From September 16-18, 2024, Professor Henry Houlden and Dr Francesca Magrinelli from University College London (UCL) visited NDAL for an academic meeting and knowledge exchange. Over three intensive days, the visiting professors examined a total of 18 families.
The first group of families included cases with known genetic causes, leading to functional analysis to better understand disease mechanisms. From the second day onward, families with multiple affected members and clear genetic inheritance—yet unresolved despite current methodologies—were examined, and Long Read Sequencing (LRS) was proposed for further study.
In addition to neurological evaluations, the team addressed all inquiries from the families and collected various samples for further research. Turkish clinicians working with the patients were also present during parts of the meetings. The highly productive discussions and collaborations provided an excellent model for future engagements.
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.