Gyorgy Panyi 8th Venoms to Drugs 2023

Gyorgy Panyi

Dr. Gyorgy Panyi has been a professor and head of Biophysics at the University of Debrecen, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Hungary, since 2009. Dr. Panyi has graduated as a Medical Doctor in 1991, has earned his PhD in 1996 in Biophysics, both degrees were awarded at the University Medical School of Debrecen, Hungary. Part of his research training toward the PhD degree was completed at the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Physiology where he spent 2 years and worked on the molecular mechanism of slow inactivation of K+ channels. Between 1996 and 2004 Dr. Panyi built his career at the University of Debrecen and started to focus on the molecular pharmacology of voltage-gated K+ channels, more precisely, he isolated and characterized several high affinity Kv1.3 inhibitors isolated from scorpions. Parallel to the toxin research he demonstrated the recruitment of Kv1.3 channels into the immunological synapse, which opened a completely new aspect of the regulation of the immune system by ion channels. Having established of his own lab in Debrecen, he returned to U. of Penn Physiology as a visiting professor for 2 years between 2005-06 and studied the coupling of activation and inactivation gates in voltage-gated K+ channels. Upon returning from the USA Dr. Panyi continued his research in molecular pharmacology of Kv1.3 and focusing primarily on the principles determining the selectivity of the toxins between Kv1.2 and Kv1.3. He also continued his research in the other two fields of his profile and contributed to the understanding of the factors determining Kv1.3 distribution dynamics in the membrane and to the understanding of the communication among various gates of ion channels. Dr. Panyi’s most significant honor is the European Biophysical Societies’ Association prize (EBSA prize, 2005) “for his innovative contribution to the biological and pharmacological aspects of K+ channels in T lymphocytes”.