Merve YILMAZ, PhD.

Highly proficient in applying advanced research methodologies and conducting comprehensive data analyses to support impactful scientific studies. Skilled in leveraging cutting-edge techniques to drive innovative research and achieve high-quality outcomes. Proven track record of publishing in esteemed journals and excelling in collaborative, multidisciplinary team environments

• The European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Academy - Member
• The Turkish Biochemical Association - Member
• Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) - Member
• Biotechnology Club at UT Southwestern - Co-Director of Alumni Relations

Personnel Responsible for Carrying out procedures on animals

(Function: A, B & C according to ECC/566/2015 - C, D & A

according to Directive 2010/63/UR)

Awards:

• Certificate of Honor – Ege University Faculty of Science, July 2016
  Recognized for exceptional academic performance during undergraduate studies.
• Third Prize, Poster Presentation Award – Istanbul University Genetics Club (IUGEN) Poster Competition, Istanbul University Genetic Club, March 2013
  Awarded for the poster presentation on "Transplantation of Stem Cells."
• Best Innovation Abstract Award – Turkish Journal of Biochemistry, November 2023
  Recognized for the oral presentation titled "Investigation of the in vitro and in vivo effects of telomere-targeted new drug candidate compounds in different cancer cell lines."
• Turkish Cancer Research and Fight Association Award – Turkey In Vitro Diagnostics Symposium, December 2023
  Awarded for the presentation "Anticancer Nucleoside 6-Thioguanosine Demonstrates High Anticancer Activity and Induces Telomere Dysfunction in Hepatocellular Cancer Models."

Grants: 

• TÜBİTAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey), Support Program for Participation in Domestic Scientific Activities 2224-B, 2023
• EMBO Travel Grant, EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organization) Workshop on Telomere Function and Evolution in Health and Disease, 26.09.2022 - 01.10.2022
• FEBS Summer Fellowship, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) – Telomeres and Telomerase, Molecular Oncology Programme, Dr. Maria A. Blasco’s Lab, 31.08.2021 - 30.11.2021
• Young Scientist Grant, Turkish Biochemical Society, TBS International Biochemistry Congress, 29th National Biochemistry Congress, October 2018
• FEBS Youth Travel Funds (YTF), IUBMB Focused Meeting/FEBS Workshop on Crosstalk between Nucleus and Mitochondria in Human Diseases, 22-25 March 2022
• Young Scientist Grant, Turkish Biochemical Society, 31st National Biochemistry Virtual Congress, December 2020

Publications: 

• Yilmaz, M., Goksen, S., Mender, I., Esendagli, G., Erdener, S.E., Ahmed, A., Tenekeci, A.K., Birichevskaya, L.L., Gryaznov, S.M., Shay, J.W., & Dikmen, Z.G. (2024). A Phosphatidyl Conjugated Telomerase-Dependent Telomere-Targeting Nucleoside Demonstrates Colorectal Cancer Direct Killing and Immune Signaling. Biomolecules, 14(12), 1616. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14121616
• Turkel, I., Ozerklig, B., Yilmaz, M. et al. (2023). Mitochondrial transplantation as a possible therapeutic option for sarcopenia. Journal of Molecular Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00109-023-02326-3
• Yilmaz, M., Kaplan, F., Mender, I., Gryaznov, S.M., & Dikmen, G. (2022). Cancer Stem Cells and Anti-tumor Immunity. Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy. https://doi.org/10.2174/1574888X18666221017142032
• Bosso, G., Lanuza-Gracia, P., Piñeiro-Hermida, S., Yilmaz, M., Serrano, R., & Blasco, M. (2022). Early differential responses elicited by BRAFV600E in adult mouse models. Cell Death and Disease, 13, 142. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-022-04597-z
• Inan, B., Bekircan-Kurt, C.E., Ergul-Ulger, Z., Yilmaz, M., Dikmen, Z.G., Murat, E., et al. (2021). Multimodal Assessment of Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness in Severe Stroke Patients. Neurology, 96(15 Supplement), 2566.
• Yilmaz, M., Bakhspour, M., Gokturk, I., Piskin, A.K., & Denizli, A. (2021). Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) Based Biosensor Functionalized by HER2/neu Antibody for Breast Cancer Cell Detection. Chemosensors, 9(4), 80. https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors9040080
• Ozlu, B., Kabay, G., Bocek, I., Yilmaz, M., Piskin, A.K., Shim, B., & Mutlu, M. (2019). Controlled release of doxorubicin from polyethylene glycol functionalized melanin nanoparticles for breast cancer therapy: Part I. Production and drug release performance of the melanin nanoparticles. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 570, 118613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2019.118613
• Uygun, Z., Sahin, C., Yilmaz, M., Akcay, Y., Akdemir, A., & Sagin, F. (2018). Fullerene-PAMAM(G5) composite modified impedimetric biosensor to detect Fetuin-A in real blood samples. Analytical Biochemistry, 11-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ab.2017.11.007
• Yilmaz, M., & Piskin, A.K. (2018). Development of quartz crystal microbalance-based biosensors functionalized with ligand and antibodies to detect breast cancer cells. Turkish Journal of Biochemistry, 43(S5), 59-60.