The project coordinated by Sabancı university will help develop a human epilepsy model on a chip

Coordinated by the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences of Sabancı University, the project entitled “human epilepsy model on a chip” will be the first in vitro human epilepsy model fit for the design and testing of medication, and will enable the development of innovative steps that may positively affect the lives of epilepsy patients in the long term.

The project is coordinated by Nur Mustafaoğlu, member of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences of Sabancı University, and involves Prof. Mehmet Kaya and Prof. Bülent Ahıshalı from Koç University, Nasrollah Tabatabaei from Tehran University for Medical Science, Vahid Bazargan from Tehran University and Zahra Shiri from the Royan Institute.

Although epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease, the world of medicine has only limited information about the pathogeny of the disease in humans. As many refractory epileptic cases cannot be treated with existing medications, in vitro human epilepsy models are needed urgently. A project implemented under the coordination of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences of Sabancı University will positively impact the lives of patients with epileptic seizures. In this project, the aim is to merge microfluidic devices with sophisticated stem cell technologies to develop a human epilepsy model on a chip. This model will be the first in vitro human epilepsy model to include a blood-brain barrier (BBB) component and enable research into cellular interactions and scanning anti-epileptics that can permeate the BBB.

The project will last 18 months. In addition to Nur Mustafaoğlu, member of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences of Sabancı University, who acts as the project coordinator, Prof. Mehmet Kaya and Prof. Bülent Ahıshalı from Koç University, Nasrollah Tabatabaei from Tehran University for Medical Science, Vahid Bazargan from Tehran University and Zahra Shiri from Royan Institute take part in the project. The project is further supported within the framework of TÜBİTAK2535 Iranian Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT) Collaboration Program.

Sabancı University, the coordinating institution, will be respobsible for project steps which include obtaining brain vein and neuron cells from stem cells, putting these cells in a culture within microfluidic chips and ensuring they remain functional as they would in a human body. Prof. Mehmet Kaya and his research team from Koç University’s Faculty of Medicine will first build an in vitro blood-brain barrier model and contribute to the detection of barrier characteristics in endothelium cells. Afterwards, they will provide both experimental and theoretical support to determine the functions of neurons in the in vitro epilepsy model and understand the impact of blood-brain barrier characteristics on these neurons. Microfluidic chips will be designed and manufactured in Iran by a team coordinated by Nasrollah Tabatabaei with the participation of people from various universities and institutes. The results of the work of the teams in Iran and Turkey will eventually be merged to generate a model fit for medical trials in a microfluidic chip environment by using live cells from humans with epilepsy.

Pointing out that although epilepsy was a chronic neurological disease, the world of medicine had only limited information about the pathogeny of the disease in humans, Nur Mustafaoğlu highlighted that in vitro human epilepsy models were needed urgently.

Saying that the ‘epilepsy model on a chip’ project would have both a scientific impact in the field and a social impact on public opinion, Nur Mustafaoğlu continued, “The technology and knowledge developed for the design and manufacturing of the chips and for the diversification of stem cells will open new routes for further research. In addition, the epilepsy on a chip model will be the state-of-the-art in vitro human epilepsy model to be used in the development of medications. It will also act as the best tool to study cellular and mechanical interactions during epileptogenesis. Therefore, this project’s results will potentially contribute to the development of new medications that make life easier for many people with epileptic seizures.”

The winners of the “Best Article Competition” organized by the Center of Excellence in Functional Faces and Interfaces for Nano Diagnosis (EFSUN) of Sabancı University have been announced in a Zoom event held on 17 August 2021. The competition started with the opening speech of the Sabanci University Vice President of Research Prof. Mehmet Yildiz.  The FENS faculty member Prof. Emre Erdem was the presenter of the comptetion. 

10 finalists consisting on distinguished young scientists from different disciplines publishing articles with high impact on Functional Faces and Interfaces presented their articles in the event. 

The winners of the Best Article Competition were selected by the evaluation committee consisting on well-known and active scientists from different disciplines: 

1-Dr. Sibel Çetinel, SUNUM 

2-Dr. Özlem Kutlu, SUNUM 

3-Dr. Rükan Genç, Mersin Üniversity 

4-Dr. Emre Erdem, Sabancı Üniversity 

5- Dr. Ozan Akdoğan- Bahçeşehir Üniversity 

In the competition where the members of the committee carefully evaluated each article and presentation; 

Researcher Mahshid Hashemkhani took the first place with her article titled “Cetuximab-Ag2S Quantum Dots for Fluorescent Imaging and Highly Effective Combination of ALA-based Photodynamic/Chemo-Therapy of Colorectal Cancer Cells’’; 

Researcher Soroush Niazi  took the second place with his article titled “Bio-coated surfaces with micro-roughness and micro-porosity: Next generation coatings for enhanced energy efficiency”; and 

Researchers Faezeh Ghorbanizamani ve Hichem Moulahoum shared the third place with their articles titled  “Dye-Loaded Polymersome-Based Lateral Flow Assay: Rational Design of a COVID-19 Testing Platform by Repurposing SARS-CoV‑2 Antibody Cocktail and Antigens Obtained from Positive Human Samples”  and “Quantitative paper-based dot blot assay for spike protein detection using fuchsine dyeloaded polymersomes” , respectively. 

More information about these articles could be obtained using the following links:

1. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2021/nr/d1nr03507j 
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360544221002085 
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34270230/ 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0956566321005212

9^th Dali International Photography Exhibition 2021 showcase includes works of Sabancı University alumni.

With the theme of "Life is Elsewhere – Reconfiguration and Distance", the 9^th Dali International Photography Exhibition 2021 showcase nearly 600 exhibitions and more than 20,000 photography works. This year's photography exhibition adopts a combination of online and physical displays. In addition to the presentations, 720-degree virtual panoramic photography will serve as the virtual guide to all venues. The digital exhibition is wholly preserved from outdoor to indoor to create a photography exhibition that never ends.

This year, Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences member Asst. Prof. Dr. Yoong Wah Alex Wong curated Effloresce, comprised the works of five Turkish female photographers and Sabancı University alumni, Neslihan Koyuncu, Beril Ece Güler, Özge Kepenek, Nagihan Aydınlık, and Ecem Güleç.

Please click to read the bios of Sabancı University alumni.

Alex Wong, Cedric van Eenoo and Salleh Japar also co-curated Proj3V (Visualise, Voice and Vision) in the 9^th Dali Intl Photography Exhibition 2021, comprised the student works from Sabancı University (FASS/VAVCD) and Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore. Proj 3V exhibitors are Nur Nurdoğdu, Gamar Karimli, Yeraz Arslan, Fazera Makrof, Pauline Wong, Marie Andrada, and Fei Pan. Some of the selected photography works was presented in FASS Art Gallery, Sabancı University from 21^st June – 9^th July, 2021.

Alex Wong’s new book Vanishing White and solo photography series, Melting Glaciers are showcased in the exhibition as well.

The 9^th Dali International Photography Exhibition 2021 can be visited in Dali city until 31^st  October 2021.

For more info:

https://720yun.com/vr/450zecqz2iz

https://720yun.com/vr/920zb9qt2r5

https://720yun.com/vr/2b1z81qvnke

http://www.dipephoto.com

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/7ity8KCPBdFqbZZMpfGdaA

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/7uTmJsIwxQcbxlECI5PDXw

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/9NlZm_VpL478cyF4-jtc4g

https://research.sabanciuniv.edu/41527/1/Vanishing_White_Book_sample_pages.pdf

Sabancı University Center of Excellence in Data Analytics (VERİM) qualifies for support within the framework of EuropeAid - Innovative Media for Peace, Social Cohesion and Reconciliation in Turkey, the Middle-East and North Africa, for a project in which it will act as a researcher institution.

Implemented by the Hrant Dink Foundation, and including Sabancı University VERİM and Boğaziçi University as researcher institutions, the project is entitled “Utilizing Digital Technology for Social Cohesion, Positive Messaging and Peace by Boosting Collaboration, Exchange and Solidarity.”

Berrin Yanıkoğlu and Reyyan Yeniterzi from the Computer Science and Engineering Program of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (FENS) and Ayşecan Terzioğlu from the Cultural Studies Program of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are involved in the project as researchers. The project aims to detect and decrease hate speech and disinformation in social media automatically through interdisciplinary and collaborative work.

Talking about the importance of the project, Berrin Yanıkoğlu said, “I am happy about the multi-partner and inter-disciplinary aspect of the project and the fact that our research in the field of artificial intelligence will be used in a way to benefit society. Moreover, it is very pleasing that the interdisciplinary collaboration that was started between social sciences and VERİM for a similar project in the past continues to grow thanks to this project.”

Highlighting two important aspects of the project, Ayşecan Terzioğlu continued, “The first aspect is about better understanding the dimensions of hate speech, which prevents the creation of a healthy dialogue in social discussions, in order to find out how more inclusive and pluralistic dialogue can be established. The second aspect is that with this project we constitute a good example of academy-NGO collaboration by working together with Boğaziçi University and the Hrant Dink Foundation, which has worked extensively and published detailed reports on the causes and consequences of hate speech. Our path crossed with the Hrant Dink Foundation for the first time in 2020 on occasion of an international conference that the Foundation held about hate speech. I am very happy that we will collaborate with the Hrant Dink Foundation on this project.”

Pointing out the project’s intention to detect hate speech, an ever-growing issue worldwide, Reyyan Yeniterzi said, “In today’s world, where we observe increased use of social media, people are becoming more and more insensible to who will read content in social media and how the readers will perceive what they read. This project is important because it aims to detect hate speech, which is becoming more and more widespread in every society. We are excited by the fact that we will detect hate speech with artificial intelligence tools and that the latest technology will be used for social benefits. We will try to create social awareness about hate speech through the tools and sites that we plan to develop with Boğaziçi University and the Hrant Dink Foundation, believing the issue to be a sensitive and important one.”

Sabancı University, Enerjisa and UNDP join forces to transform Küçükköy into a model of environmental sustainability

Tourism is a vital economic sector for Turkey, but current business models pose a threat to the rich natural environment that makes the country such an attractive destination. That is why Sabancı University, Enerjisa Enerji and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have joined forces to develop a “green destination model” and pilot efforts to infuse energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy and other sustainable practices into tourism businesses in Küçükköy, a promising tourism location along Turkey’s Aegean coast in the Ayvalik district, which already hosts one million visitors each year.

With an 18-month timetable, the initiative aims to develop a scalable, replicable and sustainable tourism implementation model that will reduce use of fossil fuels while expanding the application of renewables, a field where Turkey’s potential remains largely untapped. The joint effort to create a Centre of Sustainable Energy-Based Tourism Implementation (SENTRUM) in Küçükköy is just the beginning: the results of the pilot will be applied in other locations.

“We are delighted that Sabancı University has forged a triangle of success with UNDP and Enerjisa,” said Güler Sabancı, Chair of the Board of Directors of Sabancı Holding and the Founding Board of Trustees of Sabancı University. “The University’s philosophy is based on joint development. Our objective is to educate students to respond to and live within and for society. Our partnership with UNDP and Enerjisa reflects this outlook and we will accomplish wonderful things for this world in unity and cooperation.”

Tourism is a key sector of the Turkish economy, contributing an estimated 12.7 percent of GDP in the last pre-pandemic year of 2019. Ensuring the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the tourism sector is thus among Turkey’s national development priorities.

“Tourism is a sector with rich potential for Turkey” said Louisa Vinton, UNDP Resident Representative in Turkey. “But there is a real risk this potential will be wasted if we continue to violate environmental limits. Our aim is to help tourism firms become friends of nature.”

Kıvanç Zaimler, President of Sabancı Holding Energy Group and Chair of the Board of Directors of Enerjisa Enerji said “Every step we have taken for more than 90 years under the umbrella of Sabancı Group is illuminated by our vision of giving back to these lands what we have taken from these lands. Based on this vision, the scope of our project will not be limited to tourism businesses, buildings and museums in the region; it will be aimed to increase the awareness of the people of the region and local and foreign tourists visiting the region on energy efficiency and sustainable tourism”.

With funding from Enerjisa, UNDP will prepare a destination-specific socio-economic and environmental plan for Küçükköy; a situation analysis for local tourism enterprises on energy saving, energy efficiency and use of renewable energy resources; a sustainable production and consumption strategy; and a green procurement and supply chain management strategy.

Promoting green energy is just one part of the sustainability equation, however. Building on UNDP’s integrated approach, the initiative will also seek to ensure that local communities reap benefits from tourism. Here opportunities for women will be in focus: for example, UNDP will provide local women with training in energy audits and energy consultancy for tourism businesses in an effort to overcome the gender gaps that are standard in the energy sector.

To ensure local ownership and inclusiveness, project activities will also engage municipal and provincial authorities, NGOs, universities and local communities. To this end, UNDP will set up a SENTRUM Coordination Office at Sabancı University’s Creative Technologies Atelier in Küçükköy. The Office will promote knowledge about energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Enerjisa Energy will incorporate project results into its initiative “İşimin Enerjisi (Energy of My Business),” which promotes energy efficiency, renewables and reducing carbon emissions.

Rabia Tuğçe Yazıcıgil, graduate of Sabancı University Electronics Engineering Program, has developed a chickpea-sized, ingestible capsule that transmits wireless data in collaboration with MIT in her laboratory at Boston University. The capsule will enable early diagnosis of gastro-intestinal diseases without the need for an endoscopy and pave the way for quick treatment.

Carrying out her studies in the laboratory she established at Boston University Electrical and Computer Engineering Program after graduating from Sabancı University Electronics Engineering Department, Assistant Professor Rabia Tuğçe Yazıcıgil made an important breakthrough. Assistant Professor Rabia Tuğçe Yazıcıgil developed a chickpea-sized, ingestible capsule that transmits wireless data in collaboration with MIT. The capsule will enable early diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases without the need for an endoscopy and pave the way for quick treatment.

Completing her master’s degree at EPFL in Switzerland after graduating from Sabancı University Electronics Engineering Department, and obtaining her PhD from Columbia University Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, Rabia Tuğçe Yazıcıgil completed her post-doctoral studies in the laboratory of Anantha Chandrakasan, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering in MIT. Establishing her own laboratory at the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of Boston University as an Assistant Professor, Yazıcıgil also continues to work at MIT as a visiting researcher. 

Rabia Tuğçe Yazıcıgil described her collaboration with MIT as follows: “This research is carried out in collaboration with the teams of Prof. Timothy Lu and Prof. Giovanni Traverso from MIT. Our research is funded by Helmsley Charitable Trust. With MIT, we have designed an ingestible, chickpea-sized capsule transmitting wireless data to monitor the gastrointestinal system continuously and without any intervention. This capsule can be used to diagnose and monitor diseases such as Crohn’s, colitis, upper intestinal hemorrhages and other gastrointestinal failures. Our high-definition biochemical sensor will facilitate diagnosis of diseases and make it possible to start the treatment process quickly. Inflammations and diseases in the gastrointestinal system are usually diagnosed through examination of endoscopy images obtained under supervision of a doctor. However, since endoscopy is a technology that requires some intervention, it can be applied to patients a limited number of times per year, which makes it harder to monitor patients continuously. Furthermore, endoscopy is a camera-based system, which fails to indicate molecular traces of diseases." 

THE CAPSULE TRANSMITS DATA WITH A WIRELESS SENSOR EVERY 10 MINUTES

Pointing out that the capsule previously designed by the team at MIT was larger, Yazıcıgil continued, "In our new study, we aimed to decrease the size of the capsule to millimetric dimensions to make it safely ingestible. We modified the capsule to enable it to sense hemorrhages in the stomach or gases that may be indications of other diseases. Activated every 10 minutes, the capsule processes signals for 16 seconds and transmits these to a mobile phone or a computer in 12 milliseconds with a wireless sensor. You can think of the capsule we designed as a technology that is in your body to monitor your health, sense signs of diseases in your gastrointestinal system, and give you information without going to a hospital." 

Saying that in vitro tests were completed successfully, Yazıcıgil added, "The next step is about carrying out in vivo tests. The most important thing is that we are now one step closer to clinical applications, because our capsule is of a millimetric size and can operate at very low levels of power (10^-9 Watt - nanoWatt). Our target for the future is that such capsules will not need any source of power, battery etc. and will operate with the energy they harvest in the stomach.”

Center of Excellence for Functional Surfaces and Interfaces for Nano diagnostics -EFSUN is happy to announce that EFSUN Best Paper Competition will be held on the 17th August between 9.30-12.15 via Zoom.  

There will be 10 finalist presentations to recognise the scientific paper of outstanding young scientists on Functional Surfaces and Interfaces from different disciplines.  This is a free event. Please contact Prof. Emre Erdem (emre.erdem@sabanciuniv.edu)  for attending to this event. This event is a perfect opportunity to have awareness of the recent developments in the field.

Applications have started for the GEARING-Roles (Gender Equality Actions in Research Institutions to transform Gender Roles) Project competition held by Sabancı University Gender and Women’s Studies Center of Excellence (SU Gender).
In the GEARING-Roles competition, which is held on the theme of Resistances to Gender Equality, 5 winners will be picked for 2 prizes, namely the Research Prize and the Creative Prize.

The Research Prize
For the Research Prize, you are expected to submit short research papers (maximum 1,000 words) on the topic of resistances against gender equality. A winner will be selected from three different categories: a Bachelor, Masters and PhD. Essays must be submitted in English but please state if this is not your first language and consideration will be given to this fact in the judging.
The Creative Prize
For the Creative Prize GEARING Roles will select a winner from two categories: videos (max length 2 minutes) and cartoons/illustrations both of which must show how to counter resistances to gender equality with humour.
Entries do not need to be artistically perfect as it is the ideas and innovation behind the submission that the judges will look out for.
The competitions’ winners will get an all expenses paid trip to Estonia. Winners will also have the opportunity to build on their work and improve it with the help of experts and consultants. 
The deadline is 30 September 2021, and the winners will be announced on 11 October 2021.
For more information, please contact Olivia.iannelli@trilateralresearch.com or ilayda.ova@sabanciuniv.edu.

The theme for the 2022 edition of the annual Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards given by Sabancı University is “The Future of Globalization: Return of the State?”. The deadline for submissions is January 14, 2022.

The Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards involves a Jury Prize that will be awarded to an individual who has made distinguished contributions on the above-mentioned theme. In addition to the Jury Prize, Essay Awards will be given to three researchers under 45 years of age. An independent and international jury will select the Essay Award and Jury Prize awardees.

Award Theme

Globalization has transformed the relations between state, market, and society. At the turn of the century, protests, and movements against the financial and trade institutions of globalization have led scholars to study its broken promises, its winners and losers and the growing discontent. Twenty years forward, we are facing a backlash against globalization beyond its economic dimension.  Withdrawals from international and regional institutions, electoral successes of nationalist leaders, anti-immigrant sentiments are the new manifestations of this backlash against political and social globalization.

Yet, we do live in a world of states. The pandemic has once again revitalized this ongoing debate on whether globalization is in retreat and whether we are witnessing the comeback of the state. If so, what kind of a state? The complexities of the modern world have arguably made the structure and capabilities of the state ever more consequential for its society as well as the broader international society. Emergence of a truly multipolar world and the alternative models of state capitalism under authoritarian governments also call into question what kind of future awaits the globalization phenomenon.

Essays that address such topics are welcome.

Awards

The Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards involve a Jury Prize of 25,000 USD. The Jury Prize will be presented to an individual who has made distinguished contributions to the above-mentioned theme. An independent and international jury will select the Awardee. The essay award includes 10,000 USD for each of the three award-winning essays selected by the same jury from among submitted essays.

The deadline for the submissions is January 14, 2022.

For further information: http://award.sabanciuniv.edu

The project coordinated by Eren Günseli, member of Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, is entitled to support in the scope of TÜBİTAK 1002 Quick Support Program.

Eren Günseli’s project is entitled “The effects of distraction during memory retrieval on the probability of recall and precision of memoranda”. The project aims to measure the impact of divided attention on memory retrieval, using various distracting tasks. The project will last one year. In addition to Eren Günseli, who will act as the project coordinator, Nursima Ünver, a graduate student in Psychology, who assumed a critical role in preparing the project proposal, will take part in the project.

Providing details about the project, Günseli said, “Most daily occupations are based on past knowledge, experience, and memories. Long-term memory needs attention both to encode and retrieve such information. Previous research indicated the importance of attention for encoding information to the memory. However, the findings regarding the effects of attention during long-term memory retrieval remain inconsistent. Until recently, researchers believed that the main reason for this incompatibility was that tasks used as retrieval tasks were different or these tasks required efforts at different levels. On the other hand, studies on memory assumed that memory performance operated with the “all or none principle”, according to which the only criterion of remembrance performance was whether a representation is remembered or not. However, recent studies that use innovative analysis methods show that both the probability of recall and resolution of representations could be criteria for memory performance in both the working memory and the long-term memory.”

Emphasizing the importance of the project, Günseli continued, “This will be the first project that examines how the probability of recall and resolution are impacted by attention by making use of innovative analysis methods to study the relation between attention and probability of recall in the long-term memory. Analysis of data obtained will be studied using mixture model statistical analysis. The mixture model enables the researchers to estimate the margin of error in the tasks assigned to the participants as two separate parameters, namely probability of recall and resolution of representations. Therefore, this project aims to fill the gap in the field of studies focusing on the relation between attention and memory by demonstrating for the first time in the literature how the impact of attention on remembrance acts on the probability of recall and resolution of memoranda.”