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the project is to contribute
to the training of young sci-
entists who will take part in
research and development
studies, together with the
valuable academicians who
are already working in this
field”.
Zayer also stated that
biotechnological drugs can
provide treatment with
less side effects in a much
shorter time compared to
conventional drugs. Point-
ing out to Turkey’s potential
to produce biotechnologi-
cal drugs and stating that
drug manufacturing is a
challenging process requir-
ing patience, Zayer said
“Turkey started to make
investments and exerting
efforts in this field and now
is taking progress. We will
be able to see the results of
these steps in the coming
years”.

“IT WILL MAKE
A SIGNIFICANT center among thematic biological drug and active This technology enables
CONTRIBUTION TO research centers operating ingredient research and the natural proteins and
ADVANCED AND in higher education insti- development activities will hormones produced by
ACADEMIC BASED tutions with their national be carried out in Turkey, but the body to be produced
WORKFORCE” and international qualified also the training activities by cell cultures in the
research staff and the will be carried out and the laboratory. The molecules
Alpagut Kara, the Chair- bridge between university doctorate students will be compatible with the human
man of Board of Directors and industry. provided with scholarship. body produced in this way
of SUNUM, stated that Also, thanks to this unit, the are called biotechnological
SUNUM is one of the 4 Emphasizing that such attention of the sector will products.
centers for which a compe- steps will significantly focus on SUNUM and a sig-
tence decision was taken contribute to Turkey’s nificant contribution will be According to the infor-
in Turkey within the scope advanced and acade- made to the advanced and mation provided, a value
of the Law on Supporting my-based workforce, Kara academy-based workforce amounting to 23,3 billion
Research Infrastructures; said “We signed the agree- that our country needs. dollars is aimed using the
and that they primarily ment by feeling the support innovative and advanced
focused their know-how on we received from Merck, Kara said that the collab- technology in the health
nano-materials, life scienc- one of the leading suppli- oration represents a very field within the scope of
es, food, agriculture, water, ers of the Global Health important university-indus- Turkey’s vision for 2023.
environment and energy Services and Life Sciences try collaboration and such Increasing research and
fields”. sector, and the deep-root- kind of collaborations with development investments,
ed strength and close foreign partners in Turkey creating trained human re-
Stating that SUNUM is at collaboration of the host is still significant in terms sources and increasing the
the center of research, organization, the Sabanci of showing that there is a number of biotechnological
education and innovation University. In the SUNUM & center of attraction. production centers are
activities, Kara said that MERCK Life Sciences Ap- included in the road map.
they are an exemplary plication Unit, not only the A MODERN LABORATORY
INFRASTRUCTURE WAS The vision of “Turkey
ESTABLISHED FOR become a country having
BIOTECHNOLOGICAL significant centers, man-
PRODUCT PROCESS ufacturing facilities and
DEVELOPMENT trained academicians in
the field of drug and active
Turkey, with the collabora- ingredient research and
tion in question, acquired development” is support-
a modern laboratory ed with the information
infrastructure in terms of transfer that is provided by
biotechnological product Merck to Turkey thanks to
process development. By the project.
this means, the research
and development of Within the scope of collab-
biotechnological products oration; A joint study group
in Turkey are supported will be created by the two
and setting up an acad- institutions and the schol-
emy-based workforce is arships will be provided to
aimed. Biotechnological doctoral students to be
products are produced chosen from the Sabancı
thanks to “recombinant University Molecular Biolo-
DNA technology”, which gy, Genetics and Bioengi-
enables the transfer of a neering Program.
gene belonging to a living
cell to another living cell.