7th Medical Students Congress Held at CIU

The 7th Medical Students Congress, organized by the Faculty of Medicine at Cyprus International University (CIU), was held with the strong participation of academics, healthcare professionals, and students. Providing a platform for the sharing of scientific research and enabling young researchers to present their work, the congress served as an important scientific forum where current developments in the field of medicine were discussed.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Taylan Özkan, Dean of the CIU Faculty of Medicine, emphasized that medical education is not limited to acquiring existing knowledge but also encompasses conducting research, producing scientific knowledge, and sharing research findings. Highlighting the importance of students’ active involvement in scientific studies, Prof. Dr. Özkan thanked the students, academics, and administrative staff who contributed to the organization of the congress.

Following the opening remarks, Prof. Dr. İlknur Pamuk and Prof. Dr. Nazım Emrah Koçer from the Dr. Turgut Noyan Practice and Research Center of Başkent University Adana, where the joint medical education program is conducted, shared their insights on the role of scientific research in medical education and the academic development of young researchers.

Among the invited speakers, Prof. Dr. Nilüfer Güzoğlu, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Eastern Mediterranean University, delivered a presentation titled “The Transformative Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Neonatology.” In her talk, she discussed the applications of artificial intelligence in neonatal healthcare and its potential future contributions. Prof. Dr. Güzoğlu particularly emphasized the importance of AI technologies in enhancing data analysis and early diagnosis processes in intensive care units.

Prof. Dr. Mayda Gürsel, a faculty member at the İzmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), presented “Development of a Leishmania Vaccine and Evaluation of Its Protective Efficacy.” She provided information on next-generation vaccine studies developed against Leishmania infections and stated that the findings obtained through this research could contribute to the development of preventive vaccines in the future.
Another invited speaker from IBG, Prof. Dr. İhsan Gürsel, delivered a presentation titled “The Role of Extracellular Vesicles in the Regulation of the Immune System.” He shared current research findings on the role of extracellular vesicles in immune system regulation and discussed recent developments in the field with participants.
Research projects and oral presentations prepared by students were evaluated by members of the scientific committee during sessions chaired by Prof. Dr. Gamze Mocan, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Near East University, and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Başustaoğlu, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Girne American University. Throughout the day, participants showed great interest in presentations covering a wide range of topics, including antibiotic resistance, the health effects of energy drink consumption, HPV awareness, endometriosis, schizophrenia, myocardial infarction, and nanotechnology.
The congress, which once again highlighted the importance of scientific knowledge sharing and interdisciplinary collaboration, concluded with a closing session and a series of social activities.