In this project, Yildirim Beyazit University, University of Utrecht, University of Bristol, Heidelberg University and Institute of Rizzoli will participate for establishing a network between high quality researchers both in basic and clinical sciences in musculoskeletal education and trainining (for third cycle degree education) for medical doctors and basic scientists in order to provide high quality in musculoskeletal regenerative medicine in the application of innovative approaches.It is required to create a network in musculoskeletal regenerative research for generating innovative approaches and bench to bed side applications for diagnosis and treatment to satisfy the needs of clinical orthopaedic practices in regenerative medicine.The overall objectives of the project is to support the cooperation between European Higher Education Institutions in musculoskeletal regenerative medicine research through developing and conveying knowledge of Research & Development (R&D). In the project, all common shared scientific and educational ideas will be considered as a significant asset for developing better diagnostics and more effective treatments in the musculoskeletal diseases. The project will share the ideas by meetings, symposia, webinars, pilot site visits, project website and workshops. All partners will contribute to workshops and meetings. Meetings (2 days), Work package meetings (2 Days) ,Workshops (2 days) and Webinars will be held periodically. Cultural trips will be organised range from 1 day to 2 days. All the project participants will be involved in all activities. The Objectives of The Projects is described as it follows: To promote networking, good practice in research on musculoskeletal regenerative medicine; stimulate dialogue for post graduate education and training practices to develop innovative diagnostic and therapeutical tools, To identify and raise awareness on the key framework issues (particularly in multidisciplinary studies) of cross-border research collaboration and knowledge transfer in EU countries, To provide practical support for research collaboration and for long distance learning by webinars and teaching modules part of PhD education programmes through creating and running a web portal which allows identifying cross-border collaboration aspects, legal frameworks and good practice. The projects also aims to improve language and social skills and competences , organisational skills and competences. Target groups of the project are students, scholars, researchers and medical doctors in musculoskeletal regenerative medicine field from neighbouring countries.The project will increase transnational communication in higher education institutions involved in innovative research and education on musculoskeletal regenerative medicine in Europe and neighbouring countries via personal contacts to networks of projects participants, international meetings, conferences, seminars, webinars. Final beneficiaries comprise: any research based organisations and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and individuals potentially participating in cross border research collaboration projects or research staff exchange, including HEIs and, enterprises (Industry). The project will increase the public awareness and support of industry and governmental bodies towards the needs of Innovative research to develop methodologies to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal diseases. The expected results of the project are described as it follows: Increase research collaboration of the five organisations will ensure to increase the quality of research in Musculoskeletal Regenerative Medicine, Increase competence of research staff and students in horizontal and basic skills will ensure the implemantation of innovative approaches to develop methodologies for diagnosis and therapy of Musculoskeletal disease, Increase the public awareness and govermental bodies towards the needs of Innovative research to develop methodologies to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal diseases, Increase transnational communication in HEI involved in third cycle degree and innovative research on Musculoskeletal regenerative medicine in Europe and neighbouring Middle East, Near East and Mediterranean Countries who are not members of EU via personal contacts to networks of projects participants, international meetings, conferences, seminars, webinars, Increase regional interest in the researches on Musculoskeletal regenerative medicine and encourage the institutions to initiate advanced studies and cooperations in the field, Increase the improvement in the underdeveloped institutions in terms of medical facilities and diagnosis, Diminish the risks of malpractices innovative diagnostic and theraupatic approaches in Musculoskeletal diseases.
The project was initiated for the purpose of increasing information sharing&creating an international joint curriculum in the field of “Musculoskeletal System & Regenerative Medicine”(MSRM), which has achieved an efficient&effective education coverage through the long-term joint work of basic & clinical sciences in Europe(EU) and in the world, developing joint education programs, as well as working closely with foreign partners, thereby developing innovative diagnosis and treatment tools in the field.To summarize the main activities carried out during the 35-month project period,firstly,the job descriptions of the stakeholders of the project were made in the project kick-off meeting held in Istanbul.Then plans were made for the training activities and intellectual outputs (IO) indicated in the contents of the project.Content planning and training programs were organized for the workshops(WS) in which doctorate/master’s students,who constitute the most important step of the project and who study in the project partner institutions,studied together for five days.The WS were held in the Uni. of Bristol, UK; Uni. of Bologna, Italy; Utrecht Uni., the Netherlands; Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt Uni.,Turkey (TR) and Heidelberg Uni.,Germany,respectively.During these WS,transnational meetings (TM) were also organized in which instructors and project supervisors participated together to check and organize the progress of the project in line with the content and also to discuss the joint curriculum plan for two days.Finally, a Multiplier Event (ME) was organized in Istanbul to announce the activities of this program to a wider audience in our country with the participation of the students/academics who wished to work in this field.Organized with the participation of students and instructors from many different educational institutions of TR,this event attracted great attention and achieved its purpose.When the results and effects of the project are examined,it is observed that the distribution of the tasks of the project stakeholders was clearly defined in the project kick-off meeting held in Istanbul,and the harmony required for determining the budget costs,planning joint training activities,and working together with team spirit for 35 months was quickly and conveniently achieved through one-on-one communication.The WS held separately in each of the project partner countries that lasted for five days provided the students of basic&clinical sciences studying within the scope of the program with the opportunity of receiving training together in different EU countries,even for a short time,enabled them to study in the education laboratories in those countries,and facilitated cultural interaction by increasing one-on-one communication with other students.Through the TM organized in coordination with the WS,instructors and project managers working in the project for two days had the opportunity to work together.During this period, joint training curriculum and project evaluation meetings were held and various opinions were exchanged.In addition,these meetings provided the opportunity to examine the existing infrastructures and equipment related to the project partners’ advanced studies in the field of MSRM.Thus,mutual discussions were held regarding the other prospective joint projects and the planning of the individual infrastructure development of the project partners was also evaluated.Within the scope of the ME held in Istanbul,a productive meeting was held for two days with over 60 students&academics interested in and intending to conduct studies on MSRM in TR.Thus,many people were reached and informed about this newly launched higher education program in TR and its importance.When the project is examined as a whole with its long-term benefits,it can be suggested that MSRM,the importance of which is increasing day by day,is a field which has been studied for many years by academics working in basic&clinical sciences,in EU in particular,where many new treatment modalities have been developed for the related diseases.It is obvious that there is a need for an education system integrated with EU in order for TR to closely follow the developments in the MSRM,the importance of which will further increase in the upcoming years.Our project made it possible to provide many higher education students to study at the Department of MSRM of Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt Uni. with education at an international level in the current education year and the following years upon the completion of the joint curriculum thanks to the support of our project partners in EU,thereby meeting a major need in this sense.During the project,many bilateral meetings were held between the instructors and the senior academic staff,and thus new joint projects were planned.The web page (www.msret.eu),which was actively used during the project period,provided open access to the training documents and IO content,allowing them to be used as long-term training materials.