"Scientific Response to COVID-19" Project Information Day and "TUBITAK Vaccine and Drug Development Campus Introduction Program" were held at TUBITAK Marmara Research Center on 16 June 2023.
The program was held with a wide range of high-level participants from the Ministry of Industry and Technology, Turkish Institute of Health Sciences (TÜSEB), Covid-19 Turkey Platform, Universities and Pharmaceutical companies.
Within the scope of the program, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hilal Yazıcı Malkoçoğlu, TÜBİTAK MAM Life Sciences Vice Presidency, Medical Biotechnology Research Group Leader, gave a presentation on the infrastructure of TÜBİTAK Vaccine and Pharmaceutical Campus, working areas and our common grounds with the pharmaceutical industry. Afterwards, Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, President of TUBITAK, made a presentation on "Looking to the Future with TUBITAK in Turkey's Century".
"The campus we are in is motivated to bring all the stakeholders of this ecosystem together."
Prof. Dr. Mandal stated that TÜBİTAK Vaccine and Pharmaceutical Campus serves as a tool to work together in Turkey's future, to reach the process, result and success together. Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal said, "There is no assurance what kind of epidemics we will face or not face in the future. With these changing climatic conditions or the melting of the poles, viruses that do not exist today may exist in the future. Therefore, when we look at health in the future, we are in an approach where we try to keep the concept of one health on the agenda, where we need to consider environmental health and climatic conditions simultaneously. Unless we take a holistic view of human health, animal health and environmental health leading to food supply security, we can only try to find solutions to future outbreaks after they occur. If we want to be prepared beforehand, it will be beneficial to look at this perspective from a more comprehensive and holistic perspective. For this very reason, the campus we are in is motivated to bring together all stakeholders of this ecosystem."
Prof. Dr. Mandal said, "With the Covid-19 pandemic, we have established a working model that we have gained from all the difficulties we have experienced, and the challenging conditions have led us to interact more with each other and to produce solutions for our common future. In this sense, we support this and similar platforms, especially in this period, not only in the field of health but also in different fields."
Following the presentations, the National Biological and Chemical Testing Center and the Medical Biotechnology Center of Excellence were visited. Authorized personnel provided on-site information about the work carried out at the TÜBİTAK Vaccine and Pharmaceutical Campus.
Under the moderation of Prof. Dr. Cengizhan Öztürk, informative presentations were made about the work carried out by the scientists taking part in the Covid-19 Turkey Platform. Ideas were exchanged on models for solving the difficulties experienced in drug and vaccine production processes in R&D.
In the last session of the program, B2B meetings were held by the participants and cooperation opportunities were evaluated.
Giant Step in Health Industry: Pilot Plant for the Production of Pharmaceuticals and Vaccines
The Medical Biotechnology Center of Excellence (MEDIBİYO), where biotechnological drug and vaccine candidates are developed starting from the cell, the production process is carried out and laboratory analyzes are carried out, is described as a turning point that will break new ground in the field of drug and vaccine production.
MEDIBIYO stands out with an additional installation space that will allow a production facility to be set up quickly if needed. This flexibility provides a significant advantage to the healthcare industry by enabling fast and effective intervention in emergencies.
This state-of-the-art center features a pilot-scale production area using single-use technologies that comply with pharmaceutical regulations. This area will play a critical role in the production process of biotechnological drugs prior to clinical trials. In addition, MEDIBİYO will continue intensive R&D activities for the discovery of innovative treatments and healthcare solutions.
MEDIBIO will also provide a major impetus in the field of research and innovation and will have an important role in the development of future treatments and healthcare services
The new center aims to be a pioneer in drug and vaccine manufacturing, bringing together all stakeholders in the healthcare industry to discover and produce more effective, safe and innovative treatments.
National Biological and Chemical Testing Center, Will Increase Turkey's Power in the Field of Defense
The National Biological and Chemical Test Center (BKTM), which operates to meet Turkey's defence needs, will carry out testing and certification of defence products against domestic and imported chemical and biological threats at international standards. BKTM, as a center where the tests of products produced with domestic and national technology are carried out, will reduce the outflow of foreign currency, while at the same time ensuring security in matters requiring confidentiality.
As a center where R&D and P&D activities are carried out, this facility will also examine the performance and effects of the systems and equipment needed in the field of national and military defence against biological and chemical agents, while ensuring compliance checks with standards accepted by certain authorities. Serving with the support and cooperation of the Ministry of National Defence, this centre will increase international recognition and host tests of defence products of friendly and allied countries. With an indoor area of 16,200 square meters, the center stands out as a large complex with its 6,700 square meter Biology Test Block, 6,500 square meter Chemistry Test Block and 3,000 square meter administrative area.
With its testing and certification at international standards, this facility will increase Turkey's strength in the field of defense, while contributing to the prominence of domestic defense products.
