Near East University has completed the establishment of its Clinical and Translational Research Center. This center, which will bridge the gap between basic sciences and clinical applications, will provide comprehensive support to researchers, from project development to scientific publications, contributing to the development of new diagnostic and treatment methods.

Near East University established the Clinical and Translational Research Center to improve the quality of scientific research in the health field and accelerate the transformation of findings into clinical applications. The center, which will support physicians, academics, and researchers working in the health field, primarily at Near East University Hospital, aims to contribute to the transformation of scientific ideas into new diagnostic and treatment methods, health technologies, and innovative products.

The Clinical and Translational Research Center, which will support research processes under one roof, will provide services in a wide range of areas, from the development of research ideas and project design to data analysis, ethical processes, funding applications, and scientific publications. The center, which will also benefit undergraduate and graduate students, will strengthen interdisciplinary collaborations by bringing together researchers from different fields of expertise in joint projects.

From scientific discoveries to new diagnostic and treatment methods…
The Center for Clinical and Translational Research will ensure that findings in basic sciences are brought together with concrete needs in the field of health. Encouraging collaborative work between researchers from medicine, pharmacy, health sciences, engineering, and technology, the center will strengthen the process between laboratory research and clinical applications.

The center, which will support the development of scientific solutions to challenges encountered in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, will also contribute to the creation of new research projects and the more effective utilization of national and international funding sources. In this way, the aim is to ensure that scientific endeavors are not limited to academic publications alone, but also pave the way for the development of new methods and technologies capable of improving patients’ quality of life.

Through collaborations established with national and international research networks, the center also aims to strengthen the scientific output capacity of Near East University and enhance the international impact of its research. Another priority for the center is to foster more active participation by young researchers and postgraduate students in scientific projects.

Prof. Dr. Burçin Şanlıdağ has assumed the leadership of the center.
Prof. Dr. Burçin Şanlıdağ has taken on the role of head of the Near East University Center for Clinical and Translational Research. The center’s board of directors, which includes experts from various specialized fields, consists of Prof. Dr. Burçin Şanlıdağ, Prof. Dr. Umut Gazi, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özlem Balcıoğlu, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Baha, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özgür Tosun, Assist. Prof. Dr. Özlem Önder, and Specialist Dr. Gökhan Pehlivan.

Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel: “We aim to transform scientific discoveries into innovations that touch human lives.”
Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Near East Enterprises, emphasized that the establishment of the Center for Clinical and Translational Research is a key component of Near East University’s objective to transform scientific output into societal benefit.

Prof. Dr. Günsel said, “The true value of a university’s scientific strength is realized through the impact its generated knowledge has on human life. When a discovery in the field of health evolves into a new treatment, a more reliable diagnostic method, or a technology that enhances patients’ quality of life, it represents one of the most valuable outcomes of scientific research. At Near East University, our goal is to translate scientific discoveries into innovations that touch human lives.”

Highlighting Near East University’s robust research infrastructure and extensive expertise in the healthcare sector, Prof. Dr. Günsel added, “We possess a significant body of scientific knowledge, supported by our hospitals, research centers, laboratories, and academics working across diverse disciplines. The newly established Center for Clinical and Translational Research will enable us to utilize this expertise more effectively toward our shared goals. By removing obstacles for our researchers, we aim to foster the development of new ideas, accelerate scientific inquiry, and ensure that the resulting findings contribute to public health.”

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “We will further strengthen the quality and international impact of our scientific research.”
Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ noted that the comprehensive support the Center for Clinical and Translational Research will provide to researchers will bolster the university’s scientific output capacity.

Stating that scientific advancements in the field of health are increasingly reliant on interdisciplinary collaboration, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said, “Today, significant scientific breakthroughs emerge from research that brings together the knowledge and experience of various fields of expertise. However, for a robust research idea to evolve into a successful scientific study, the process requires sound planning, reliable data, appropriate methodologies, and adherence to ethical principles. We will provide systematic support to our academics and researchers at every stage of this process through the Center for Clinical and Translational Research.”

Emphasizing that the center will also create new opportunities for international research projects, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ added, “We aim to facilitate our researchers’ access to international funding sources, increase their participation in multi-center scientific studies, and support the publication of our research in high-quality scientific journals. We also place great importance on the active involvement of our young academics and students in research processes. Our goal is not merely to produce a higher volume of scientific work, but to enhance the quality, international impact, and contribution of these studies to healthcare services.”

Prof. Dr. Burçin Şanlıdağ: “We will stand by our scientists throughout the entire journey, from the initial research concept to clinical application.”
Prof. Dr. Burçin Şanlıdağ, Head of the Center for Clinical and Translational Research at Near East University, stated that the center will serve as a support mechanism, enabling researchers to conduct their scientific work more effectively and to a higher standard.

Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ said, “The success of a scientific study begins with asking the right question. However, for a good idea to lead to a scientific outcome, the research must be properly designed, appropriate methods must be determined, data must be analyzed reliably, and the results must be shared with the scientific community. At our center, we will provide support to our researchers throughout every stage of this process. By doing so, we will make it easier for our physicians, academics, and students to transform their scientific ideas into more robust projects.”

Noting that the primary goal of translational research is to bridge the gap between scientific findings obtained in the laboratory and clinical needs, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ further said, “The challenges our physicians encounter while caring for patients serve as invaluable starting points for new scientific research. By addressing these challenges through the collective knowledge from the basic sciences, engineering, and technology, it becomes possible to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Our center will enable researchers from diverse disciplines to come together and generate collaborative solutions to these needs.”

Touching upon the center’s long-term objectives, Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ added, “We aim to foster national and international research collaborations, encourage multi-center studies, and contribute to the emergence of new scientific data, methods, and products. Our foremost priority is to facilitate the scientific production processes of our researchers while ensuring that the knowledge gained is translated into tangible benefits for patients and society at large.”