Istanbul Diagnosis and Rare Diseases Solution Platform introduction and Acıbadem University TEKMER Opening Program

The Istanbul Undiagnosed and Rare Diseases Solution Platform Project Introduction Meeting and the Acıbadem University Technology Development Center (TEKMER) Opening Program took place on February 17, 2024, at our University with the participation of the Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology, Mr. Fatih Kacır. The event was attended to by notable figures including Istanbul Deputy Serkan Bayram, Istanbul Deputy Governor Nail Anlar, President of the Turkey Health Institutes Prof. Erhan Akdoğan, Rector of Acıbadem University Prof. Ahmet Şahin, Rector of Istanbul University Prof. Osman Bülent Zülfikar, along with many guests including stakeholders of the ISTisNA project.

The ceremony started with a moment of silence and the national anthem, followed by the launch video presentation of the ISTisNA Project, which is conducted under the leadership of our University in partnership with Istanbul University and supported by the Istanbul Development Agency (ISTKA). After the presentation, the project leader and the Head of the Medical Biology Department of our Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Özden Hatırnaz Ng, delivered a presentation on the "ISTisNA Project Future Projection," discussing the project's vision and future. The project contributes socially by empowering patients and their relatives, increasing awareness in the field of rare diseases, and training competent scientists and healthcare professionals. It also supports research activities in this field through a biobank, cyclic research, and an undiagnosed patient program.

Following Prof. Hatırnaz Ng's presentation, Dr. Ziya Taşkent, General Secretary of ISTKA, Ahmet Serdar İbrahimcioğlu, President of KOSGEB, Rector of our University Prof. Ahmet Şahin, Rector of Istanbul University Prof. Dr. Osman Bülent Zülfikar, and the Minister of Industry and Technology Mr. Mehmet Fatih Kacır, made their speeches. Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Şahin stated, "We will continue to support our project and our center with all our strength as a university for the sustainability of their contributions to society." Minister Kacır highlighted the launch of a project that will transfer the knowledge and energy of Acıbadem University to entrepreneurs and businesses in the health technologies sector, stating, "The infrastructure designed considering the needs of our entrepreneurs has already hosted 25 technology startups. We hope that the infrastructure established here will become the address for our technology-based startup Turcorns in the health sector in the coming years, offering a suitable platform for the commercialization of innovative products and services while enabling us to provide better quality health services to our 85 million people." Minister Kacır emphasized the support for entrepreneurs within TEKMER through tax advantages.

The opening program concluded with a group photo and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Afterwards, Minister Kacır, ISTKA General Secretary Taşkent, KOSGEB President İbrahimcioğlu, and KOSGEB IMES Director Ertuğrul Çetinkaya, along with other guests, visited the ISTisNA Platform and TEKMER. During the visit to the ISTisNA Platform, coordinated activities in the field of unidentified and rare diseases such as biobank activities, cyclic research, education, and dissemination, and important outcomes that will guide the diagnosis process were discussed. The TEKMER visit allowed entrepreneurs to inform the guests about their entrepreneurial activities.