It was a special privilege to witness the Career Lecture of Prof Laszlo Tora at the 6thDanube Epigenetics Meeting and FEBS Advanced Lecture Course in Budapest this week. For over 40 years, Laszlo has been one of the most accomplished and prolific Hungarian scientist abroad. His lab at the CNRS has led the world in the golden age the discovery and biochemical characterization of transcription coactivator complexes and general transcription factors. His lab discovered the TATA-box binding protein, and TFIID component TBP, the SAGA complex and other GCN5-containing complexes, multiple activation domains in the estrogen receptor, among others. In recent work they pioneered the model of co-translational folding and assembly of TFIID and other complexes, which solved the long-standing problem in the field of how insoluble, aggregation-prone proteins can assemble into soluble functional complexes. A remarkable feature of his Career Lecture was that Laszlo paid much gratitude both forwards and backwards. Forward to the many accomplished trainees and young scientists who worked in his lab, and backward to the giants who trained him, including the late Pierre Chambon and István Financsek. Congratulation on an inspiring career, Laszlo, and thank you for the many insights, both professional and human! Shoutout the Ferenc Muller for the introduction! @FEBSnews @LaszloTora @ferencmueller @bulutkarslioglu @MariekeOudelaar