The official launch meeting of the international PHRESH Project, hosted by MLP Care, was held at Istinye University’s Topkapi Campus with the participation of representatives from seven countries. The project focuses on AI-powered solutions – the next step in digital transformation in healthcare.
A New Era of Connected Healthcare
Bringing together representatives from the Netherlands, Canada, Türkiye, Spain, Portugal, Romania, and the United Kingdom, the PHRESH Project, short for Patient Health Intervention in Emergency and Secure Environments for Connected Health Services, aims to redefine risk assessment, emergency response, and treatment processes through a comprehensive framework of connected, secure, and AI-enabled healthcare ecosystems.
Speakers at the event included Dr. Hasan Selçuk Selek, Vice President of TÜBİTAK TEYDEB, and Prof. Dr. Bestami Özkaya, Vice Rector of Istinye University.
“We Are Proud to Contribute to Improved Patient Outcomes”
Expressing his delight at being one of the scientific, academic, and strategic coordinators of the project, Prof. Dr. Bestami Özkaya, Vice Rector of Istinye University, emphasized the university’s leadership in health technologies, saying:
“First of all, we are honored to host all of you in Istanbul for this important kick-off meeting. As MLP Care and Istinye University, we continue academic research and clinical practice under one roof. We focus on innovation, AI-driven technologies, AI-powered healthcare services, and international collaborations. The PHRESH Project perfectly reflects our vision of combining science, technology, and clinical expertise for the benefit of patients. We are proud to actively contribute to developing solutions in Türkiye for early diagnosis, better decision support, and improved patient outcomes. As Istinye University, we aim to remain one of the leading universities in health technologies, to drive innovation, and to shape the future of healthcare in the years ahead.”
“A Strategic Meeting That Will Shape the Future”
Esra Alkurt, Deputy Director of Project Management at MLP Care, one of the project’s Turkish participants, said that the meeting strengthened international cooperation and knowledge sharing, serving as a strategic platform that will shape the future of healthcare technologies.
Alkurt added:
“This initiative integrates pioneering solutions such as high-accuracy sensors, real-time analytics, AI-powered early warning systems, advanced data-network connectivity, and quantum-resistant encryption technologies. The Turkish consortium aims to develop an integrated system — using AI and wearable technologies — that supports the early diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases in at-risk individuals. The system will include web and mobile applications for both patients and healthcare professionals, integrated with hospital systems.”
Four Key Areas of Innovation
During the meeting, each country presented its own case study, focusing on four core innovation areas of the PHRESH Project:
Sense for Health: Continuous data monitoring through advanced sensors.
Alert to Prevent: AI-powered early warning and prevention systems.
Connected Transport: Seamless ambulance–hospital data flow with 5G/6G integration.
Secure and Collaborative Learning: Privacy-enhancing and quantum-resistant security solutions.
Facilitating Access to Healthcare
The project aims to create significant added value by enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of healthcare institutions through AI and digital health technologies. With the global digital health market expected to reach $505 billion by the end of 2025, Türkiye is also projected to boost its GDP through increased healthcare spending and AI integration. The adoption of these innovative technologies is expected to improve access to healthcare services, enhance competitiveness, and increase revenues for healthcare providers both in Türkiye and worldwide.
