Four projects prepared by the faculty members of the Faculty of Forestry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and Faculty of Science at Kastamonu University have been accepted as eligible for support under the TÜBİTAK 1001 Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program. 

With projects to be carried out in the fields of environment, health, biotechnology, and aquaculture, the aim is not only to produce scientific knowledge but also to develop sustainable solutions.  

The first of the projects that qualified for support was the one titled "Increasing the Efficiency of Recycling Wood-Based Panel Products by the Thermohydrolysis Method with Acid Catalysts," led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çağrı Olgun, a faculty member of the Faculty of Forestry. In the 24-month project, the aim is to recycle wood-based panel products that have reached the end of their life cycle using environmentally friendly methods and convert them into high-value-added biochemicals. The study aims to contribute to the dissemination of understanding of the circular economy, the development of sustainable production technologies, the reduction of carbon footprints, and the implementation of zero-waste policies in our country.

The project titled "Development of Antibiotic Gold Nanoparticle Glycoconjugates and Antibacterial Applications for MDR Acinetobacter baumannii," led by Prof. Dr. İdris Yazgan from the Department of Biology at the Faculty of Science, also qualified for support. With a budget of approximately 3 million TL and a duration of 24 months, the project will develop gold nanoparticle-based antibacterial formulations against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, which the World Health Organization classifies as a priority threat. The study, which will be conducted through interdisciplinary collaboration, aims to contribute to the fight against antibiotic resistance and scientific research in the field of health technologies. 

The third project will be carried out under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Osman Sabri Kesbiç, a faculty member of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. With the aquaculture project titled “Hormetic Effects of Grape Seed Extract on Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): Multiscale Analysis of Intestinal Barrier Function, Oxidative Stress, and Product Quality,” the aim is to enhance sustainability, increase productivity, and provide scientific solutions to the aquaculture sector. In the project, the effects of natural components on fish health, feed quality, and product durability are being examined to generate scientific data to support environmentally friendly aquaculture practices.

The fourth project to qualify for support was the study titled "Taxonomic Revision of the Genera Prangos Lindl., Cachrys L., Bilacunaria Pimenov & V.N. Tikhom. and Diplotaenia Boiss. (Apiaceae) Distributed in Türkiye," led by Prof. Dr. Barış Bani, a faculty member of the Faculty of Science.  The project aims to conduct a detailed study of 33 plant taxa belonging to the genera Prangos, Cachrys, Bilacunaria, and Diplotaenia, which are native to Türkiye and known for their medicinal and aromatic properties. Using data from the project, it is planned to lead conservation efforts, update Türkiye's plant inventory, and conduct future research in medicine, pharmacy, and biotechnology. 

Four projects to be supported under the TÜBİTAK 1001 Program will contribute to the development of our University's research infrastructure, the increase of interdisciplinary collaborations, and the enhancement of scientific production capacity. 

In his evaluation of the subject, our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, stated that support for projects prepared by various academic units indicates our university's research-oriented activities. 

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, stated, "The support of projects prepared by different academic units of our university under the TÜBİTAK 1001 Program is a concrete reflection of our research-oriented university goals." These projects, developed across fields ranging from environmental sustainability to health technologies, biotechnology, and aquaculture, will contribute to the scientific world as well as to our country’s development goals. We will continue to encourage scientific production and support socially beneficial projects."

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, congratulated the project leaders and research teams, and thanked the YÖK President, Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, and YÖK members for their support of research in higher education, as well as the TÜBİTAK President, Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın, for their contributions to university projects.