CIU Academic receives support from the USA

Our Country Rightfully Feels Proud of The Success of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kerem Terali and His Team Who Gained International Recognition for Their Studies in The Field of Rare Diseases

Medical biochemistry and biochemical genetics specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kerem Teralı and his colleague molecular biophysicist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aslı Aykaç were given the green light by the United States to proceed with the project proposal they prepared. 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teralı and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aykaç were two of the few researchers who had the chance to benefit from the "Preclinical Drug Trial Program" supported by the International Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva Association (IFOPA) which aims at accelerating the discovery of new therapies for progressive ossificans fibrodysplasia.

The leading researcher of the project Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teralı said they were very proud to have the opportunity to collaborate with well-established scientists at the Mayo Clinic. He stated that they were excited to test the drug they proposed based on the preliminary findings of the study they completed in Cyprus in the USA on transgenic mice that bear progressive ossificans fibrodysplasia model. 

Noting that progressive ossifican fibrodysplasia is an extremely rare disease seen in approximately 1 in 2 million people in the world, Terali also stated that the disease is transmitted from generation to generation via an autosomal dominant form of inheritance.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teralı stated he has a relative suffering from progressive ossificans fibrodysplasia which is caused by a single mutation in a single gene, and explained that the disease transforms the ligaments, tendons and muscles in the body forming bone outside the skeleton (extra-skeletal or heterotopic bone skeleton) over time, reducing both the quality of life and the life span of the patients.

Noting that there is no drug approved by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the market yet, Teralı said that progressive ossifican fibrodysplasia is in the group of "orphan diseases", which is often neglected because drug treatments are not profitable by pharmaceutical companies. He said they are aware of their professional and scientific responsibility and added that they will continue to work on this issue.