Young talents SPIDeRR project: Lilla Gunkl-Tóth
“I’m particularly drawn to the SPIDeRR project since it bridges clinical care and scientific research, which closely aligns with my career goals”
Recently, we conducted an interview with Lilla Gunkl-Tóth, a PhD candidate at the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology at Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary, who joined the SPIDeRR project last December. Her research focuses on difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and pain mechanisms, aiming to better understand the heterogeneous nature of this patient population. She explains that misdiagnosis and diagnostic delays often contribute significantly to the challenges in treating RA.
Coordinating and collaborating in SPIDeRR
Gunkl-Tóth joined SPIDeRR motivated by the potential to improve early diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes, recognizing the importance of identifying factors that could prevent patients from becoming difficult to treat. Although she is still familiarizing herself with the project and its various work packages, she is already actively involved in a prospective study in Hungary. “In this study, we include patients who visit our outpatient clinic. They will complete the questionnaire Rheumatic, and we will collect blood samples for further testing”, she explains. “At the moment, I am working on the planning phase of this prospective study.”
In addition to managing administrative and ethical aspects, Gunkl-Tóth is also coordinating logistics, including reagent acquisition and the development of data collection tools. She adds: “I am collaborating with several colleagues involved in the project — including Eszter Tóth, the main coordinator the prospective study, Judit Majnik, who is mainly in charge of the Hungarian version of the Rheumatic questionnaire, and Ádám Misák, who is working on data analysis —, and I look forward to contributing further as the project progresses”.
Collaborating in a large consortium
Being involved for the first time in a large international project, Gunkl-Tóth is impressed by how the collaboration within the SPIDeRR project among experts across countries and disciplines contributes to advancing the scientific progress. She notes: “During my PhD, I worked in a small, multidisciplinary team, so I know how challenging it can be to coordinate across different fields like psychology, data analysis, transcriptomics, and metabolomics. That’s why I really appreciate how well-organized and smoothly this large international project runs. From what I’ve seen, communication within individual work packages is very strong. Although I have just joined the project and haven’t yet seen much interaction between the work packages themselves, the overall structure feels like a well-oiled machine. I especially like how easy it is to access information and brainstorm during work package meetings — that collaborative environment makes a big difference”. She explained that meeting in person during the recent SPIDeRR conference in Stockholm was especially beneficial, as it enabled the consortium members to exchange different perspectives from various countries. This was particularly valuable for gaining insights into differences in healthcare systems and data storage practices, which in turn inspired new ideas to enhance their work.
Future ambitions and the role of SPIDeRR
Gunkl-Tóth hopes to complete her PhD studies this year, with the goal of beginning a residency afterward. She explains that during university, she found it difficult to choose between a career in research and clinical practice, as she was involved in scientific research alongside her studies. However, before her final year, she received a scholarship to conduct research at Heidelberg University in Germany, where she realized it was possible to combine clinical work with research. “This experience inspired me to pursue a path that integrates the two. That’s why I’m particularly drawn to the SPIDeRR project, since it bridges clinical care and scientific research, aligning closely with my career goals. I see it as an opportunity to stay engaged in research while working as a physician, and I believe it can support me in achieving this balance during my residency and beyond.”
Integrating patient care with data-driven research
Gunkl-Tóth is looking forward to a career path where she can combine patient care and research. She is particularly drawn to rheumatology and immunology because they offer a unique opportunity to do both simultaneously. Her previous research experience has mostly involved lab-based projects, in which she examined patients primarily from a research perspective, often incorporating clinical and psychological evaluations. However, working with real-world clinical data has given her a fresh perspective, showing her how close research findings can relate to everyday patient care. In closing, she shares: “I’m excited by the potential of data-driven research in clinical settings and would like to pursue projects that focus on real-world evidence, allowing me to integrate clinical practice with meaningful research.”