Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation Neurodegeneration Research Laboratory (NDAL)

NDAL investigates the molecular mechanisms leading to progressive brain diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, ALS and motor neuron disorders, ataxias, dystonias and movement disorders, myopathies and neuropathies in general. NDAL has established effective collaborations with all neurological units in Türkiye and has gained the trust of clinicians and centers across the country. With its well-trained team, deep-rooted knowledge and up-to-date infrastructure, NDAL has quickly become a pioneering and nationally visible reference center capable of diagnosing and researching progressive brain diseases at the molecular level.

Since 2005, NDAL has trained a large number of postdoctoral fellows, PhD students and graduate students. Currently, the lab’s team includes postdoctoral fellows; graduate students, including PhD and MSc students; two full-time administrative assistants; and two laboratory coordinators/technicians. The lab also provides research experience to undergraduate students on an ongoing basis.

In 2018, NDAL transferred from Boğaziçi University to Koç University School of Medicine. This transfer enabled the creation of strong collaboration between research scientists and clinicians, which has never been as critical and necessary as it is today. Since 2018, Koç University KUTTAM-NDAL has accelerated to become a center of excellence, with a distinguished patient cohort and large database, international collaborations, large-scale projects, and a well-trained and dedicated research team. The professional hospital environment of Koç University School of Medicine, a rising star that attracts the best students in Türkiye, is a significant contributing factor. With its Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Clinical Trials Unit (CTU), Center for Muscular Diseases and experienced Department of Neurology, Koç University provides NDAL with a unique opportunity to grow, deepen and remain sustainable. We believe that NDAL, with all these strong partnerships, will become a global leader in clinical research and elucidation of the mechanisms leading to neurodegenerative processes in the near future.

NDAL has filled an important gap in Türkiye with its state-of-the-art training of graduate students, original research published in high-impact scientific journals, and sophisticated and reliable molecular diagnostic services for complex neurological diseases.