Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elif Nur Fırat Karalar, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Koç University,
Having completed her undergraduate education at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, Associate Professor Elif Nur Fırat Karalar continued her doctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley, and post-doctoral research at Stanford University. Later, in 2014, she established a research lab at Koç University Molecular Biology and Genetics Department and continues her research in this area. Basic mechanisms of cell biology underpin a wide range of disorders ranging from rare genetic diseases to cancer, and research in this area shed light on new diagnostic and treatment methods. Dr. Karalar also continues to work in the "Cellular Skeleton Research" laboratory with the support of an ERC, EMBO Installation Grant and Young Investigator Program. Dr. Karalar is also supported by a Royal Society Newton Advanced Fellowship and TUBITAK in the "Cellular Skeleton Research" laboratory.
Research Focus
‘To investigate the causes of developmental and metabolic disorders such as kidney disorders, blindness, obesity and diabetes, and guide the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases’
Continuing her scientific career in the area of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Associate Professor Elif Nur Fırat Karalar seeks answers to how cell structures known as centrosome and cilium, which play a critical role in cell division and communication, are formed and function. Dr. Karalar and her team believe that answers to these questions will facilitate the development of new methods for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders in these structures.
Key references
- Batman, U., Deretic, J. Firat-Karalar, E.N (2022) The ciliopathy protein CCDC66 controls mitotic progression and cytokinesis by promoting microtubule nucleation and organization. PLOS Biology in press.
- Tiryaki, F., Deretic, J. Firat-Karalar, E.N (2022) ENKD1 is a centrosomal and ciliary microtubule-associated protein important for primary cilium content regulation. FEBS Journal.
