Classroom named after inventor József Béres at Hungary’s leading medical and health sciences university
Semmelweis University, Hungary’s leading medical and health sciences university, has named a classroom after Dr. József Béres, Sr.. The university seminar room, adjacent to the classroom named after the Nobel Prize-winning researcher Katalin Karikó, now bears the name of the legendary inventor of Béres Drops, the Széchenyi Prize-winning Hungarian scientist. The inauguration ceremony of the classroom was addressed by Dr. Béla Merkely, Rector of Semmelweis University, Dr. Péter Ferdinandy, Vice-Rector for Science and Innovation of the University, the inventor’s son Dr. József Béres and his grandson Marcell Béres, President of Béres Pharmaceuticals.
“It is a great pleasure, honour and pride for me, as a family member and owner of Béres Pharmaceuticals, to have a room named after my father in this world-renowned institution that educates the doctors and healthcare professionals of the future, ” said Dr. József Béres. In his speech, he emphasised that in the persons of Ignác Semmelweis, the namesakes of the university, and József Béres we can honour two great figures of Hungarian scientific life, who both brought innovative ideas to medicine ahead of their time, and whose scientific discoveries were initially received with incomprehension and rejection by their contemporaries, but who finally succeeded in receiving recognition of posterity.
Marcell Béres, President of Béres Pharmaceuticals, remembered his grandfather: “When I think of him, the first thing that comes to mind is his eternal curiosity, his stubborn perseverance and his trust in those around him. His curiosity drove him to seek new explanations and to systematically observe nature. It took his persistence to make the once-banned drug the most popular immune-supporting preparation in our country. And it was his trust in others that laid the foundations of Béres Pharmaceuticals, which has grown to become the country’s largest, 100% Hungarian family-owned, market-leading pharmaceutical company.”
The joint objective of Semmelweis University and Béres Pharmaceuticals, like the mission of its namesakes, is to cure people and protect health. “Let this hall be a visible symbol of the shared values of the University and Béres,” said Marcell Béres at the inauguration.
“The solution is right there in nature, you just have to keep your eyes and mind open to discover it.” – reads the quote by Dr. József Béres Sr. on the wall of the newly named classroom, pointing the way for the doctors, health professionals and researchers of the future. Known for his curiosity, perseverance and willingness to help others, the inventor can serve as a worthy role model for our future healers.