On Friday, November 1, 2024, Hacettepe University successfully held the Bilateral Agreement Introduction Meeting with the Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli Di Bologna from Italy at the Congress and Cultural Center on the Sıhhiye Campus. The event aimed to introduce the scope of this new partnership to faculty members and students from various universities and relevant academic units at Hacettepe University, as well as to share specialized research in the fields of motion analysis and 3D planning.
The program began with opening remarks by Dean of the Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Prof. Dr. Özlem Ülger and Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Sibel Aksu Yıldırım. In their speeches, they emphasized the importance of this partnership in contributing to research in rehabilitation and medical technologies. Following these remarks, the Director of the Office of External Relations, Dr. Gül Deniz Demirel, delivered a presentation introducing Hacettepe University to the attendees. This was followed by a presentation by Prof. Dr. Volga Bayrakcı Tunay from the Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, who has collaborated closely with Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli in joint research projects and was instrumental in facilitating the agreement. She provided an overview of the partnership's objectives and the progress made to date.
Distinguished researchers from Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Dr. Claudio Belvedere and Dr. Alberto Leardini, shared their expertise and research findings with the participants. Dr. Belvedere, who conducts research in medical imaging and personalized implants at the Movement Analysis Laboratory and heads the newly opened 3D Lab, presented on the institute’s history, mission, and recent developments in personalized implants and medical imaging. Dr. Leardini, Director of the Movement Analysis Laboratory and Head of the Research Line in Innovative and Prosthetic Surgery, delivered a presentation on 3D modeling and high-tibial osteotomy, providing valuable insights into clinical applications and research topics.
The event concluded with a Q&A session, where participants had the opportunity to discuss research topics in depth and explore future collaboration opportunities. This partnership, which our university highly values, opens new doors for innovative research in health and technology. Beyond the bilateral cooperation between the two institutions, the event also facilitated productive knowledge sharing among faculty and students from various disciplines, establishing a strong foundation for future joint projects.