Acibadem University hosts two-day event showcasing best practices and scientific impact from Horizon Europe-funded GEMSTONE Project.
On 17-18 June 2025, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University (ACU) hosted a two-day dissemination event titled “How to Develop Your Research Capacity for Chemogenetic Experiments from Scratch: Disseminating the Impact of GEMSTONE Project at Acibadem University.” Held at ACU’s Kerem Aydinlar Campus in Istanbul, Turkey, the event brought together early to mid-career researchers and research support staff from the Balkans and Turkey to share knowledge, strategies, and scientific insights developed throughout the Horizon Europe-funded GEMSTONE Project.
Designed as a hands-on, experience-driven gathering, the event emphasized the trial-and-error methods, empirical learning, and on-the-job practices that defined the GEMSTONE consortium’s path toward building advanced research capacity in chemogenetics – particularly in the study of neurodevelopmental disorders such as epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease.
Showcasing scientific leadership and practical experience
The event opened with a keynote presentation by Prof. Filiz Onat of ACU, Primary Principal Investigator of the GEMSTONE Project, introducing the project’s goals, structure, and milestones. This was followed by two expert plenaries on absence epilepsy by Assoc. Prof. Magor Laszlo Lorincz of University of Szeged and on chemogenetics by Prof. Merab Kokaia of Lund University (ULUND), offering attendees a strong scientific grounding in the topics underpinning the GEMSTONE research agenda.
The core of the programme focused on capacity-building sessions delivered by key GEMSTONE team members and collaborators. Over two days, participants engaged with sessions covering team management (by Assoc. Prof. My Andersson, ULUND), infrastructure planning (by Assoc. Prof. Meltem Kolgazi, ACU), time management (by Prof. Filiz Onat, ACU), financial oversight (by Cem Ozturk, ACU), and data management (by Dr. Talat Taygun Turan, ACU). Each session combined real-life examples from GEMSTONE’s journey with actionable advice tailored to participants looking to replicate similar efforts in their institutions.
Scientific highlights included a dedicated session led by Assoc. Prof. Nihan Carcak Yilmaz (ACU), who shared the chemogenetic research outcomes of the project and demonstrated the translational potential of GEMSTONE’s work on epilepsy and related disorders.
A platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange
The event gathered a total of 36 attendees, including 14 speakers and moderators, and 22 participants – 13 of whom were external to ACU. Among the external participants, 10 were national participants representing institutions such as Trakya University, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Abdullah Gul University, Adnan Menderes University, Ahi Devran University, Altinbas University, Prof. Ilhan Varank Training and Research Hospital, and Acibadem Altunizade Hospital.
Three international participants joined from the University of Telecommunications and Post in Bulgaria and Oberlin College in the United States. Additionally, 9 internal attendees from various departments at ACU enriched the discussion with their institutional insights.
Structured networking opportunities were integrated into the programme through informal interactions during registration, interactive lunch breaks with lab tours, and a well-attended closing reception. These moments fostered meaningful exchanges, paving the way for future collaborations and sustained knowledge transfer across regional research institutions.
Advancing equity in European research capacity
The GEMSTONE dissemination event fulfilled a critical aim to translate ACU’s on-the-ground experience into accessible, replicable strategies for research capacity building. Participants left equipped with practical know-how, case studies, and frameworks they could apply in their own contexts. The event also amplified the visibility of ACU’s contributions to neurodevelopmental research and reinforced the broader mission of GEMSTONE to bridge the research capacity gap between Widening countries and leading European institutions.
By empowering emerging researchers with both technical and managerial tools, the event marks a significant step forward in cultivating a more equitable and interconnected European research ecosystem in neuroscience and beyond.
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