As part of the GEMSTONE Project’s Work Package 3, two promising young researchers from Acıbadem University (ACU), Talat Taygun Turan and Merve Cavus, recently completed short-term research visits to Lund University (ULUND).
The visits aimed to facilitate hands-on training in advanced laboratory techniques through direct engagement in cutting-edge research environments. Both researchers were hosted at ULUND’s Brain Repair and Imaging in Neural Systems (BRAINS) laboratory, under the expert supervision of Prof. Deniz Kirik, with additional guidance provided to Merve Cavus by Dr. Courtney Wright.
Talat Taygun Turan’s visit: Investigating alpha-synuclein in brain tissue
Between 2 March and 29 May 2025, Talat Taygun Turan undertook an intensive research period at the BRAINS lab. His work focused on conducting total alpha-synuclein-targeted immunohistochemical staining on brain sections derived from double transgenic Nestin-cre:snca flox mice developed at ACU. Throughout his stay, Taygun and the BRAINS team reviewed available alpha-synuclein antibodies to determine their suitability as primary antibodies in the staining process. His work contributed valuable data toward understanding the distribution and expression of alpha-synuclein in this experimental model.
Merve Cavus’s visit: Learning dual-marker immunohistochemistry techniques
From 6 May to 7 June 2025, Merve Cavus joined the same laboratory to deepen her knowledge of immunohistochemical analysis. Her training provided her with first-hand experience in planning and executing immunohistochemistry experiments from start to finish. She learned to use different markers for astrocytes and oligodendrocytes – two critical types of glial cells in the brain – and participated in dual-labelling procedures that aimed to visualize different markers on the same nerve cells. This training strengthened her expertise in neurobiological staining techniques, laying a strong foundation for her future research.
These short-term visits are vital components of the GEMSTONE Project’s mission to build research capacity among early-career scientists and foster sustainable scientific collaboration across partner institutions. By working alongside leading experts and gaining experience with state-of-the-art laboratory techniques, Taygun and Merve exemplify the spirit of knowledge exchange that lies at the heart of the GEMSTONE initiative.