TÜBİTAK was accepted the project from Prof. Dr. Aslı BAYSAL and her colloquies. The project was founded by 1001-BİNBİRÇABA. The project was collaborated by Gaziantep University, İTÜ, İstanbul Aydın University, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University, Adıyaman Research and Training Hospital. Hatay Namık Kemal University, Malatya İnönü University.

Many chemicals, including heavy metals, pollute the environment due to natural causes, such as ground liquefaction during earthquakes and artificial causes, such as the collapse of buildings. People are exposed to these toxic chemical pollutants, such as heavy metals, which pose health risks. Heavy metals in the blood, especially in high levels, can cause kidney, neurological, metabolic, cardiovascular, endocrine, and auto-immune problems. Heavy metal exposure can affect kidney functions by interfering with protein structures in the kidneys, and it is thought that there is a relationship between heavy metals and kidney functions. However, it is not known precisely what effect the resulting change causes on the structural and conformational properties of proteins and which specific proteins it affects. Endocan (ESM-1), also known as endothelial cell-specific molecule-1, is a soluble proteoglycan predominantly expressed in vascular endothelial cells, particularly in the lungs and kidneys. It has been regulated by proinflammatory cytokines and plays a critical role in the processes of inflammation, proliferation, and neovascularization. Endocan is thought to be important in the early diagnosis of acute kidney disease. However, there is not enough data on whether endocan is directly related to the accumulation of heavy metals in the kidney or how it affects this process. For this reason, blood and urine samples will be taken from children living in the earthquake zone and outside this region, and possible changes in kidney functions will be examined. The project has great importance and originality in that it can contribute to the early understanding of kidney health-related problems and the development of treatment strategies by revealing the effect of heavy metals on the kidney and the potential role of endocan.