Turkish scientists mobilized to contribute globally to vaccine and drug development studies against the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19). Turkey Covidien-19 Platform; he shared the studies with the public at the first virtual conference held in our country. Speaking at the conference, Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank said, "Under the COVID-19 Platform, there are 7 vaccine projects and 7 drug development projects where chemical and biotechnological methods will be applied." said.
In Turkey, vaccines and drugs on identifying innovative approaches that can be taken quickly Varank Minister noted that as a result, "all the necessary resources of our ministry we use no obstacle for this job." used the expression.
Varank Minister, "Turkey Covidien-19 Platform" held in coordination Vaccine and Drug Development joined the Virtual Conference. The conference started with the opening speech of Minister Varank, Deputy Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır, President of TÜBİTAK. Dr. Hasan Mandal, Head of the Department of Biophysics, Bahçeşehir University (BAU) Serdar Durdağı, Dr. from Ankara University. Mehmet Altay Ünal, from Boğaziçi University. Dr. Nesrin Özören, from TÜBİTAK MAM Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Institute. Dr. Şaban Tekin, İhsan Doğramacı from Bilkent University Dr. İhsan Gürsel, Professor from Istanbul University. Dr. Ahmet Gül, from Ankara University. Dr. Aykut Özkul, Professor from Dokuz Eylül University. Dr. Mehmet Öztürk, from Ankara University. Dr. Hakan Akbulut, Professor from the Middle East Technical University. Dr. Mayda Gürsel, from Selcuk University. Dr. Osman Erganiş, Assoc. Dr. Mert Doşkaya, Professor from Istanbul Medipol University. Dr. Mustafa Guzel also attended. Minister Varank said in his speech:
VIRUS FOCUSED FIRST VIRTUAL EVENT: Today, everyone will first hear about the work of our very valuable scientists, which we have gathered, under the coordination of TÜBİTAK to combat COVID-19. Each presentation will shed light on the researchers who follow the subject both at home and abroad.
NEW WORLD: When we leave these days behind; we will have stepped into a new world. States will become leading actors in guiding the economy. The expectation of all humanity is the end of this epidemic and the emergence of scientific solutions.
BASIC HEALTH NEEDS: International institutions have so far been dysfunctional in the epidemic. They couldn't put their hands under the stone to pioneer and coordinate global studies. We even see that countries with relatively poor conditions in terms of their basic health needs are left alone by their associations. Scientists rolled up their sleeves to make global contributions to coronavirus vaccination and drug development efforts.
EFFECTIVE MEASURES: Our healthcare workers are fighting the epidemic with great devotion. Our state mobilized its opportunities both to prevent the spread of the epidemic and to manage new social situations. All our ministries and institutions work in full coordination under the leadership of our President. In addition to taking effective measures, we also take pioneering steps.
STAGE AND FLEXIBLE STEPS: We have designed our policy reflexes very strongly and dynamically. We have strong options to get results for every new situation we encounter. We take great care to make the right decisions at the right time. We are gradually and flexibly deploying our steps. We will expand the impact of the policies we will implement depending on the development of the epidemic.
RED LINES: We have red lines, which we call indispensable from the very beginning of the process. The main areas we will never compromise are our workers not losing their jobs, maintaining the income level of each household, meeting basic needs more, and accessing health services when all our citizens need it.
CONTINUITY IN PRODUCTION: In order to ensure continuity in production, we strive to be with all our businesses from the smallest to the largest. We are taking steps to reduce the burdens of employers and facilitate their struggle against uncertainty they face.
GLOBAL IMPACTS: As the Ministry of Industry and Technology, we initiated our work before the epidemic reached a global dimension. We closely follow all global effects of this epidemic and create our future projections. Our citizens, please, will continue to work with them to alleviate their troubles until this process passes.
TUBITAK LEADERSHIP: TÜBİTAK leads the basic research in vaccine and drug development projects. There are very important competencies in our country in terms of vaccines and drugs. We created our vaccine and drug research groups within the scope of the TÜBİTAK 2019 High Technology Platforms Call we started in 1004. In the process of combating COVID-19, it has become more important to gather these accumulations.
INNOVATIVE APPROACHES: We established the COVID-19 sub-platform under the coordination of TÜBİTAK MAM Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Institute in order to carry out the process in the fastest and most efficient way. From the ongoing projects of our teachers, those that can be transformed against this virus and innovative approaches that we can get results very quickly were determined.
VACCINE AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: Under the COVID-19 Platform, there are 7 different vaccine projects and 7 different drug development projects where both chemical and biotechnological methods will be applied. Our academics commissioned their projects to combat COVID-19 in a very short time in a rare way in the world.
HUNDREDS OF RESEARCHES: For this ultimate goal, hundreds of researchers from 24 universities, 8 public R&D units and 8 private sector organizations are working diligently. Talents and abilities focused on one goal.
ALL KINDS OF METHOD: Any method with the potential to enable effective combat with this virus will be tried within the platform. Efficiency and toxicity analyzes of vaccines and drugs in experimental animals will be completed with these projects. In the next step, all results will be transferred to TUSB, which is affiliated to the Ministry of Health, in order to conduct clinical trials immediately.
SUPPORT PROCESS: Our support processes for projects have started. If necessary, there is no obstacle for us to use all the resources of our ministry for this job. As long as we get the result, let's reach the result as soon as possible.
FLEXIBLE MECHANISM: We do not establish a new research infrastructure here, we want to work together in our existing infrastructures in the most efficient way and achieve the result. We designed a very flexible mechanism. If any of our researchers can contribute to this process from now on, they can easily be included in this mechanism.
TRUST FOR RESEARCHERS: We trust all our researchers. You can be sure that we will meet your every need. You have no obstacles and barriers. Our communication mechanisms are open and transparent until the end. The responsibility on you is both very heavy and precious. We will all be waiting for good news and good news from you. We are determined to succeed together against this threat.
TÜBİTAK President Mandal stated that there is a mobilization of this pandemic process all over the world and said, “The need for science is more than ever. There are experiences gained in the process. We will be with you in 3 sessions by realizing a first by using this. ” said.