Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: "Prof. Dr. Tuncel Özden has a great support in making the concept of personalized treatment applicable"
Prof. Dr. Salih Tuncel Özden, Director of Üsküdar University Advanced Toxicology Analysis Laboratory, who passed away on February 5, 2017, was commemorated with a ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that the contributions and scientific support of Prof. Dr. Özden, who had very important studies, especially personalized treatment, to the world of science will not be forgotten and said, "If the concept of personalized treatment is applicable in Turkey, if it is not just in books, Tuncel Professor has a great scientific support in this." Prof. Dr. Seçkin Özden, who attended the ceremony with his daughters, had emotional moments. Prof. Dr. Tuncel Özden's name was given to Üsküdar University Clinical Pharmacogenetics Laboratory.
Üsküdar UniversityThe ceremony, held at the Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall of Üsküdar University Central Campus, was attended by many people, including Prof. Dr. Salih Tuncel Özden's wife Prof. Dr. Seçkin Özden and his daughters Seçil and Selin Özden.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: "His scientific contributions are unforgettable"
In the opening speech of the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Rector of Üsküdar University, said that Prof. Dr. Tuncel Özden's contributions and scientific support to the world of science are unforgettable. Stating that his work with Prof. Dr. Tuncel Özden dates back to about 10 years ago, Tarhan said:
He was analyzing not only chemicals but also people
"In 2008, there were drug blood level and genetic polymerization studies. Pharmacogenetic studies were being discussed. We searched the literature, we said we could establish this laboratory here. When we were looking for a name, we asked a few places, all the names went to Tuncel Hodja, the arrows pointed to him. It was said that Tuncel Hoca was the best analyzer in Turkey. Then we reached him and invited him. We now have three LC-MS/MS devices. We had many meetings when we bought our first device. He was open, transparent, reassuring and had scientific depth. Tuncel Hodja was analyzing not only chemicals but also people. He always helped us to make the right decisions. His guidance in a field we did not know was very useful to us. He developed new methods, we can check the blood levels of 72 drugs in our laboratory. This is very useful in the clinic. If the concept of personalized treatment has become applicable in Turkey, and it is not just in books, this is due to the great scientific support of our Professor Tuncel. There is the motivating aspect of his personality. He is open to cooperation and teamwork.
Üsküdar UniversitySelma Özilhan:" Thanks to our laboratory, the right drug was taken in the right dose"
Üsküdar University Clinical Pharmacogenetics Laboratory Responsible and Üsküdar University Personalized Treatment Application and Research Center - KİMER Manager Uzm. Pharm. Selma Özilhan said that the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Laboratory has achieved significant success with the efforts and contributions of Prof. Dr. Tuncel Özden. Explaining that they started analytical studies and method modification activities with the first LC-MS/MS, an R&D device brought from abroad, Özilhan said, "In a short time, we developed a cheap and easy method that can analyze over 40 drug molecules and metabolites with a single sample. We made validations and started studies. We carried this event to routine. Thus, our patients in the Neuropsychiatric Hospital were protected from drug toxicity, they were protected from drug ineffectiveness, and no wrong medication was taken in any way. The right drug was used at the right dose. In addition to these, by taking into account the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of our patients, completely personalized treatment was applied by our laboratory and our professors for the first time in our country. Routine tests that determine the phenotypic characteristics of the person were applied routinely clinically in our laboratory for the first time in Turkey. While doing these works, Tuncay Hoca was always with us, guided us and supported us."
His important contributions to the Turkish pharmaceutical industry were explained
Prof. Dr. Tijen Önkol from Gazi University Faculty of Pharmacy, Prof. Dr. Serdar Ünlü from Ali Raif Pharmaceuticals and Bülent Atabay from Atabay Pharmaceuticals also attended the ceremony and expressed their feelings about Prof. Dr. Tuncel Özden in their speeches. Prof. Dr. Serdar Ünlü and Bülent Atabay emphasized Prof. Dr. Özden's significant contributions to the Turkish pharmaceutical industry. Stating that Prof. Dr. Özden conducted studies on bioequivalence, Atabay said, "These studies were very useful for us. Our professor was a good analytician. He would personally analyze and prepare extensive documents about them."
He had emotional moments
Prof. Dr. Seçkin Özden, who attended the ceremony with his daughters, had emotional moments. Stating that Prof. Dr. Tuncel Özden was very happy to work at Üsküdar University, Prof. Dr. Seçkin Özden thanked Prof. Dr. Tuncel Özden, noting that the commemoration ceremony was very meaningful for them.
Personalized Treatment was discussed
Following the speeches, the 1st Personalized Treatment Meeting titled "From Medicine to the Future" was held. In the session moderated by Prof. Dr. Uğur Atik, Director of Medical Laboratory Techniques at Üsküdar University, Prof. Dr. Tayfun Uzbay, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ela Kadıoğlu, Assoc. Dr. Gökben Hızlı Sayar and Prof. Dr. Sinan Süzen from Üsküdar University NP Feneryolu Medical Center took part as speakers. Prof. Dr. Tayfun Uzbay talked about Prof. Dr. Özden's academic studies and achievements in this field and emphasized that Özden has very important studies on personalized treatment.
Following the program, Prof. Dr. Tuncel Özden's name was given to Üsküdar University Clinical Pharmacogenetics Laboratory with a ceremony. Participants toured the laboratory.
Who is Prof. Dr. Tuncel Özden?
Born in Ankara in 1946, Prof. Dr. Tuncel Özden graduated from TED Ankara College and graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Pharmacy in 1968. He completed his master's and doctorate studies at the same university and received the titles of Associate Professor in 1980 and Professor in 1986.
He served as Vice Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Ankara University, Dean and Vice Rector of the Faculty of Medicine at Karadeniz Technical University, Advisor to the President of TÜBİTAK, Head of the Financial Affairs and Financing Department at TÜBİTAK, Director of the Institute of Health Sciences at Gazi University, Director of the Instrumental Analysis Laboratory at TÜBİTAK, Vice Rector of Gazi University, Head of Audit and Evaluation at TÜBİTAK, and General Manager of Novagenix Pharmaceutical R&D Center. He also conducted scientific studies in England and France.
Prof. Dr. Tuncel Özden also provided honorary consultancy services for the establishment of the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Laboratory at NPISTANBUL Hospital since 2009. With the unique analysis methods he developed in this laboratory, he has made a significant contribution to "personalized treatment" by performing more than 60 drug analyzes in order to understand the personal response to drugs in neuropsychiatry. Since 2013, Prof. Dr. Tuncel Özden has been working at Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences and has published approximately 90 articles and 80 papers.
The last project that Prof. Dr. Tuncel Özden managed and was responsible for is the project titled "Evidence-Based Detection of Toxic and Addictive Substances Screening and Counseling Center" supported by Istanbul Development Agency in 2014. He ensured the successful completion of this project with the team he established. The fact that addictive substance analyzes started to be studied with a method accepted as the gold standard in the Pharmacogenetics Laboratory of our University is an important service brought to the field of combating addiction and has been accredited by TÜRKAK according to ISO/IEC 17025 standards. On February 5, 2017, Prof. Dr. Özden passed away. He was married and had two children.
Uskudar News Agency (UHA)