Hacettepe University has become one of the 31 priority centers determined among approximately 18 thousand centers in the world within the scope of Merck&Sharp Dohme (MSD) Global Clinical Research Center Collaboration Program.
Within the scope of the Global Clinical Research Center Scientific Collaboration Program of MSD, which has been providing drugs and vaccines for the world's most challenging diseases for more than 130 years, 31 centers were selected among approximately 18 thousand active centers that conduct MSD global clinical trials worldwide. Hacettepe University from Turkey was among the first 31 centers in the world within the scope of this program. Hacettepe will have the opportunity to develop scientific and operational cooperation for accessing MSD's drug and vaccine development planning information and for the development of its clinical research portfolio.
Hacettepe University, which is among the leading centers in Turkey in the field of clinical research, conducts a total of 74 clinical phase studies in MSD areas such as oncology, hematology, infection/vaccine, cardiovascular diseases, gastroenterology, and endocrinology. With this cooperation, MSD Turkey aims to carry the power of Hacettepe University in the field of clinical research to the international arena and to ensure that the institution is in the same lane with the most respected clinical research centers in the world. Within the scope of the cooperation, it is stated that by increasing the number of clinical studies in which Hacettepe University is involved, academicians within the body of Hacettepe University will have the chance to make scientific evaluations with new treatment options offered in treatment areas.
The opening meeting of the cooperation was held on October 3 at Hacettepe University.
The opening meeting of Hacettepe University and MSD Global Clinical Research Center Cooperation was held on 3 October at the Sıhhiye Campus. The meeting was attended by Hacettepe University Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cahit Güran, Vice Rector, President of HÜKAM Prof. Dr. Serhat Ünal, MSD Turkey, Middle East and Egypt Clinical Research Director A. Betül Erdoğan Sarılıcan, MSD Turkey Region General Manager Gözde Güllüoğlu, Ministry of Health Turkey Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (TİTCK) President Assoc. Dr. Tolga Karakan attended as a speaker.
Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Cahit Güran said the following about the cooperation agreement: “Today, we are signing an international cooperation with MSD Turkey by expanding the scope of the existing cooperation in clinical research. As Hacettepe University, we believe that our leading role in the field of health, and specifically in clinical research, has become stronger thanks to the cooperation with MSD Turkey, and we think that we will also contribute to Turkey's clinical research infrastructure with this international project. Thanks to the mutual trust, information sharing and harmony between both institutions; I believe that we will carry the university-industry cooperation to the highest levels in the international arena as well.”
Prof. Dr. Serhat Ünal, on the other hand, said, “I believe that this success achieved by Hacettepe University within the framework of its competencies in the field of clinical research and the scientific research it has revealed opens an important door to many more successes we aim for. I would like to express my gratitude to all Hacettepe scientists, who have demonstrated their existence with great devotion and courage in clinical studies and who have followed the trail of innovative discoveries, for being partners in this success. I believe that Hacettepe University will come to a globally important position in clinical research with this international cooperation in which we are involved with the contributions of MSD.”
Regarding the international cooperation, MSD Turkey Director Betül Erdoğan Sarılıcan said, “With the scientific cooperation we have made with Hacettepe University Hospital, the clinical research infrastructure in our country; I believe that we will make an important contribution to issues such as increasing the contribution to the development of new drugs and vaccines, providing access to treatments and vaccines, and producing high-quality data, and I believe that we will carry Turkey's international visibility in clinical research to better points with this global scientific cooperation."
MSD Turkey General Manager Gözde Güllüoğlu, on the other hand, underlined that they aim to provide the society with early access to innovative treatments and vaccines, and said, “I hope that this international scientific cooperation between MSD and Hacettepe University will make a significant contribution to our country's R&D activities in the field of health. We believe that with this project we have implemented, new doors will be opened in the university-industry cooperation in Turkey. As MSD Turkey, we believe that this international cooperation project is an important step for our country to be among the world's leading countries attracting investment in clinical research." said.
TITCK President Doç. Dr. Tolga Karakan said, “Clinical research is important for our people to have early access to innovative treatments. Prominence of our country in the field of clinical research I believe that this international scientific cooperation between Hacettepe University, one of the national centers, and MSD will provide significant support to the clinical research infrastructure in Turkey, and I congratulate the authorities of the institution supporting clinical research at Hacettepe University and MSD Turkey for implementing this cooperation.” said.
