Dr. Aydan Bulut Karslıoğlu, Leader of the Stem Cell Chromatin Group of the Max Planck Institute
Dr. Aydan Bulut Karslıoğlu, Leader of the Stem Cell Chromatin Group of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics based in Berlin, Germany, was awarded the Sabri Ülker Science Award for 2024. The award was in recognition of her pioneering work in the field of stem cell biology and embryonic development. Dr. Karslıoğlu's research sheds light on genetic, epigenetic and metabolic aspects of embryonic development. The award was presented by Ali Ülker, Chairman of Yildiz Holding, together with Yahya Ülker, Leader of Transformation and Technology for Yildiz Holding, Prof. Dr. Gökhan Hotamışlıgil, President of the Sabri Ülker Center within the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Andrea Baccarelli, Faculty Dean of the T.H.Chan School of Public Health, and Dr. Talat İçöz, President of the Sabri Ülker Foundation
Research Focus
“Diapause capacity of stem cells”
Dr. Karslıoglu's work focuses on the mechanism of diapause, the ability of many mammalian species to stop their embryonic development in response to environmental challenges. During diapause, stem cells retain their differentiation potential, raising the question of how this memory is encoded. Dr. Karslıoğlu and her team suggest that human cells may also have this diapause capacity. This research has the potential to deepen our understanding of stem cell biology and disease prevention.
Dr. Aydan Bulut Karslıoğlu commented: “It is a great honour for us to have our research recognized with this award”
“On behalf of my team, I would like to thank the Sabri Ülker Foundation and the jury members for honouring the pioneering research of young scientists with this prestigious award. The recognition of our research fuels our interest in the genetic and epigenetic changes that occur in the first few days of embryonic development and gives us great motivation to make further progress in this field,” said Dr. Karslıoğlu.
