Looking for Consortium: Dr. Mohammadreza Dastouri

At Ankara Medipol University, our research group offers a focused expertise in the fields of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) engineering, immune cell-based therapies, and exosome-mediated gene regulation. With extensive academic experience and a portfolio of national grants (e.g., TÜBİTAK 1001/1002/1004), our work supports critical elements of regenerative medicine and cell therapy development.

 Our expertise aligns particularly well with Horizon project needs related to stem cell differentiation, immune cell engineering, disease modeling, exosome technologies, and in vitro validation platforms. With a proven track record in both regenerative biology and cancer immunotherapy, we are well positioned to contribute to the development, testing, and optimization of novel cell-based therapeutic strategies.

As part of our ongoing research efforts, our group is committed to developing a novel induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line that is footprint-free, integration-free, and suitable for shared use across multiple research and clinical platforms, without raising safety or regulatory concerns. The results of this project are promising and are expected to be completed soon.

 By eliminating the genomic footprint typically associated with viral vectors and other integrating techniques, this platform enables the generation of standardized iPSC lines with enhanced translational value, suitable for downstream differentiation, disease modeling, and preclinical applications. The resulting iPSC lines will be validated across diverse experimental models, ensuring reproducibility and broad compatibility for collaborative use under controlled biosafety protocols. This work is expected to make a significant contribution to the establishment of shared stem cell biobanks and the advancement of next-generation regenerative therapies.

 We have successfully generated iPSCs from somatic cells and differentiated them into endothelial progenitor and smooth muscle cells, validated in preclinical ischemic models. Our team is also engaged in engineering and functional enhancement of NK-92 cells, using both molecular and exosome-delivered miRNAs (e.g., miR-30c), improving their anti-cancer activity in vitro. We employ advanced 2D and 3D culture systems, including organoid and tumor co-culture platforms, to study stem and immune cell interactions and their therapeutic potential.

 Our lab has established protocols for exosome isolation, cargo loading, and delivery, and actively explores their application in non-viral gene modulation and cellular reprogramming. These efforts are supported by capabilities in cell-based assays (e.g., cytotoxicity, apoptosis), fluorescence/confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry. Additionally, we perform genomic and transcriptomic analyses for biomarker discovery and mechanism-of-action studies.

 With over 15 years of academic experience, our team have led and contributed to numerous national and international projects involving:

 The generation of iPSCs from somatic cells using exosome-delivered miRNAs,

 The differentiation of iPSCs into endothelial progenitor and smooth muscle cells for cardiovascular regeneration,

 The modification and genomic enhancement of NK-92 cells using miRNAs (e.g., miR-30c) to improve their anti-cancer efficacy,

 The development of tumor-specific co-culture systems and 3D organoid models to study immune- and stem cell-mediated responses.

 In addition to cellular and genomic engineering, our group also investigates the anti-cancer, anti-metastatic, and apoptotic effects of certain natural compounds, evaluating their potential as complementary therapeutic agents. These studies involve advanced in vitro cancer models and explore synergistic interactions between natural molecules and immune-based therapies.

 Our laboratory offers key competencies in:

 Stem cell derivation, reprogramming, and differentiation,

Immune cell (NK) modification and therapeutic testing,

 Extracellular vesicle (exosome) engineering and miRNA delivery,

 Preclinical validation of cellular therapies using advanced in vitro models,

 Bioinformatic profiling of exosomal/genomic content,

 Protocol standardization for translational cell therapy platforms.

Contact Details

• Email: yasin.tekin@ankaramedipol.edu.tr - tto@ankaramedipol.edu.tr

• Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=3PlUQtcAAAAJ&hl=tr