EUSP Fellowship: Benefitting my work and community in Hungary for years to come
The one-year European Urological Scholarship Programme (EUSP) fellowship conducted under the mentorship of Prof. Shahrokh F. Shariat at the Department of Urology, Medical University of Vienna, has been a transformative experience. It left a lasting impact on my professional development and personal growth. The scholarship provided an unparalleled opportunity to contribute to meaningful research while expanding my international collaborations and deepening my clinical expertise.
On the professional side, the scholarship period was marked by significant achievements. One of my key contributions was the design, testing, and launch of the OLIGOMET registry (NCT06430411), a pan-European prospective database for patients with oligometastatic prostate cancer diagnosed by PSMA-PET imaging and receiving local treatment of the primary tumour. This registry addresses a knowledge gap in the management of this novel disease entity, aiming to clarify optimal treatment strategies and identify predictive and prognostic biomarkers. We introduced the registry during EAU24. It is now live with multiple centres already recruiting and more centres in the pipeline.
Beyond OLIGOMET, I engaged in retrospective data collection and contributed to several scientific publications — including a review on oligometastatic disease definitions and a study on MRI in prostate cancer screening which were published in JAMA Oncology.
The fellowship also greatly enhanced my scientific and soft skills. I acquired expertise in advanced statistics and research methodology, including statistical programming in R—skills that will serve as a foundation for future research. Throughout the year, I benefited immensely from networking opportunities with leading experts in urology such as Prof. Nicolas Mottet, Prof. Thomas Powles, Dr. Joel Sheinfeld, Prof. Andrew Vickers, and Dr. Stephen A. Boorjian.
Organising two Vienna–Budapest research mini-conferences and presenting at major meetings—including winning second prize at the Central European Meeting—strengthened my experience in academic exchange. Moreover, recognising the impact of my work, I was honoured to receive the Wiener Ärztekammer – Erste Bank Prize during this period. The scholarship not only elevated my individual profile but will also increase the visibility of my home institution, the Department of Urology at Semmelweis University, on the international stage.
On a personal level, living in Vienna during the fellowship was an enriching experience. Vienna’s renowned quality of life—with its blend of imperial charm, green spaces, and superb infrastructure—provided a perfect backdrop for personal well-being. I was fortunate to live near the Wienerwald hills, which offered daily opportunities for outdoor activities. My 8-kilometre bike commute to the hospital helped me maintain a healthy lifestyle and connect with the city. I found Viennese society to be polite, considerate, and community-oriented—values that left a deep impression on me. The insights I gained from Austrian culture will stay with me and continue to shape my outlook long after the fellowship.
I wish to express my sincere thanks to Prof. Shariat and Dr. Pawel Rajwa, who mentored me during the fellowship. I am also grateful to Prof. Péter Nyirády, my mentor at my home institution, for his unwavering support, guidance, and encouragement throughout this journey. Finally, I am deeply thankful to the EUSP for this opportunity, which has broadened my horizons professionally and personally, and will benefit my work and community in Hungary for years to come.