As part of its outreach and visibility activities, the Horizon Europe-funded GEMSTONE Project participated in the Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University’s (ACU) 2025 Open Days, from 21 July to 8 August 2025, with the aim to introduce prospective students and their families to ACU’s academic environment, research ecosystem, and international opportunities.
Under the motto, “We are at the heart of EU projects!”, the GEMSTONE team hosted an informational stand throughout the three-week event. Visitors learned about the project’s scope, achievements, and strategic goals, including its focus on enhancing research and innovation capacity in gene engineering and neuroscience, with particular emphasis on the neurodevelopmental mechanisms of brain disorders such as epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease.
In addition to GEMSTONE, the stand showcased other national and international projects carried out at ACU, as well as the university’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO) and Technology Development Centre (TEKMER). The team, including project manager Cem Ozturk, young researchers Talat Taygun Turan, Merve Cavus, and Nursima Mutlu, as well as intern students Simay Yildizli, Eda Sahin, and Ada Deniz Engin, distributed promotional brochures, shared contact information, and engaged with dozens of prospective students and their families, answering questions and offering insights into academic and career opportunities at ACU.
The stand also highlighted the impact of GEMSTONE on ACU’s research environment, including: scientific advancements in cortical development and novel therapeutic approaches for absence epilepsy; international partnerships with Lund University (Sweden) and ICONS (Italy), enabling knowledge exchange, internships, and training programs; infrastructure improvements, such as upgraded research laboratories and young researcher support for theses and conference participation; institutional transformation, with several administrative units at ACU adopting EU-aligned practices; and research visibility, with GEMSTONE outputs gaining recognition in global neuroscience communities.
Through this highly interactive participation, GEMSTONE continues to serve not only as a transformative research initiative but also as an inspirational gateway to European science and education for the next generation of ACU students.