Tuesday: Cloudy February 2, 2016 3°C / 7°C Wednesday: Foggy Volume 22 0°C / 13°C Number 16 Thursday: Partly Cloudy 3°C / 14°C Friday: Snowy bilnews.bilkent.edu.tr İLKENT EWS 4°C / 12°C B Weekly Newspaper of Bilkent UniversityN EU’s MSCA Bilkent Researchers’ Diagnostic Kit Aims to Help Treat Program Funding Aggressive Breast Cancer r. Özgür Şahin and Dr. Four Bilkent Ali Güre of the Researchers Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics are working to develop a new gene-based Ddiagnostic kit that predicts treatment response of the most aggressive breast cancers. With its high incidence and mortality rates, breast cancer is one of the most important health our Bilkent faculty members problems in countries throughout the are being funded by the EU’s world, including Turkey. Worldwide, Marie Sklodowska-Curie 1.7 million people were diagnosed Actions (MSCA) program, with breast cancer in 2012, and Fpart of the EU’s Horizon 2020 521,000 people died of the disease. initiative. Triple-negative breast cancer chemotherapy response, thus helping supported by the SANTEZ program, On the basis of the proposals they (TNBC) is the most aggressive clinicians to determine the most which is funded by the Ministry of submitted in response to the 2015 subtype of breast cancer and highly suitable chemotherapy options for Science, Industry and Technology. In call for proposals, Dr. Tarık Baytekin metastatic compared to other these subgroups. this context, it is intended to (UNAM), Dr. Kürşat Çınar (Political subtypes. Currently, chemotherapy is The kit is based on the analysis of enhance university-industry Science and Public Administration), the only treatment option for TNBC; no more than 15 genes from fresh- collaboration and the training of and Dr. Erman Ayday and Dr. however, most patients develop frozen or paraffin-embedded TNBC young scientists. The prototype Mustafa Özdal (both Computer primary or acquired resistance. tumor tissue using fluorescent-labeled diagnostic kit will be produced by Engineering) have been awarded The ultimate aim of Dr. Şahin and beads. The results of such analysis partner company Onkogen, using MSCA individual fellowship grants. Dr. Güre’s project is to develop a will make it possible to determine new technology. Members of the As part of Horizon 2020, the EU’s gene-based prototype theranostic kit which patient groups will respond to Hacettepe University Faculty of largest research and innovation (PTK) that classifies subgroups of which chemotherapeutic drug(s). Medicine are also part of the (Continued on Page 2) TNBC patients according to This large-scale project is being research team. CS Student a Member of Winning Team at PennApps XIII Giovanni Volpe ilkent student Emrehan Tüzün (CS/IV) was a Publishes Textbook member of the four-person team that won PennApps on Optical Tweezers XIII, the most recent iteration of the B r. Giovanni Volpe of the US’s foremost and largest collegiate Department of Physics hackathon. Team RAMEAR’s winning and UNAM has recently project demonstrated the coauthored with Dr. transmission of data from a Philip H. Jones (UCL, London, completely disconnected computer to D UK) and Dr. Onofrio M. Maragò a radio receiver. (CNR-IPFC, Messina, Italy) a new PennApps, held semiannually at book, “Optical Tweezers: Principles the University of Pennsylvania, and Applications,“ published by encourages engineering students to Cambridge University Press. The develop and showcase their skills, Emrehan Tüzün book addresses the broad field of and has spawned an entire "league" of optical trapping and manipulation in hackathons since its beginnings in around the world spent 36 hours weekend of January 22-24. a comprehensive and organic way. 2009. Approximately 1,400 developing applications during this Along with Emrehan, the members (Continued on Page 3) participants from 100 universities year’s event, which took place the (Continued on Page 3) “Fatih” Documentary Scripted by Mehmet Kalpaklı Premieres in Rome The Man Who Changed the by many scholars with expertise on Destiny of Europe: Fatih,” a the Ottoman Empire and Mehmet II, documentary scripted by Asst. Prof. took three years to make and was Mehmet Kalpaklı, chair of the filmed in seven countries. “Department of History and the “Mehmed the Second was the Department of Turkish Literature, ruler of the lands and seas and also premiered at the National Museum the sultan of science, art and poetry of Oriental Art in Rome on January with his sword in one hand and his 10, in conjunction with a special pen in the other,” stated Dr. Kalpaklı. exhibition running from January 10 “So, this is a documentary about not to February 14. only a conqueror but also a Dr. Kalpaklı was also the historical ‘Renaissance’ intellectual and patron.” advisor for the film, which tells the The film received widespread story of Fatih Sultan Mehmet and his coverage in the Italian media, with age. One of the Ottoman Empire’s mention on RAI TV and articles in most famous sultans due to his La Repubblica and many other print conquest of Constantinople, Mehmet outlets. II ruled the Ottoman lands from 1444 A clip from the film may be viewed to 1446 and 1451 to 1481. The at https://www.youtube.com documentary, featuring commentary /watch?v=0Xojao_f30s. Bilkent News 2 NEWS Library Song Lyrics Competition 30 Years of Music at Bilkent Winners ast fall, Bilkent Library held first place with his version of a song lyrics competition, Fairground Attraction’s “Perfect.” with entries accepted from Second place was awarded to Efe he Faculty of Music and graduates continue their studies; some October 20 to November 16. Akçasayar (CS) for a rewrite of Ajda Performing Arts admitted have earned degrees at renowned On December 22, the writers of the top Pekkan’s “O Benim Dünyam”; third its first class of students in schools such as Julliard and the threeL entries received awards at a place went to Ahmet Emre Sehim (IR), 1986, two years after the Barenboim Academy, and gone on to ceremony taking place in the library. who provided brand-new lyrics for the foundingT of Bilkent University. The perform at world-class venues including The competitors had been asked to Beatles’ “Let It Be.” university’s first commencement in the Bolshoi Theater and Carnegie Hall. rewrite the lyrics of a famous Turkish- Submissions were judged by Ufuk 1988 included graduates from the In celebration of these three decades or English-language popular song of Önen of the Department of Department of Music. Those early of music education and performance at their choice, with reference to libraries Communication and Design, Tolga graduates were students who had Bilkent, the faculty is holding a 30th in general or the Bilkent Library in Yayalar of the Department of Music transferred from other conservatories to Anniversary Festival concert series in particular. and Ebru Kaya, associate director of this innovative school as soon as it was order to share the occasion with its Süleyman Bölükbaş (AMER) took the Library. established, responding to the great graduates, students, academic artists excitement it created in the field. and loyal audiences. It is hoped that the Since then, the Faculty of Music and past 30 years are only the prelude to Spring Semester Turkish Language Course Performing Arts has graduated many many more decades of success. highly accomplished musicians and he Turkish Teaching Unit will be offering a Turkish language Tickets for the concerts may be theatrical performers who pursue course (at one level) during the spring semester for international purchased at artistic careers both at home and faculty and their family members. If you are interested, please pick http://www.biletiva.com/. abroad. The majority of Bilkent up an application form from the Turkish Teaching Unit in room Please see page 8 for the full program. GZ-14B,T G Building, on Main Campus. Registration will take place in room GZ-14B on February 3-5. Classes will start on Monday, February 8, and Recent Administrative Changes will end on Tuesday, May 3. For further information, please call or e-mail (Ms.) Nurdane Mumcu Öz in the he Main Campus Health Center has a new Turkish Teaching Unit. appointment due to the departure of its longtime Telephone:ext. 1935E-mail: [email protected] head. Dr. Ülker Türksoy, who had served as manager of the center since 1988, resigned effectiveT January 31. This Week’s Film at Bilkent Dr. Mete Salih Aker took over as Main Campus Health Center manager as of February 1. Cinematics: “Dead Ringers” Bilkent extends its gratitude to Dr. Türksoy for her invaluable services to the university during her long tenure and wishes her all the best in her future endeavors. The university also offers its best wishes to Dr. Aker as he assumes his new position. At the University Library, Ms. Ebru Kaya has been appointed as director, effective February 1. Ms. Kaya took over the position from Asst. Prof. David Ewan Thornton, who will resume full-time research and teaching in the Department of History. Bilkent extends its gratitude to Dr. Thornton for his dedication and hard work as director of the Library and ilkent Cinematics returns critic Janet Maslin wrote that it wishes Ms. Kaya all the best in her new position. with a brand-new lineup of showed Cronenberg as “a master of movies for the spring, body-related horrific fantasy.” kicking things off this Still, “Dead Ringers” is hated by EU’s MSCA Program Funding Four ThursdayB with a screening of David many for what is viewed as Cronenberg’s masterful and horrifying Cronenberg’s blatant misogyny; others Bilkent Researchers “Dead Ringers.” see it as a clever attack on male hatred (Continued from Page 1) broaden or deepen their competences.