In 2025, researchers from Istanbul Technical University (ITU) once again demonstrated their leadership in translational biomedical science by securing highly competitive funding from Turkey’s premier national research initiatives, including the Research University Support Program (ADEP) and the TÜBİTAK 1001 Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program. These newly funded projects—spanning cancer diagnostics, nanomedicine, therapeutic targeting, and advanced imaging—reflect the university’s strategic focus on interdisciplinary, application-driven innovation in biotechnology and molecular medicine. From developing photoacoustic-guided photothermal therapies and pioneering artificial exosomes for personalized drug delivery to designing peptide-based modulators of protein-protein interactions in cancer cells, ITU scientists are driving cutting-edge solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in oncology. These multidisciplinary efforts push the boundaries of fundamental research and lay the groundwork for future clinical translation and technology commercialization in healthcare.
1. Prof. Dr. Ceren Çıracı and her team received prestigious funding from the Research Universities Support Program (ADEP) for “Development of photoacoustic imaging-based photothermal therapy application for the treatment of B-cell lymphoma (FAFTET).”
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a heterogeneous group of cancers that progresses rather aggressively, and its incidence has been rising rapidly in recent years, adding to the global health burden. This project aims to develop a multifunctional system that combines photothermal therapy (PTT) and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) techniques by using Daudi Burkitt's lymphoma cells, an NHL model. PTT is a therapeutic strategy for the local treatment of cancer. It uses heat generated from absorbed light energy to destroy tumor cells. This method is highly specific, much less invasive, and rather effective due to the intense light directed at the tumor. The effectiveness of PTT will then be evaluated by the PAI, which is a biomedical imaging technique based on the photoacoustic effect. In PAI, laser pulses are delivered into biological tissue, where some of the energy is absorbed and converted into heat. This leads to transient thermoelastic expansion and wideband ultrasonic emission (i.e., megahertz-order bandwidth). These ultrasonic waves are then detected by transducers and analyzed to produce images. The effectiveness of photothermal therapy will be enhanced by using gold nanoparticles to be produced in the project, cell deaths will be monitored in real-time during the treatment process with photoacoustic imaging. To improve photoacoustic imaging, contrast-enhancing exogenous contrast agents in the form of nanoparticles are used to obtain better images with fewer side effects, less accumulation, and visualization of only the targeted area. Nanocontrast agents are being developed for photoacoustic imaging, and research is being conducted on their use for cancer diagnosis.
This project has been crafted by numerous researchers who are experts in their field. Such an approach made this project a multidisciplinary project that will involve many collaborations from the departments of Electrical and Electronics, Electronics and Communication Engineering (Prof. Özgür Özdemir, who is the Principal Investigator), Electrical-Electronics, Control and Automation Engineering (Assoc. Prof. Ali Fuat Ergenç), Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine (Assist. Prof. Tuğrul Elverdi), Physics Engineering (Assist. Prof. Berna Morova), and Molecular Biology and Genetics (Prof. Ceren Çıracı Muğan). By integrating knowledge and methodologies from different fields, researchers will gain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the cancer treatment, leading to more informed and effective solutions. Such collaborations will strengthen the applications of biotechnology in healthcare.
2. Assist. Prof. Dr. Abdülhalim Kılıçand his team received prestigious funding from the Research Universities Support Program (ADEP) for “Pioneering Microfluidic Platform to Mass-Produce 'Artificial Exosomes' for Targeted Cancer Therapy.”
Researchers are developing a novel microfluidic platform to produce "artificial exosomes"—biomimetic nanoparticles designed for superior targeting and efficacy. By integrating a patented chip design for controlled, scalable production, the team will create next-generation functional nanocarriers for personalized therapies.
A new interdisciplinary research project aims to develop a platform for the large-scale production of "artificial exosomes," a next-generation drug delivery vehicle. While natural exosomes show great promise for targeting tumors, their clinical use is hindered by major challenges in purification and standardization. This project seeks to solve that problem by creating highly consistent, functional exosome mimetics from the ground up. The project leverages a patented, MEMS-based microfluidic platform featuring a unique micromixer design. This innovative system enables the continuous, single-step production of nanoparticles with unprecedented control over size and composition, overcoming the inefficiencies of traditional methods. These base nanoparticles are then systematically enriched with key biomolecules to precisely mimic the structure of natural exosomes.
The artificial exosomes will be engineered as "smart" therapeutic agents. They will be loaded with a range of potent anti-cancer agents, including both established chemotherapeutics and novel, project-specific compounds. Furthermore, their surfaces will be decorated with specific targeting ligands, creating a sophisticated navigation system that guides the nanoparticles to seek out and bind with cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.
The project includes a rigorous characterization phase, where advanced analytical techniques will be employed to verify the nanoparticles' structure and confirm their therapeutic efficacy at a molecular level. This work aims to establish a powerful and scalable platform technology, paving the way for personalized nanomedicines and offering new hope for more effective and less toxic cancer treatments.
3. Prof. Dr. Gizem Dinler Doğanay’s new project was accepted by TUBITAK-1001 Funding Program
One of the most critical challenges in cancer treatment is the development of resistance mechanisms against therapeutic agents. Due to the complexity of signaling cascades in cancer cells, blocking a single pathway often triggers compensatory activation of alternative routes. Therefore, targeting multiple pathways or key molecular interactions has become a central focus in drug development.
Protein quality control (PQC) mechanisms, including the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) and the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), are essential in eliminating misfolded proteins and maintaining cellular homeostasis. In cancer cells, increased protein synthesis and stress conditions lead to the accumulation of misfolded proteins, triggering ER stress. To survive, these cells upregulate PQC components. Among these, the AAA+ ATPase p97/VCP is a pivotal mediator in targeting unfolded proteins for degradation. Its activity is functionally connected to Bag-1S, a co-chaperone involved in PQC and apoptosis regulation.
Previous studies from the group demonstrated a direct interaction between Bag-1S and p97/VCP and identified their binding interfaces. Based on these findings, this project proposes the design of interface-specific peptides to selectively disrupt the Bag-1S:p97/VCP interaction. The goal is to modulate ERAD activity without broadly inhibiting p97/VCP, thus minimizing cytotoxicity while selectively impairing cancer cell survival.
It is aimed at synthesizing these peptides, validating their interaction specificity, and assessing their effects on cellular pathways, particularly ERAD, proteostasis, and survival mechanisms. By targeting a key PPI within the PQC network, this project offers a novel strategy for developing selective and effective therapeutics in breast cancer.