ApatiLab

Stem Cell Research Laboratory – Led by Dr. Ágota Apáti

The Apáti Lab is a human stem cell research group based at the Research Centre for Natural Sciences (HUN-REN), Budapest, Hungary. We specialize in human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, using them to model disease, study cellular signaling, and develop platforms for drug discovery. We are committed to open collaboration, rigorous methodology, and training the next generation of stem cell researchers.

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About our Lab

The Apáti Lab was established in 2005 and is part of the Hungarian Research Network (HUN-REN), housed within the Institute of Molecular Life Sciences at the Research Centre for Natural Sciences in Budapest, Hungary.

Our research centers on human pluripotent stem cells — both embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) — and their remarkable potential to illuminate how the human body develops, responds to disease, and can be helped by new therapies. Since its founding, the lab has built deep expertise in stem cell biology, directed differentiation, cellular signaling, and disease modeling, establishing itself as a leading stem cell research group in Hungary.

We work at the intersection of basic science and translational medicine, generating human cell models that are simply not available any other way — and using them to ask fundamental questions about physiology, pharmacology, and disease.

What We Do

Explore our core research areas — from cardiac and neural differentiation to disease modeling and genome editing.

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology

We maintain and characterize human embryonic stem cell (hESC) and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines, studying the molecular mechanisms that govern self-renewal and pluripotency. A key focus is understanding the signaling networks — including calcium homeostasis and ligand-dependent pathways — that control how stem cells decide whether to proliferate, differentiate, or undergo apoptosis.

Cardiac Differentiation & Cardiovascular Disease Modeling

We develop and refine protocols to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into cardiomyocytes, cardiac progenitor cells, and endothelial cells. These stem cell-derived cardiovascular cells serve as powerful platforms for studying heart development, modeling cardiac disease in a dish, and screening potential drug compounds for safety and efficacy — with direct implications for regenerative cardiology.

Neural Progenitor Cells & Neurological Disease Models

The lab generates human neural progenitor cells (NPCs) from blood samples using innovative “interrupted reprogramming” approaches, enabling minimally invasive access to patient-relevant brain cell models. We study how microglia interact with NPCs, how neural development is affected in disease states, and how these models can shed light on conditions ranging from neurodevelopmental disorders to psychiatric diseases.

iPSC-Based Disease Modeling & Patient-Specific Cell Lines

We generate iPSC lines from patients with conditions including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and psychiatric disorders, often working with genetically matched donors (such as identical twins) to isolate disease-specific cellular phenotypes. These patient-derived models allow us to study disease mechanisms at the cellular level and test therapeutic strategies in a human genetic context.

ABC Drug Transporters in Stem Cells & Cancer

A long-standing research theme in the lab is the role of ABC multidrug transporters — particularly ABCG2 — in human stem cells and their differentiated progeny. We have shown that ABCG2 is highly expressed in undifferentiated stem cells and declines upon differentiation, acting as both a functional marker of pluripotency and a protective mechanism against toxins. This work has implications for understanding drug resistance in cancer stem cells and for engineering toxin-resistant tissues for therapy.

Genome Editing & Functional Reporter Systems

Using tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 and transposon-based gene delivery, we engineer stem cell lines to carry fluorescent reporters, disease-associated mutations, or gene knockouts. These precision-edited cell lines enable us to track gene expression and protein activity in real time in living cells, and to create clean isogenic models for dissecting the molecular basis of disease.

About Dr. Ágota Apáti

Dr. Ágota Apáti is the head of the Apáti Lab at the Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Research Centre for Natural Sciences (HUN-REN), Budapest. She has led the lab since its founding in 2005, building it into one of Hungary’s leading human stem cell research groups.
Her scientific journey has been driven by a single, ambitious question: what can a single human cell tell us about life, disease, and the possibility of healing? Over two decades, she has pioneered the use of human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells to model diseases, study cellular signaling, and develop platforms for drug discovery — work that bridges fundamental biology and real-world medical questions.
Beyond the bench, Ágota is passionate about mentoring the next generation of scientists. She believes that great science is built on curiosity, collaboration, and the courage to ask questions others haven’t thought to ask yet.

Meet The Team

Get to know the scientists and students who make our work possible.

Ágota Apáti PhD

Laboratory Leader

Her research focuses on the biology of human pluripotent stem cells, using them to model disease, study cellular signaling, and develop platforms for drug discovery. She is especially passionate about bridging the gap between fundamental cell biology and translational medicine — using patient-derived cell models to ask questions that matter beyond the lab bench.

Beáta Haraszti

Laboratory technician

She is responsible for the maintenance and quality control of cell cultures within the laboratory, ensuring optimal conditions for experimental work. She supports the research activities of PhD students and postdoctoral fellows, contributing to the smooth operation and daily workflow of the lab.

Kiara Gitta Farkas

PhD student

Her earlier research focused on investigating the pathomechanisms of schizophrenia. Her current research interest lies in the development and application of tumor cell-based active immunization therapies. In her spare time, she creates scientific illustrations aimed at visually communicating complex biological processes in an accessible way.

Vincze Katalin

PhD student

During her Master’s studies, she focused on psychiatric genetics, and later transitioned into the field of stem cell–based disease modeling. She has developed a strong interest in this area and is currently working on in vitro modeling approaches of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR).

Gábor Erdős

PhD student

Her research focuses on the in vitro modeling of creatine transporter deficiency, aiming to elucidate disease pathomechanisms and identify potential therapeutic targets.

Maczelka Hédi

PhD student

She works on stem cell–based in vitro models of cardiovascular diseases, with a current focus on cell–matrix interactions in LMNA mutation–associated dilated cardiomyopathy.

Vera Deli

MSc student

She currently investigates the integration of neural progenitor cells into human organotypic brain slice cultures, with the aim of modeling cell-based therapeutic approaches.

Klára Réthelyi

Undergraduate research student

She recently joined the group and participates in ongoing research projects, contributing to experimental work related to tumor cell-based immunization strategies.