Researchers from the Horizon Europe-funded GEMSTONE Project – Prof. Filiz Onat, Nursima Mutlu, and Aylin Toplu – participated in the 8th Epilepsy Symposium held on 16–18 May 2025 in Bodrum, Mugla, organised by the Turkish Society for the Fight Against Epilepsy.
The event served as a significant platform for scientific exchange, bringing together experts to share the latest developments in epilepsy research and clinical practice. During the symposium, GEMSTONE researchers disseminated key findings from their studies investigating the role of the orexinergic system in absence epilepsy, highlighting the project’s commitment to advancing knowledge in neurodevelopmental brain disorders.
Nursima Mutlu delivered an oral presentation titled “Investigation of Orexin Type-1 Receptor Protein Levels in the Somatosensory Cortex of Rats with Absence Epilepsy,” and Aylin Toplu delivered an oral presentation titled “Immunohistochemical Analysis of Orexin-A Expression in the Lateral Hypothalamus in Rats with Absence Epilepsy.” Both presentations contributed to a better understanding of the complex neurobiology underlying absence epilepsy and supported the broader aims of GEMSTONE to foster translational neuroscience research and capacity building.
The symposium also provided a valuable opportunity for Prof. Filiz Onat, GEMSTONE Principal Investigator, to engage in high-level networking with leading clinicians and researchers in the field of epilepsy. Through panel discussions and informal exchanges, she established new professional connections and explored potential collaborations that align with the GEMSTONE Project’s goals of fostering scientific exchange and strengthening research capacity in neuroscience.
