NDAL Inauguration Address at Koç University-KUTTAM
November 9, 2019
Esteemed Mrs Arsel, Esteemed Mr. Kirac and dear Ms. İpek Kıraç, Distinguished Vice President Aksun and Vice Dean Ata, distinguished former President of Boğaziçi University, dear members of the ALS Association of Turkey, esteemed guests, dear friends, students, and last but not least valuable patients.
We have come together to celebrate the Inauguration of the Suna and Inan Kıraç Foundation’s NDAL laboratory which moved last year from Boğaziçi University to its new home at Koç University School of Medicine. It is my honor and pleasure to be giving this talk.
The invaluable and unconditional support of The Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation throughout the last 14 years has allowed NDAL to attain a uniquely precious know-how, cutting-edge infrastructure and leading position in Turkey, which in turn has allowed the laboratory to become a competitive partner to several centers in Europe and North America.
Among its efforts, NDAL is an active member of Project MinE and SPATAX; has recently become part of the NGS ataxia consortium, based on the EU consortium PREPARE; and represents Turkey in the ROPAD International Parkinson’s Disease Study. NDAL being now part of an elite research hospital and KUTTAM, Koç University’s Translational Medicine Research Center, will further strengthen its ability to collaborate, innovate, discover and contribute to the field. Operating within a hospital setting allows NDAL to access more patients and explore interdisciplinary research projects in new, highly effective ways.
The move of NDAL to Koç University Medical School is in many respects of groundbreaking importance, a tight collaboration between bench scientists and clinicians has never been as crucial and important as it is now. Today with its huge number of neurodegenerative disease samples and patient data, with its international collaborations and large scale projects and with its well-trained team, the transition to a medical school was timely for NDAL. We strongly believe that NDAL’s new location at Koç University’s KUTTAM, along with the ‘NDAL spirit’, will boost the lab to further expand in its efforts to play a major role in the understanding and elucidation of the mechanisms leading to neurodegenerative processes.
All these would not have been possible without the support of all the people standing here, and also many, not present here today. The remaining part of my talk will consist of thanks to many people.
NDAL was born at Boğaziçi, NDAL grew at Boğaziçi, NDAL received its reputation at Boğaziçi. I would like to thank Boğaziçi University and in particular its presidents and executive council, who unconditionally supported NDAL from its beginning in 2005 to 2018.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Koç University Medical School which has opened new avenues in front of NDAL, a new white page in a book which is full of experiences.
With its cutting edge Translational Medicine Research Center, and its young, dynamic and collaborative Neurology Department, the University is a great opportunity for NDAL's sustainability to further grow and thrive, and the tight collaboration with clinicians is so rewarding.
We thank Mrs. Berna Barutçu (Dekolab)and the Maintenance and Construction Dept of Koç Hospital for refurbishing this place for us according to our needs. Such a modern, spacious, light, see-trough, yet warm-tempered and embracing laboratory. Our deepest gratitude go to Dr. Erdal Aksoy, our medical director and Dr. Ihsan Solaroglu, KUTTAM director, to allocate this space to NDAL. We literally broke the brick walls and we will go on breaking the invisible walls, too. This is what translational research needs.
Here we work so hard as if OUR lives depend on it. We are committed as single individuals, we are committed as NDAL, we are committed as KUTTAM, as Koç University and as Turkey, to be part of the efforts to find a cure for ALS and the devastating disorders we fight against. We do not shrink from any responsibility, in contrast we welcome it. The more demanding, the more challenging, the more satisfactory. The energy, the faith, the devotion, the commitment and the know-how we bring to this new endevour will light our institution and ourselves, and the glow from that fire will truly light our research and our results.
Dear guests. As you may know, only two hours ago we we have successfully completed the 5th Suna Kıraç Conference on Neurodegeneration Istanbul, organized biennially under the leadership of Profs. Robert Brown and Jeffrey Macklis and hosted by the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation at the Pera Museum. We had two full days of very intense lectures and interactions.
We consider ourselves extremely fortunate that we are able to tie this inauguration to our Conference, during which we witnessed and shared the incredible efforts and dramatic progress achieved in ALS molecular and cellular research, now translated into therapies. It was a fascinating feast of scientific results and interactions, and a lot of hope and encouragement. I thank our Conference guests whose presence here today make this event unique and especially precious.
Next I would like to thank all former and current NDAL members and associates, the big big NDAL family. They and their peers will carry NDAL into the future. Let me now please say a few words to the young scientists among us: “Not ask what your institution can do for you; ask what you can do for your institution”. “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give” (slightly reworded quotes from two world-renowned statesmen).
On the road to your careers hardwork and perseverence are important among many other qualities. If you believe in what you are saying, and you can stay the course, you can make a dlfference. But, never give up on your heart and your struggle for love, decency and telling the truth.
Last but not least, I would like to thank the Kıraç Foundation, to Mr. Özalp Birol, Mr. Ümit Taftalı and Mrs. Ayşe İnan for their professional assistance throughout many years, and the incredibly efficient team of the Pera Museum for their wonderful hearts and energies.
None of our efforts would be possible without the sustained support of the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Suna Kıraç, İnan Kıraç and İpek Kıraç for supporting our growth and development over the years, for their vision and for their dedication; it has been the greatest privilege and honor to work with them. We are especially honored to witness their excitement tonight. Thank you for sharing our excitement dear Ipek and distinguished Inan Bey.
Distinguished Mrs Arsel, I would like to thank to you also personally for being with us tonight. This is such a great honor and motivation. You are the fascinating example of this year’s motto of the Foundation: “üstümüze vazife”, which I thought is tailor-made for NDAL. Yes, we do care!
Thank you all for joining us in this privileged moment. Please join me now in raising our glasses to your health and to a cure for ALS....
