RareBoost hosted 2024 TEKNOFEST Biotech award winners in an impactful meeting
On January 10th, we were honored to host the FUSion Team -the winners of TEKNOFEST 2024’s Biotechnology Innovation Competition.
The day started with a tour of the IBG facilities and brief introductions of the RareBoost project, by Prof. Uğur Özbek, and IBG-Nadir, by Prof. Pınar Gençpınar.
Next, Assoc. Prof. Elif Yılmaz Güleç introduced the rare disease activities carried out at Istanbul Medeniyet University and Prof. Şehime Gülsün Temel introduced the rare motor neuron disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The FUSion team members presented their award-winning idea to develop an shRNA-AAV9 vector-mediated therapy targeting the pathogenic FUS mRNA in ALS patients.
The meeting was also attended by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ALS-MNH Association, Ophthalmologist and ALS patient, Dr. Alper İhsan Kaya. Dr. Kaya explained how ALS affects his life and stated: ‘I am happy to see such initiatives on ALS from young students. My advice to you is to develop your skills not only in science, but also in science communication’.
Members of various student associations, including Dokuz Eylül University European Medical Student Association (DEU EMSA), DEU Scientific Research Community (DEBAT), İzmir Katip Çelebi University Scientific Research Community (IKCU BAT) and IKCU neuroscience student club, and Ege University Scientific Research Community (EBAT), also attended the meeting and introduced their scientific activities.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the speakers and participants for making this event an inspiration for young scientists and rare disease patients, advocates, and researchers.
