New site expands PRECEDE’s international reach into Hungary, which records among Europe’s highest pancreatic cancer incidence and mortality rates
SAN DIEGO, California and BUDAPEST, Hungary — [July 15, 2026] — The Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection (PRECEDE) Consortium today announced that the Institute of Pancreatic Diseases at Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary, has joined the Consortium, strengthening PRECEDE’s global effort to improve early detection and outcomes for individuals at increased risk for pancreatic cancer.
The Hungarian site will be led by Professor Péter Hegyi, MD, PhD, DSc, MAE, a distinguished physician-scientist, gastroenterologist and clinical pharmacologist who is internationally recognized for his work in pancreatology and translational medicine. Prof. Dr. Zsuzsanna Kahán, MD, PhD, DSc, Habil., will serve as the lead oncologist managing enrollment. Zoltán Hajnády, PhD, Vice Director of Research at the Institute of Pancreatic Diseases, who will help lead research coordination and support the site’s participation in PRECEDE. Csaba Gyula Horváth, PhD, Research Associate at the Institute of Pancreatic Diseases, is coordinating patient enrollment.
Hungary’s participation comes at a critical time. In 2022, Hungary reported 2,419 new pancreatic cancer cases and 2,284 deaths. Based on age-standardized rates, Hungary records the highest pancreatic cancer incidence and mortality rates in the European Union, with an incidence rate of 10.37 per 100,000 and a mortality rate of 9.61 per 100,000. In 2022, pancreatic cancer was the sixth most frequent cancer diagnosis in Hungary and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality, underscoring the urgent need for earlier detection, better risk assessment and expanded research collaboration.
“Pancreatic cancer is a global disease, and solving it will require global collaboration,” said Dr. Diane Simeone, the Director of UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center and Founder and Chief Scientific Advisor of PRECEDE. “By welcoming the Institute of Pancreatic Diseases at Semmelweis University and leaders such as Professor Hegyi, Professor Kahán and Dr. Hajnády, PRECEDE is expanding its ability to learn from high-risk populations around the world, build a more complete dataset and accelerate progress toward earlier detection.”
PRECEDE is the first global collaborative network dedicated to reimagining how pancreatic cancer is detected. The Consortium brings together leading academic institutions, clinicians, researchers and high-risk individuals to build one of the largest datasets ever assembled for pancreatic cancer early detection. Its goal is to transform pancreatic cancer outcomes by identifying those at highest risk, detecting the disease earlier and advancing research that can lead to more survivors.
For the Hungarian team, joining PRECEDE is both a scientific opportunity and a public health priority.
“Hungary has one of the highest rates of pancreatic cancer in Europe, and we believe that must change,” said Professor Hegyi. “Through PRECEDE, we have an opportunity to contribute Hungarian data and clinical expertise to a global effort while also bringing new awareness, screening pathways and hope to patients and families in Hungary. Our goal is to improve pancreatic cancer incidence and mortality ratios in Hungary and move closer to the outcomes seen in other European Union nations.”
Professor Hegyi serves as Director of the Budapest Knowledge Hub of Academia Europaea and Director of the Centre for Translational Medicine at Semmelweis University. He is widely recognized for his research on pancreatic ion transport, pancreatic bicarbonate secretion and the role of CFTR protein dysfunction in pancreatitis. He has published more than 700 peer-reviewed papers, has more than 30,000 citations and was awarded the Robert F. Pitts Lecture Award in 2025 by the International Union of Physiological Sciences for pioneering discoveries that advanced understanding of pancreatic ductal ion transport and its role in pancreatitis.
Dr. Zsuzsanna Kahán is a professor of medical oncology and radiotherapy. She has initiated and led several clinical studies in the fields of breast and gynecological cancer. Dr. Kahán’s special interest has been breast cancer prevention, individualized oncology care and precision oncology. She has published more than 400 peer-reviewed papers in basic research and clinical research, 2 books and several book chapters and, has more than 5000 citations.
Dr. Hajnády brings extensive experience in molecular medicine, clinical research coordination and pancreatitis research. As Vice Director of Research at the Institute of Pancreatic Diseases, he helps coordinate the clinical administrator team and supports the Institute’s clinical trials, patient recruitment, data entry and research operations. His research has focused on the molecular mechanisms of pancreatic injury, including the role of the OGG1 enzyme in acute pancreatitis.
“Joining PRECEDE allows us to connect our national clinical research infrastructure with a global network focused on one of the most urgent challenges in cancer care,” said Dr. Hajnády. “We are especially focused on reaching people who may be at increased risk and ensuring they have a pathway into research that could help shape the future of pancreatic cancer detection.”
The Hungarian site has already enrolled 87 patients in the study. Patients in Hungary can join PRECEDE through clinical referrals from hospitals, clinics and healthcare providers; the Institute’s oncology registry; referrals from families and former participants; and online channels and awareness campaigns. To support enrollment, the Hungarian team has distributed informational materials to more than 50 hospitals across the country and shared program information with national cancer patient organizations, including the National Federation of Cancer Patients and the National Association for Pancreatic Cancer Patients.
The screening program also offers an opportunity to raise awareness about modifiable risk factors, including alcohol consumption and smoking, which remain prevalent health challenges in Hungary and are associated with pancreatic disease.
Patients and providers in Hungary can learn more about enrollment at:
https://kelemenalapitvany.hu/tudastar/precede
https://tm-centre.org/hu/kutatas/vizsgalatok/precede
https://hasnyalmirigydaganatsos.hu/
For more information about the Hungarian PRECEDE site, contact:
Institute of Pancreatic Diseases
1083 Budapest, Tömő utca 25-29, 6th floor
Email: iroda.semmelweis@gmail.com
Clinical Research Administration Team Phone: +36 30 877 0957
Clinical Coordinator
Csaba Horváth, PhD
Email: horvath.csaba.gyula@semmelweis.hu
Lead Oncologist Managing Enrollment:
Prof. Dr. Zsuzsanna Kahán, DSc, Habil.
Email: kahan.zsuzsanna@med.u-szeged.hu
About PRECEDE
PRECEDE is an international network of more than 65 academic medical centers working together in a unique collaborative approach to increase the survival rate for pancreatic cancer through early detection. Since opening in 2020, PRECEDE Consortium sites have assembled the largest high-risk cohort of more than 12,000 individuals with family history or genetic risk factors for pancreatic cancer, with longitudinal clinical data and biospecimen acquisition and tracking. PRECEDE is headquartered at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego, one of only 65 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation.
