Near East University (NEU) has completed the establishment of a Clinical and Translational Research Centre, designed to raise the quality of health research and speed up the transfer of laboratory findings into clinical practice. Prof. Dr. Burçin Şanlıdağ has been appointed head of the centre.
The centre will support physicians, academics and researchers working in health, primarily at Near East University Hospital, bringing every stage of the research process under one roof. Its services will cover developing research ideas, project design, data analysis, ethics procedures, funding applications and scientific publication. Undergraduate and postgraduate students will also be able to use its facilities.
The centre aims to strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation by bringing together researchers from medicine, pharmacy, health sciences, engineering and technology in joint projects. Its priorities include matching basic science findings with concrete healthcare needs, developing scientific solutions to problems in diagnosis and treatment, and making more effective use of national and international funding. Supporting young researchers and building partnerships with international research networks are also planned.
The seven-member board comprises Prof. Dr. Burçin Şanlıdağ, Prof. Dr. Umut Gazi, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özlem Balcıoğlu, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Baha, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özgür Tosun, Asst. Prof. Dr. Özlem Önder and Dr. Gökhan Pehlivan.
Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Near East Enterprise, said the centre was an important part of the university's goal of turning scientific output into social benefit. "As Near East University, we want to turn scientific discoveries into innovations that touch human lives," he said, adding that the centre would allow the university's hospitals, laboratories and academics to use their expertise more effectively.
Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ stressed that turning a strong research idea into a successful study requires proper planning, reliable data and an ethically grounded process, and said the centre would provide systematic support at every stage. "Our goal is not only to produce more research, but also to increase its quality, international impact and contribution to healthcare," he said.
