=assortedList

His professional work has been rewarded with numerous awards and recognitions, including the “Pro Hygiéné” certificate, the 1st prize of the Pécs Regional Committee of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the “József Fodor” commemorative medal of the Hungarian Hygienic Society, and the Ministerial Certificate of Recognition in 2020.

Educational activities

His teaching work covers a wide spectrum, from undergraduate to doctoral training, he is the developer and instructor of several subjects. At the University of Pécs, he is responsible for several mandatory and optional subjects, such as “General Epidemiology and Demography”, “Detailed Epidemiology”, and “Fundamentals of Disease Prevention”. He actively teaches in English and German, both in Hungary and abroad, for example at the Norwegian Bjørknes College.

As the supervisor of several PhD students, he supports the scientific progress of young researchers. More than 20 of the doctoral students he has supervised have successfully obtained a PhD degree.

Több PhD-hallgató témavezetőjeként támogatja a fiatal kutatók tudományos előmenetelét. Az általa vezetett doktoranduszok közül több, mint 20 fő sikeresen PhD fokozatot szerzett.

https://doktori.hu/index.php?menuid=192&lang=HU&sz_ID=7108

He is actively involved in the development of public health and cancer research strategies. He is a member of the organizing committee, scientific speaker and section chair of several international conferences. As the president of the public benefit foundation "Against Cancer, for Man, for Tomorrow", he considers the prevention of cancer and increasing the health awareness of the population to be of paramount importance.