The Biotechnology Research Group conducts multidisciplinary R&D activities to develop innovative solutions that address our country's priority needs in the fields of health, agriculture, and the environment. The Vaccine Technologies, Drug Technologies, Molecular Oncology, Biomaterials, Plant Biotechnology, and Animal Biotechnology Laboratories within the group adopt an integrated working approach with complementary expertise and infrastructure. The Group operates in line with its goal of developing technology, products, and services for public, university, and private sector stakeholders through national and international collaborations.
Research in the field of health includes the development of protective approaches against biological agents, the evaluation of vaccine and immune response processes, efficacy/safety analyses in cell-based systems, and the planning of in vivo studies conducted in appropriate models. Within this framework, vaccine studies involve laboratory-scale development in inactivated, subunit, recombinant, and peptide formats; vaccine-adjuvant compatibility, stability, immunogenicity, and dose evaluations are conducted; and immune response studies supported by 3D in vitro modeling and tissue engineering approaches are performed. Virus culture/titer determination studies can be conducted with BSL-2 and BSL-3 infrastructure; the infection process can be monitored in real time with real-time cell analysis platforms, allowing the intervention effect to be quantitatively evaluated. In the field of drug technologies, development processes for biotechnological products are addressed in conjunction with production, purification, characterization, and cell-based biological activity assessments.
Within the scope of research on diagnosis and treatment, studies are conducted in Molecular Oncology laboratories on cancer diagnosis/screening, early diagnosis-monitoring, and treatment approaches; target-oriented research processes supported by biobanking approaches, bioinformatics analyses, and multi-omics methods are being developed. In biomaterials laboratories, studies are conducted on functional biomaterials for treatment and diagnosis, drug delivery systems, biosensor technologies, and diagnostic kits; the integration of health technologies with nanostructures and smart materials is supported. Approaches to tissue engineering applications focused on biomimetics and regenerative medicine are also an important component of this ecosystem.
Plant Biotechnology laboratories conduct research on the evaluation of national plant genetic resources, molecular approaches to increase productivity and quality, next-generation genomic applications, and genomic editing studies. In Animal Biotechnology laboratories, research at the intersection of animal husbandry and biotechnology is supported through genetic/genomic-based approaches, appropriate experimental models, and biological evaluation processes.
This integrated structure supports the consolidation of interdisciplinary competencies toward a common goal, the systematic and traceable execution of R&D processes, and the transfer of outputs into practice.
The Vaccine Technologies Research Team conducts studies focused on developing protective and immunotherapeutic treatment methods against biological agents that are zoonotic in origin or directly impact human health. Our laboratory has the appropriate infrastructure and expert staff for vaccine development studies in inactivated, subunit, and recombinant peptide forms. In this context, meticulously conducted in vitro and in vivo studies include the production of conventional and recombinant toxins, laboratory-scale vaccine production at the preclinical level, the examination of vaccine-induced humoral and cellular immune responses, modeling of next-generation immunotherapeutics, the use of drug- and gene-loaded nanocarriers with effective adjuvant systems, the development of vaccine-adjuvant formulations, and tissue engineering studies.
The Vaccine Technologies Research Team contributes to the field of CBRN defense by developing diagnostic and treatment methods against biological agents. It also conducts research in line with the needs of public and private sector organizations by establishing national and international collaborations.
Food toxicology, nanotoxicology, biocompatibility, bioefficacy and biosafety determination, anti-microbial and anti-cancer efficacy.
Cell- and molecular-based immunoregulation in inflammatory disease models
Peptide synthesis, purification and characterization.
Stability, antigen-adjuvant compatibility, immunogenicity & dose, innate and adaptive immune response studies.
Mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, and ferret.
The Plant Biotechnology Research Team continues its activities within the scope of producing products and services that can be transformed into added value by using up-to-date biotechnology and genetic engineering methods in line with the country's priorities.
The Plant Biotechnology Research Team collaborates with public research institutions, universities and the private sector at national and international level. In addition, analysis and consultancy services are provided to public and private sector organizations.
Characterization of national plant genetic resources, studies on increasing productivity and quality values in plants with molecular approaches, elucidation of molecular mechanisms involved in biotic / abiotic stress in plants and identification of molecular markers, molecular marker-assisted breeding programs in plants.
Regulating the levels of valuable plant metabolites through genetic manipulation.
The use of microbial agents in the treatment and prevention of plant diseases.
Biomaterials Research Team is a multidisciplinary research team that aims to develop innovative solutions in biomaterials and biotechnology applications. Our team works towards the realization of technologies, products and services with high competitiveness and added value that our country needs in various disciplines such as health, food safety and environmental protection. Our research includes studies on new functional biomaterials for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, as well as drug delivery systems, development of synthetic drugs and imaging agents, biosensor technologies and diagnostic kits that offer innovative approaches in the early detection and treatment of diseases. We also provide innovative solutions in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine by focusing on the imitation of natural processes through biomimetic and regenerative medicine research, while integrating nanostructures and smart materials in the field of nanotechnology and materials science into healthcare technologies.
Small molecule, peptide, and peptidomimetic drug candidates are designed and synthesized/characterized using artificial intelligence and in-silico approaches in areas such as cancer, neurological, cardiovascular, rare diseases, and diabetes. The focus is on increasing efficacy and safety through targeting, controlled release, and smart delivery systems.
Biosensors, diagnostic kits (LFA/ELISA), and imaging agents (PET/MR, etc.) are being developed for early and reliable diagnosis. Sensitivity and specificity are being improved using biomolecules such as peptides/antibodies/aptamers/PNA and artificial intelligence-based analyses.
Functional, biocompatible, and smart materials are being designed and developed for healthcare and food safety applications. Tissue engineering biomaterials, nanofiber/hydrogel systems, 3D bioprinting-bioink, microneedles, wound dressings/artificial skin, and smart packaging technologies are the main areas of focus.
The Animal Biotechnology Research Team has achieved important milestones by successfully producing Turkey's first clone calves and first transgenic mice (mice synthesizing human interferon, frost-resistant mice). It conducts genetic and genomic studies in farm animals, domestic and domestic animals, reproductive biology in animals, development of transgenic and experimental animal models, cancer molecular biology, identification of anticancer drug candidates, stem cell therapies, integrated omics analysis for disease diagnosis and treatment, and biodefense product development. It provides services in the field of toxicity and biocompatibility studies in experimental animals by collaborating with public research institutions, universities and private sector at national and international level.
Cloning, in vitro fertilization, cryobiology, biobanking, genetic selection, etc.
Identification of genes associated with economically important traits in farm animals, diagnosis of animal diseases such as BLAD, DUMPS where a single mutation is responsible, etc.
The Pharmaceutical Technologies Research Team has been competent in antibody engineering, cell line development and characterization, photodynamic therapy, nanoscale drug systems, physico-chemical characterization of proteins and biological activity assays for more than 25 years. In the field of healthcare, the pharmaceutical technologies research team continues to work with different approaches in the discovery of original and biosimilar antibodies, development of new biopharmaceutical drugs, biosimilar mAbs and theranotherapeutic agents, with a priority on cancer and pathogen-induced diseases. The team carries out nationally and internationally supported multidisciplinary projects such as the development of neutralizing antibodies against Sars-CoV-2 virus, the development of the first nationally supported biosimilar antibody for cancer treatment, the production and application of photodynamic therapy agents for cancer diagnosis and treatment, and the development of nanoparticle-based molecules.
The design, production, and process optimization of recombinant antibody/peptide candidates are carried out using mammalian and/or bacterial expression systems. Product candidates are developed using scalable production approaches in line with quality, efficacy, and safety targets.
Cell line development, clone selection, and productivity/stability assessments are performed for the target molecule. Research Cell Bank (RCB), Master Cell Bank (MCB), and Working Cell Bank (WCB) establishment; cell bank characterization and traceability processes are supported.
Post-production purification processes (capture–intermediate purification–polishing) and process development studies are conducted. Identity, purity, aggregation, charge variants, binding kinetics, and biosimilarity assessments are performed using methods such as SEC/reverse phase HPLC, variant analysis, FPLC, CE-SDS/CE-IEF, SPR, CD, DLS/Zeta, FTIR, SDS-PAGE/Western blot, and ELISA.
The efficacy of candidate therapeutics at the cellular level is evaluated through proliferation inhibition, IC50/EC50 determination, cell migration-invasion, apoptosis/necrosis markers, and ROS/oxidative stress analyses. A mechanism-focused efficacy profile is established using wound healing (scratch) and target-specific functional assays.
Alongside 2D cultures, more physiologically relevant in vitro disease models are developed using 3D spheroid/organoid approaches. The efficacy and toxicity profiles of candidates are comparatively analyzed in the context of cancer, neurodegeneration (e.g., Alzheimer's-like models), and metabolic diseases (e.g., mechanisms related to Type II diabetes).
Target antigen/biomarker-based directed immunotherapeutic strategies (antibody-based formats, binding-function relationship, target validation) are developed. Cell-based binding and function tests support the selectivity, efficacy, and safety profile of candidates.
Phage display-based biopanning and screening processes are conducted to discover antibody/peptide candidates that bind to target antigens. Candidates are pre-screened for binding strength/selectivity, cross-reactivity, and functional outputs before being advanced to subsequent development stages.
The design/establishment of human or mouse-derived immunized, naïve, and synthetic libraries and the validation of library quality are performed. Infrastructure is provided for the transfer of candidates to sequencing/formatting processes after target-specific enrichment.
Engineering studies are conducted on different antibody architectures, including Fab, scFv, and single-chain formats. Format conversion, affinity/specificity improvement, stability-expressibility optimization, and selection of candidates suitable for application are supported.
In silico humanization and candidate optimization are performed to reduce immunogenicity risk. Rational design is supported by evaluating CDR conservation, frame region compatibility, and functional effects through structural modeling and sequence analysis.
Biomaterials and nanotechnology-based systems are designed for drug/antibody/peptide delivery or tissue-interaction purposes. Parameters such as surface functionalization, release profile, biocompatibility, and cellular response are evaluated using in vitro tests.
Using BSL-3 infrastructure, live virus culture and titer determination studies are conducted; thanks to real-time cell analysis, the infection process and neutralization kinetics are monitored with time resolution, enabling the quantitative determination of the neutralization profile and infection kinetics.
The Molecular Oncology Research Team offers research on treatment and diagnostic methods especially for cancer, the disease of our age. Recently, it has been working on the development of diagnosis, detection and treatment systems for lung and hematologic cancers. Within the team, a bio-bank has been established from solid and liquid tissue cancer patient samples, and screening, early diagnosis, monitoring and treatment systems have been developed. Using antibodies, immuno-histochemistry kits and immunoassay systems have been developed to identify patients who are candidates for immunotherapy. A therapeutic system was also developed for the treatment of bone defects using mesenchymal stem cells and an osteomimetic hydrogel. One of the main areas of activity of the team is the development of personalized treatment systems. In this context, in addition to developing a CAR-T cell therapy system, we also aim to develop biological drugs, vaccines, small molecules and RNA therapeutics against target molecules and pathways that we have identified in collaboration with relevant expert teams within our unit and outside the institution.
Production in mammalian and bacterial cells.
Research cell bank, master cell bank and working cell bank.
Design and expansion of CAR-T GMP-grade T cells using the ClinMACS prodigy cell production system.
In vitro ve in vivo çalışmalar için floresan, near infrared floresan ve hedef moleküllerin istenilen hücre hattı veya primer hücrelere klonlanması.
TRAC locus targeted system design to prevent GvH reaction, especially in allogeneic CAR-T studies.
