As part of an international collaboration on Ataxia-Telangiectasia (AT), a rare genetic disorder, Prof. Thomas Crawford from Johns Hopkins University and Dr. Claudio M. de Gusmao from Harvard University visited the Koç University Translational Medicine Research Center (KUTTAM) and the Rare Diseases Research Laboratory (NDAL) in Istanbul between February 4 - 7, 2025.
During their visit, the two specialists conducted in-depth clinical evaluations of five children in Turkey who may benefit from antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy. The Boston-based Dr. Yu also joined the meetings virtually. AT Association Chair, attorney Güneş Uyar, was present at the sessions, which were held in collaboration with NDAL's research team.
These meetings at NDAL offered a significant opportunity to share clinical knowledge and advance the process of making ASO therapy accessible in Turkey. The next planned step is to initiate official consultations with the Ministry of Health regarding the necessary regulations.
At the 9th Major Community Gathering, the Suna’nın Kızları communities came together to review the past year’s outcomes and align on project plans for 2026. Participants explored new ideas and collaboration opportunities on how the model and programs co-developed with 33 civil society organizations over the past four years can further support and reinforce one another.
The Istanbul Research Institute continues to offer free guided tours of the exhibition The Photography Studio of an Adventurous Architect: Arif Hikmet Koyunoğlu 1893–1982, which sheds light on the life of one of the most unconventional architects of his time, spanning the late Ottoman and early Republican periods.
The catalogue Extraordinary Minas: The Story of Inspiration and Innovation in Kütahya Tiles and Ceramics examines the efforts of Kütahya masters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to revive the disappearing craftsmanship of tile-making by focusing on a master and a group of his work, by presenting objects from the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation Kütahya Tiles and Ceramics Collection.