As part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening research capacity and enhancing institutional excellence, the Horizon Europe-funded GEMSTONE Project successfully hosted its final internal capacity-building workshop titled “Understanding and Developing Standard Operating Procedures and Basic Principles and Best Practices for Digital Laboratory Notebook Use” on Tuesday, 2 December 2025, at Room A103, Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University (ACU) Kerem Aydınlar Campus.
This workshop was organised to share and disseminate the advanced skills, knowledge, and competencies gained through GEMSTONE’s short-term staff exchanges. Designed for ACU academic staff, early-stage researchers, and laboratory technicians not directly involved in the project, the event helped strengthen key institutional capabilities essential for maintaining a high-quality research environment.
Through a series of expert-led sessions, participants received practical insights into digital research management tools and harmonised laboratory procedures – critical components in enhancing research reproducibility, operational efficiency, and alignment with international best practices.
Workshop highlights
The programme began at 09:00 with registration and opening remarks by Prof. Filiz Onat (GEMSTONE Principal Investigator, ACU), who introduced the GEMSTONE Project, the purpose of the workshop, and the concept and role of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in modern research environments.
At 09:30, Dr. Courtney J. Wright (GEMSTONE Researcher, Lund University), joining remotely, delivered the first session on “Digital Laboratory Notebook Use.” Dr. Wright presented core functionalities, benefits, and best practices for digital lab notebooks, underlining their importance in promoting transparency, structured documentation, and secure data management. The session concluded with an interactive Q&A.
The second session, held at 10:10, focused on “SOPs for Chemogenetic Applications.” Delivered by Assoc. Prof. Nihan Çarçak Yılmaz (GEMSTONE WP2 Leader, ACU), the talk examined standardised procedures for chemogenetic experiments and the importance of protocol harmonisation in ensuring accuracy and reproducibility in neuroscience research. A Q&A session followed.
After the coffee break, the workshop resumed at 11:10 with a comprehensive session on “SOPs for Mice IVF Applications,” co-led by Assoc. Prof. Ali Cihan Taşkın (Guest Expert, Istanbul University) and Assoc. Prof. Meltem Kolgazi (GEMSTONE WP3 Leader, ACU). Participants explored best practices for IVF procedures used in genetically engineered mouse model production, including workflow optimisation and quality control strategies. The session extended beyond the scheduled time due to engaged discussion and Q&A.
The final session of the day began at 12:20, with Dr. Talat Taygun Turan (GEMSTONE Researcher, ACU) presenting on “SOPs for Transgenic Animal Colony Management.” This session covered essential colony management protocols – from breeding strategies and health monitoring to recordkeeping standards – and concluded with a final Q&A. The workshop closed at 13:00.
Strong participation and institutional impact
A total of 21 participants took part in the workshop, representing a diverse cross-section of ACU’s research community: 4 senior faculty, 4 post-docs, 5 technicians, 2 PhD candidates, 4 PhD students, 2 graduate students, and 1 undergraduate student.
This final capacity-building event represents another significant step toward GEMSTONE’s mission of building a sustainable, competitive, and internationally connected research ecosystem at ACU. By equipping local researchers and support staff with advanced operational knowledge, the project has fostered institutional growth and strengthened the foundations for future scientific excellence.
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