Dr. Cihan Taştan, a faculty member of the Molecular Biology and Genetics Department at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, was a guest at the Digital Health Technologies Forum organized by Medikal Akademi. Taştan discussed gene therapies, targeted studies in this field, and current applications.
“Gene therapies have an effect on the recovery of many hereditary diseases”
Taştan pointed out that Turkey was late in the field of genetic therapies but now has the infrastructure; “Because it was economically challenging, we were purchasing from foreign countries. But now we have the infrastructure. In 2013, gene therapy was approved, and they showed us that many treatments could be approved and improved every year. We have started studies on applying our own domestic DNA and genetic therapies. As a country, we need these. Because gene therapies have an effect on the recovery of many hereditary diseases.” he said.
“Clinical trials are not a dream”
Referring to the establishment of the Transgenic Cell Technologies and Epigenetic Application and Research Center within this scope, Dr. Cihan Taştan, a faculty member, said; “It has also been planned to contribute to our country’s efforts in developing epigenetic-based national drugs. Clinical trials are not a dream. Vision and mission are not enough. We need to train knowledgeable people. As a university, we are implementing these applications and studies with a 25-person TRGENMER LAB team. We are making efforts to achieve this. Üsküdar Üniversitesi is always ready to train knowledgeable and hardworking people.”