Istanbul Medeniyet University signed a protocol with MSD, a health company that has been developing medicines and vaccines against the deadliest diseases of the world for over 130 years, for scientific collaboration in clinical research with particular emphasis on oncology, diabetes, and vaccines. The protocol signing ceremony was held in our Hasan Polatkan Conference Hall on February 4, 2021 and was attended by Rector Prof. Dr. Gülfettin Çelik, Dean of the Medicine Faculty Prof. Dr. Sadrettin Pençe, General Manager of MSD Turkey Gözde Güllüoğlu, and members of our Medicine Faculty and MSD Turkey’s staff members.
Following a brief presentation about MSD Turkey, Dean of the Medicine Faculty Prof. Dr. Sadrettin Pençe delivered a speech, in which he highlighted the role of universities in R&D activities and the importance of academia-industry collaboration in this context. He also noted that a great part of the R&D activities in Turkey are financed by the government and there is a need to increase the share of private sector in financing R&D. Prof. Dr. Pençe underlined the great value of this collaboration model with MSD and expressed his best wishes for its implementation.
In her opening speech, General Manager of MSD Turkey Gözde Güllüoğlu expressed her happiness for signing a scientific collaboration protocol with İstanbul Medeniyet University for clinical research, chiefly in oncology, diabetes, and vaccines. She said: “Ensuring early access of patients and physicians to innovative treatments and vaccines with this project in clinical research and contributing to increased competitiveness toward strengthening Turkey’s R&D infrastructure for the discovery of new drugs and vaccines are among our foremost objectives. As MSD, are ready to make any contribution we can make and transfer all our knowledge and expertise to support building a firm ground for clinical studies in our country. I firmly believe that we will soon start reaping the benefits of this new collaboration that aims to help our society be healthier and have better access to innovative treatments.”
In his opening remarks, Rector Prof. Dr. Gülfettin Çelik underlined that despite being very young, IMU has a history and experience of almost fifty years in the health sector through our hospital and a very strong academic infrastructure, which promises rapid progress in the sector. He said: “We know that we will make significant contributions to offer to the public the knowledge generated in education and research with particular regard to health.” and reminded the success of our medical students in the national Examination for Specialty in Medicine (TUS). Rector Prof. Dr. Çelik said: “It is very important for us to collaborate with leading private companies like MSD… I believe that in the exceptional environment of Istanbul, such collaboration between a young university like Istanbul Medeniyet University and an institution like MSD will increasingly yield favorable results.” and expressed his good wishes for our country and institutions.
Following the opening remarks, Rector Prof. Dr. Gülfettin Çelik and General Manager of MSD Turkey Gözde Güllüoğlu signed the collaboration protocol. We wish that this collaboration that will make significant contribution to Turkey’s R&D efforts in clinical research and advances in the health sector in general will be auspicious for our institutions and our country.
