SABITRENDS’26 Marks a New Chapter in SABITA’s Research Ecosystem

Held on 21–22 January 2026, SABITRENDS’26 served as a strategic meeting point that made SABITA’s scientific journey visible through a vision extending from seed to fruit.

This journey represents more than a summary of past years; it tells a holistic story of how science is planted, cultivated, and transformed into a sustainable research ecosystem. SABITRENDS’26 brought together SABITA’s transformation—from the first seed planted in 2012 to its current “young tree” phase, oriented toward 2026 and beyond—on a shared ground of scientific content and institutional vision.

The event opened with a Welcome Speech by Moderator Prof. Esra Çağavi, followed by the opening address of Prof. Bahadır Kürşat Güntürk, Rector of Istanbul Medipol University. His remarks outlined the strategic framework of SABITRENDS’26 and emphasized the university’s strong commitment to scientific production, translational research, and international collaboration.

In his presentation titled “From Seed to Fruit: SABITA’s Journey and 2026 Vision,” Assoc. Prof. Emrah Eroğlu, Director of SABITA, presented a clear and compelling narrative of the institute’s research ecosystem. He described how an initiative launched with limited space and resources gradually took root through research infrastructure, human capital, and governance models; how the structure was rehabilitated through periods of challenge; and how it is now re-establishing strong foundations to generate sustainable outcomes beyond 2026. This perspective made visible SABITA’s understanding of “organic science”—a research model in which people, infrastructure, management, and scientific output grow together.

Over the two-day program, structured scientific sessions were held in neuroscience, regenerative biology, bioengineering, drug discovery, clinical and translational medicine, and multi-omics design and analysis. Researchers presented their laboratories and projects not only through results, but also in terms of methodological depth, infrastructure capacity, and future potential. Guided poster sessions for early-career researchers stood out as a key component of SABITA’s sustainable research ecosystem.

Beyond knowledge exchange, SABITRENDS’26 provided a fertile ground for collective thinking, interdisciplinary interaction, and the emergence of new collaborations. Spanning from fundamental science to clinical applications, the event clearly articulated not only SABITA’s current research capacity but also its future-oriented institutional goals.

As part of SABITRENDS’26, several awards were presented to recognize scientific excellence and contributions to the research culture. The Young Investigator Award was presented to Asal Ghaffari Zaki and Şükriye Bilir, honoring their original research contributions and promising scientific approaches as emerging researchers. The Best Poster Award was awarded to Sümeyye Özyaman and Tuba Akgül Çağlar in recognition of the scientific depth, clarity, and quality of presentation demonstrated in their poster sessions. The ‘Built to Last’ Legacy Award was presented to Gürkan Öztürk, in appreciation of his long-standing contributions to SABITA’s institutional memory and sustainable research legacy.

The event concluded with a closing address by Vice Rector Prof. Yasemin Yüksel Durmaz, reinforcing SABITA’s vision for international visibility, translational impact, and a sustainable approach to science in the years leading to and beyond 2026.

SABITRENDS’26 remains a significant milestone for SABITA—one that brings together the experience of the past, the scientific strength of the present, and a research vision poised to bear fruit in the future.