Building Istanbul's molecular biology research capacity
The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics (MBG) at the Bogazici University in Istanbul was founded in 1977. It was the first national department to conduct research in MBG and has now evolved into an important centre for the study of neurodegenerative and rare diseases, developmental neurobiology and cancer. With EU funding of the MBG-Bridge project, scientists at the University are overcoming geographical and scientific isolation. They are strengthening ties with the international research community while simultaneously developing the centre's human and technical resources. To date, two critical pieces of equipment, one for imaging and one for genetic analysis, have been purchased and installed enabling the pursuit of research topics previously not possible. In addition, three experienced researchers have been recruited. The centre has been reorganised for functionality and effectiveness into three core facilities covering genetic analysis, bio-imaging and cell biology. Finally, a mobility platform supporting bilateral personnel exchange has proved particularly fruitful. The centre has so far hosted 10 seminars by internationally acclaimed scientists and two workshops, one on the Genetics of Neurological Disorders and one on Immunology and Cancer Biology. In addition, six MBG scientists have visited European partner institutions and four from partner sites have been hosted at MBG. MBG-Bridge has already strengthened the role, capabilities and visibility of MBG within the international research arena. Continued efforts will no doubt strengthen research ties and result in additional collaborations.