The project developed by scientists working at Atatürk University for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a hereditary muscle disease, was entitled to receive 1 million TL support.

DMD disease, which is more common in boys, causes muscle weakness due to the deficiency in the production of the protein called muscle tissue dystrophin (muscle-building block protein) and causes serious consequences with heart muscle damage in the future. Although stem cells and different heart drugs (Cat 1004 anti-inflammatory) are used today, they only help slow the course of the disease.

Regarding the treatment of this disease, Atatürk University Vaccine Development and Application Center Deputy Director Prof. Dr.  Demet Çelebi, Atatürk University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Department of Pathology Lecturer Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serkan Yıldırım and Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. The project on gene transfer and gene transport system design, carried out by Ali Taghizadehghalehjoughi and his team, was decided to be supported by the Turkish Institute of Health Sciences (TÜSEB) with a 1 Million TL budget within the scope of the 2022-R&D/Strategic Health Technologies R&D Project Call.

In the project, where 9 scientists from 6 different disciplines will conduct research to create a genetic-based treatment for DMD disease, promising local treatment will be developed for DMD patients.

There Will Be Hope for Patients and Their Families

Stating that the project developed at the point of combating this disease, which is in the category of rare diseases, will be hope for families, Atatürk University Rector Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı: “Due to the progression of weakness in the leg muscles, children lose their ability to walk between the ages of 9-11 and start using a wheelchair. At the age of 14-15, they have difficulty in using their arms due to the weakening of their arm muscles. DMD patients in Europe and the USA have a slightly longer life expectancy, but in our country, patients die at the age of 18-20. In order to prevent these negativities, research will be carried out to create genetic-based treatment with the project developed under the leadership of our university academics. I congratulate the valuable members of our university, which is a pioneer in scientific studies, for the project they have developed, and I hope that the result will bring healing to the disease.”

CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE – 09.09.2022