Brain research is not only of concern to the medical world!

Üsküdar University participating in the meeting of Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics (SBMT) on 8-10 April in Miami U.S.A will give presentations about brain mapping and latest treatment techniques. Prof. Selahattin Gültekin pointing out that brain research is not only of concern to the medical world said: “engineering and sciences are also involved in brain research”.

Üsküdar University, representing Turkey in Brain İnitiative Project launched in 2013 by the U.S.A. President Barack Obama to develop treatment and to study the unknown secrets of the brain and major diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Autism, Schizophrenia, and Parkinson's disease, will attend to 13^th annual meeting of Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics (SBMT), and 16 professionals from the university will give presentations about brain mapping and latest treatment methods.

Brain mapping will be performed

Prof. Selahattin Gültekin, Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, heading the team said brain mapping will be performed in the meeting where scientists performing brain research from all over the World will meet. Prof. Gültekin informed:

“During the meeting in Miami, scientists will talk about new treatment methods and perform brain mapping. So, they will not only say ‘I found this, there you are’, but ‘We found this, now we have to continue with the treatment’. This meeting is one of the important events in the World. The Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics (SBMT) organizes these meetings every year. In these meetings, the causes of brain-related illnesses and treatment methods are being discussed. Brain researches, developments, treatment methods within that year are discussed.”

The meeting in Turkey was very successful

We performed a smaller one in Turkey last year. Last year, Üsküdar University organized 2nd G20 World Brain Mapping and Therapeutics Scientific Summit, and shared the final declaration with the world leaders in Antalya during the G20 on November the 15th. Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, Dean of Üsküdar University and board member of Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics (SBMT), emphasized that overcoming limitations through interdisciplinary collaboration is needed to unravel the mysteries of the brain.

Indicator of our commitment to brain research

“Scientists from abroad and visitors attended to these meetings. The founders of this society were also invited. We, as Üsküdar University, performed very successful things in both meetings. So, we are attending to this year’s meeting with a team of 16 experts. Attendance of 16 academicians from a university is extremely significant. And it is a sign of the importance given to brain research by our university.

Miami meeting provides an environment where scientists come together to exchange ideas, and there is a lot to learn. Brain research is not only of concern to the medical world. Now, engineering and sciences are also involved in brain research.”

By pointing out that they established an association similar to the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics (SBMT), Prof. Selahattin Gültekin said, “The president of our association is our dean Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, and I am the second president. We have 45-person founding team and board of directors. We became not only the Turkish leg but also the Middle East leg of this association”.

Brain diseases shall be explained to the community

Prof. Gültekin said that the developments about the brain research in the Middle East will also be explained on the first day of the meeting in Miami, and continued that it is important to explain brain diseases to the community, and pointed out that the government shall also support this project.  Prof. Gültekin said:

­“Turkey being there on behalf of the Middle East is a plus. It is a very important meeting for Turkey. We need to revive studies in the field of brain research in Turkey, we need support of politicians. So, we need to go to Parliament and explain these. We want to raise awareness in the community about this issue. For this, we, together with our Dean Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, will go to Parliament as soon as possible and will be meeting with the Health Commission.

American parliamentarians will also join the meeting in Miami. We'll sit and talk with the members of the Parliament. We will describe the importance of the issue. “Brain Initiative” launched by the President Obama is a 100 million dollar project, and they aim to increase it every year. While the U.S.A. is doing this, our government needs to do something as Turkey.  So, in this regard, research etc. need to be supported. Therefore, we need to pursue such kind of meetings. What is going on in the World, what is going on in our country, what do we need more, how much advancement did they perform, how can we catch them?

So, this Miami landing is very important for Turkey, especially for Üsküdar University. This meeting overlaps with our theme and behavioral sciences. Who is controlling behaviors? The brain is controlling.”

Prof. Selahattin Gültekin says that he is thinking to visit the U.S Parliament together with Prof. Nevzat Tarhan on 20 April 2016 to explain the work performed on this field in Turkey.