Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University (ACU) proudly hosted its first neuroscience day, ACU NeuroConnect, a flagship outreach and dissemination event organised under the Horizon Europe-funded GEMSTONE Project. Designed to inspire the next generation of neuroscientists, the one-day event brought together an impressive 352 attendees from 48 institutions, offering a dynamic platform for scientific exchange, networking, and career exploration in the rapidly evolving field of neuroscience.
Co-organised with the ACU Medical School Scientific Research Society (ACUTBAT), ACU Neuroscience Student Club, ACU Department of Neuroscience, and the ACU Neuroscience Student Research Group, ACU NeuroConnect highlighted ACU’s growing strengths in neuroscience, while showcasing the GEMSTONE Project’s commitment to capacity building, research excellence, and innovation.
With the theme “Connecting Young Minds with the Frontiers of Neuroscience,” the event attracted a remarkable 352 attendees, reflecting strong interest in neuroscience engagement. Of these, 71 were invited guests and volunteers, while 281 were registered participants and poster presenters. Participants represented a diverse academic spectrum – including undergraduate and postgraduate students, high school students, and academics – from 40 different institutions from 15 cities across Turkey.
Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address
The event began with an opening speech from Prof. Filiz Onat, GEMSTONE Primary Principal Investigator, followed by an honorary address from Prof. Güldal Süyen, ACU Vice-Rector and GEMSTONE Researcher.
The scientific programme opened with an inspiring keynote lecture delivered by Prof. Deniz Kırık of Lund University (ULUND), GEMSTONE Local Principal Investigator. Chaired by Prof. Beki Kan (GEMSTONE WP5 Leader, ACU), Prof. Kırık’s talk, “Implementation of Binary Recombinase Systems for Conditional Gene Activation in the Midbrain Dopamine System,” provided an in-depth look into cutting-edge approaches for advancing Parkinson’s disease research.
Featured Talks and Lightning Talks sessions
The Featured Talks session, chaired by Prof. Betül Baykan Baykal (Istanbul University), brought the audience two engaging presentations by international experts: “Astrocyte Calcium Signalling as a Compensatory Mechanism against Neuroinflammation in Parkinson’s Disease” by Assist. Prof. Evangelia Emmanouilidou (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens) and “Lessons Learned from Studying Rare Neurological Diseases” by Dr. Rauan Kaiyrzhanov (University College London).
After the coffee break, the Lightning Talks session highlighted emerging research through six dynamic presentations. Co-chaired by Prof. Çiğdem Özkara (İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa) and Assoc. Prof. Ayşe Melike Şahiner (GEMSTONE WP4 Leader, ACU), the session featured speakers from ACU, ULUND, and the University of Szeged. Topics ranged from Parkin gene delivery and alpha-synuclein pathology, to epilepsy networks, mitochondrial alterations in Alzheimer’s disease, genetically engineered mouse models, and zebrafish behaviour and cognition.
Poster Walk and student engagement
Following the group photo and lunch break, the Poster Walk gave students and young researchers the opportunity to present their projects to peers and visiting experts. The GEMSTONE Project’s own poster on its recent publication, “Making It Work: GEMSTONE Project's Better Practices for Horizon Europe Newcomers,” was also showcased.
The Best Poster Award, selected through peer voting, was presented to Ahmet Kağan İslam and Elif Ceyda Ebeş from Atatürk University for their preliminary study, “A New Theoretical Approach on the Role of True Neurodegeneration in Subthalamic Nuclei in Parkinson’s Disease Caused by the Lack of Gustatory Impulses Charging the Brain.” The winners received a voluntary summer internship opportunity at ACU’s Neuroepilepsy Laboratory under the supervision of Prof. Filiz Onat.
Insight Panel and Career Panel sessions
The afternoon continued with the Insight Panel: “Meet the Young Neuroscientists”, chaired by Prof. Devrim Öz Arslan (GEMSTONE Researcher, ACU). Early-career researchers and ACU students supported by GEMSTONE and other funding schemes shared their research journeys and mobility experiences. Their presentations highlighted ACU’s emerging capacity for training neuroscience talent through hands-on research and international exchange.
The subsequent Careers Panel: “Career Pathways in Neuroscience” – co-chaired by Prof. Filiz Onat, Assoc. Prof. Nihan Çarçak Yılmaz (GEMSTONE WP2 Leader, ACU), and Assist. Prof. Tuğba Eryiğit Karamahmutoğlu (Marmara University) – hosted experts from clinical practice, academia, and industry. Panelists Assoc. Prof. Mustafa Aykut Kural, Assoc. Prof. Tuba Cerrahoğlu Şirin, and Assoc. Prof. Fatih Özdener shared personal experiences and guidance on navigating diverse career trajectories in neuroscience.
Open Discussion and Closing Ceremony
The final session, “Goals and Obstacles Facing Neuroscientists of Today,” featured an open discussion co-chaired by Serena Cogoni (GEMSTONE Local Principal Investigator, Fondazione ICONS) and Cem Öztürk (GEMSTONE Project Manager, ACU). Speakers and panellists from earlier sessions returned to the stage to reflect on the evolving landscape of neuroscience research and answer questions from the audience.
The closing ceremony featured remarks from the co-organizing student groups – ACUTBAT, ACU Neuroscience Student Club, and ACU Neuroscience Student Research Group – followed by recognition of the volunteers who contributed to the event’s success.
A milestone for neuroscience outreach
Throughout the day, participants engaged with information booths by ACUTBAT, ACU Neuroscience Student Club, ACU Neuroscience PhD Programme, and GEMSTONE Project, as well as networking opportunities over coffee and lunch, and the interactive Brain Canvas, where participants answered the question “What does the brain mean to you?”, creating a collaborative artwork that captured the spirit of the event.
ACU NeuroConnect stands as a significant milestone for the GEMSTONE Project and ACU, demonstrating how strategic collaboration, student engagement, and international scientific exchange can contribute to strengthening neuroscience research capacity in Turkey. By bringing together students, young researchers, experts, and international partners, the event helped inspire future neuroscientists and reinforced ACU’s role as a growing hub for neuroscience excellence.
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Please click here to watch the video clip from the event!
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Stay tuned to GEMSTONE and ACU NeuroConnect social media accounts for the photos from the event!