Burcu Akman

My name is Burcu Akman, a postdoctoral researcher from Türkiye, with a strong research interest in the epigenetics of rare diseases. In March 2025, I had the privilege of visiting the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine (MCGM) at St Mary’s Hospital, University of Manchester, under the kind mentorship of Professor Siddharth Banka and and Dr David Gokhale.

During this four-week research visit, I worked closely with the Genomic Diagnostics Laboratory team, where I deepened my experience in DNA methylation-based diagnostic approaches, including both experimental procedures and clinical interpretation strategies. I also observed the current methods developed by the Innovation & Development team, attended multidisciplinary team meetings, and participated in seminars organized by the Manchester Rare Conditions Centre (MRCC).

Additionally, I had the chance to attend two scientific events during my visit: the Rare Disease Research UK (RDRUK) Annual Conference and the 1st EpiGenRare Conference, which provided valuable insight into current research and collaboration in the rare disease field.

I am sincerely grateful to Professor Banka and his team for their invaluable guidance and to the MRCC team for providing such a kind and welcoming environment throughout my visit. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to İzmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG)’s RareBoost ERA Chair project for this opportunity to enhance my research skills and perspectives.

I look forward to applying the insights and expertise gained during this visit to contribute to the advancement of rare disease research in Türkiye and to develop my academic career in this field further.