How did you get interested in Medicinal Chemistry?
My original interest was in organic chemistry; during my undergraduate years I worked on novel supramolecular catalysts. Later, however, I became fascinated by the idea that carefully designed molecules could one day become drugs, which motivated me to pursue a PhD project in the field of medicinal chemistry. This curiosity naturally led me toward chemical biology, which I see as bridging the gap between organic chemistry and biological entities. Following this line, what especially excites me today is the development of antibody–drug conjugates: the possibility of treating cancer with such precision and selectivity is remarkable.
Where did you have your postdoc position?
I am conducting my postdoctoral research at the HUN-REN Medicinal Chemistry Research Group in Budapest, under the supervision of Prof. György M. Keser''.chr('369').''. My work focuses on covalent target discovery, library design and development of innovative warhead chemistries. In parallel, I am applying these approaches to the development of new chemical methods suitable for the preparation of antibody–drug conjugates.
What are your current research interests?
My main interests lie at the interface of medicinal chemistry and chemical biology. Over the past years, I have worked on covalent fragment-based drug discovery, developing libraries and methods to map reactive amino acids in proteins and to design targeted covalent inhibitors. More recently, my interest has partially shifted to antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs), with a focus on developing new chemical technologies to make these complex biologics more homogeneous, selective, and clinically useful.
How would you explain what your research area is to non-scientists?
In simple words, my research is about finding better ways to connect small drug-like molecules to larger biological systems, such as proteins or antibodies, so that they can target diseases more precisely. Think of antibody-drug conjugates as attaching a powerful but potentially harmful medicine to a “delivery vehicle” that takes it exactly to the diseased cells while sparing the healthy ones. This is the principle behind antibody–drug conjugates, and my work is to invent the chemical tools that make such precise delivery of drug molecules more readily available.
What do you like best about your work?
What excites me the most is the combination of creativity and impact. On one hand, chemistry gives me the freedom to design new molecules and methods; on the other, these innovations can eventually lead to real therapeutic advances. I also enjoy the collaborative nature of my work as many of our projects involve partnerships with biologists, analytical chemists, pharmacologists, computational chemists, clinicians, or industry colleagues, which makes the research dynamic and translational.
What kind of tasks does your work involve?
My daily work is a mixture of experimental design, supervision, writing, and coordination. I still spend time in the lab, but a growing part of my role is to guide projects, mentor younger colleagues, and build collaborations. I also handle grant proposals, write manuscripts, and present our results at conferences.
What kind of skills does your work require?
A solid background in organic and medicinal chemistry is essential, but so is flexibility to learn from other fields such as proteomics, structural biology, immunology and pharmacology. Project leadership requires communication and organizational skills, while creative problem-solving is indispensable for tackling experimental challenges. I would say resilience and persistence are just as important in this field as technical expertise.
How would you describe yourself as a supervisor?
I aim to provide my students with the freedom to carry out their research independently, while ensuring that key decisions are made together after carefully reviewing the results. I see supervision as a collaborative process, where open discussion and mutual trust are essential. I am especially proud that former students once told me I was the first supervisor in their career to whom they felt comfortable reporting even negative results without fear.
Are you currently looking for a new PhD student or a postdoc?
Yes, I am always open to motivated young scientists who are interested in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology. Our projects are multidisciplinary and evolving, so there is room for people with diverse expertise and interests.
What do you consider your greatest achievement in your scientific career?
I would probably give a very basic answer to this, but I still consider earning my PhD to be my greatest achievement. It was a truly iconic milestone, not only because of the scientific work itself, but because it marked the point when I decided to fully commit myself to a scientific career. After that, I started applying for postdoctoral grants with the long-term goal of establishing my own independent research line. So, in many ways, it wasn’t just an achievement, but a turning point that set the direction for everything I’m doing now.
Which of your papers are you most proud of and why?
I’m most proud of the paper I began working on right after completing my PhD, published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry under the title “Size-Dependent Target Engagement of Covalent Probes” (DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5c00017). The work behind this study, which explores the size-dependent nature of covalent target engagement, brings together all the skills and expertise I have built up so far, from chemical synthesis and proteomics to bioconjugation and biological methods, and reflects the highly interdisciplinary environment in which I have conducted my postdoctoral research. I am also proud of the teamwork that made this project possible and the fact that it helped draw the attention of the international covalent drug discovery community to our Medicinal Chemistry Research Group. In that sense, this publication represents not only a scientific achievement but also an important milestone in establishing my research identity.
What are the features of a successful PhD student or postdoc?
Success as a PhD student or postdoc in medicinal chemistry depends as much on attitude as on skill. Curiosity drives you to understand how things work at the molecular level, while patience and resilience help you face inevitable failures. You should be open to learning from people in other fields, such as biology or computational chemistry, since modern research is very interdisciplinary. Above all, honesty and enthusiasm for science, together with the determination to keep seeking solutions even after many setbacks, truly define a successful researcher.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to know more about your field?
Read recent research, attend seminars, and talk to scientists in different disciplines to see how chemistry, biology, and pharmacology connect. Most importantly, stay curious and keep asking questions, that is how real understanding begins.
What would you like to ask from other medicinal chemists?
I would ask other medicinal chemists how they turn negative results into new promising directions. I am also curious how they see the balance between the creative intuition of a scientist and the growing influence of AI-based or data-driven tools in drug discovery.
Have you experienced any unfair situations during your scientific career? How would you advise scientists facing similar situations?
Yes, I have faced situations that felt unfair, such as uneven recognition or biased decision-making, which can be discouraging. In those moments I learned that the best response is to stay focused on the science, because in the long run it is the quality and consistency of your work that truly shape your career.
What is the most embarrassing thing you have done in the lab while doing experiments, e.g. explosions?
One of my most embarrassing moments in the lab happened when I accidentally broke a flash column cartridge inside the instrument’s valve. It turned into a ‘long night surgery’ to carefully remove the broken piece without damaging anything, but in the end, I managed to fix it. I’ve also had a few reactions that decided to ‘test the limits of pressure’ and ended up exploding. Luckily, I always used extra safety shielding for these dangerous reactions, so the only problem was the mess I had to clean up.
What are your recommendations for a book, podcast, website, blog, YouTube channel or film?
I would heartfully recommend ‘The Language of God’ by Francis S. Collins. I believe it carries valuable insights not only for readers of any religious background but also for those who identify themselves as atheists or agnostics, as it encourages thoughtful dialogue about the meaning and purpose of exploring the world through science.
Which scientist do you admire the most and why?
There are many scientists who stand out not only for their great work but also for their kindness, passion for teaching, and effort to inspire young people. Among them, I particularly admire Katalin Karikó, as she shows both talent and true humility. Coming from a small village of the Hungarian countryside, she worked hard through many difficulties and later won the Nobel Prize for her important research on mRNA technology. I also respect her as a parent, since she managed to follow an exceptional scientific career while raising a daughter who became a two-time Olympic gold medallist. Her story shows strength, honesty and modesty, making her a real role model both as a scientist and as a person.
Which field of medicinal chemistry do you consider the most promising for the future?
I see the most promising future in targeted therapeutic modalities, such as antibody–drug conjugates and PROTACs. These approaches combine precise molecular recognition with controlled pharmacological action, offering the potential to intervene selectively in complex disease pathways that were previously considered undruggable. As our understanding of molecular oncology deepens and conjugation chemistries become more sophisticated, I believe these targeted solutions will redefine both the efficacy and safety profiles of future medicines.
What would you expect to be the next breakthrough in medicinal chemistry?
I believe the next breakthrough in medicinal chemistry will be the full integration of AI-driven, patient-derived targeted therapies. But said therapeutics needs for modular, rapid and robust methods to deliver the patient-tailored medicines efficiently. I believe, in the future genomic and proteomic data will be directly translated by advanced AI models into actionable phenotypic insights. This will enable the design of truly individualized treatments, for example, identifying the most suitable targeted immunotherapy for each patient.
