Eotvos Lorand University | Hungary
Arpad Furka, born in 1931 in Criscior, Romania, is a distinguished Hungarian organic chemist renowned as the inventor of combinatorial technology, a breakthrough that revolutionized drug discovery by enabling the simultaneous synthesis and screening of billions of organic compounds. After completing his PhD at the University of Szeged in 1959, he pursued a career spanning decades at Eotvos Lorand University, where he became a full professor in 1972. His pioneering contributions in peptide chemistry and split-pool synthesis have had a profound global impact, influencing pharmaceutical research and biomolecular engineering. Furka’s academic influence is reflected in his h-index of 19, with 53 documents and 1,695 citations, signifying the enduring relevance of his work across disciplines. His collaborations with international institutions and industry partners, such as CHINOIN and AdvancedChemTech in the USA, further extended the application of his research. In recognition of his scientific achievements, he has received numerous honors, including the Leonardo da Vinci Excellence Award, the MTA Academic Award, and the prestigious Szechenyi Prize. As Honorary President of the European Society of Combinatorial Sciences, Furka’s legacy continues to inspire innovation, and his extensive body of publications stands as a testament to his role as a visionary in organic and medicinal chemistry.