Translational Immunology, Biomarkers, Cell-Based Therapies and Advanced In Vitro Models

TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center (TÜBİTAK MRC), Biotechnology Research Group offers multidisciplinary expertise in medical and industrial biotechnology, translational immunology, molecular and cellular biology, toxicology, bioinformatics, biomarker research and advanced therapeutic approaches. The Group has expertise in biotechnological drug design and development, molecular modelling and docking, vaccine research and development, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, and in vitro and in vivo evaluation of therapeutic candidates. These activities are supported by animal research facilities and experience in preclinical biological evaluation. Our broader biotechnology activities also include applications relevant to biodefence and preparedness.

Our expertise includes cellular modelling of immune regulation, immune dysfunction and therapeutic responses in cancer, autoimmune and infectious diseases. We have particular experience in regulatory immune cell populations, immune tolerance and immunosuppressive mechanisms, immune profiling and functional characterization, biomarker research, and the development and evaluation of cell-based therapeutic approaches. Our experimental capabilities include multiparametric flow cytometry, cell sorting, functional immune assays, primary immune cell studies, advanced 2D/3D cell culture and co-culture models, high-content/live-cell imaging, and BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratory facilities for infectious disease and related biotechnology research. The team also brings experience in mass cytometry-based immune profiling. The Group has expertise in toxicological assessment of chemicals, environmental contaminants, food-related residues, cosmetics, biomaterials and other biological or chemical agents using in vitro and in vivo approaches. These capabilities are complemented by molecular and multi-omics approaches.

Through my affiliation with Koç University School of Medicine and the Transplant Immunology Research Center of Excellence, potential collaborations can also be extended towards complementary expertise in cell engineering and advanced cell-based therapies, clinical research, and AI/data-driven health research through the wider Koç University research ecosystem.

We can contribute to collaborative projects through advanced cellular disease models, immune profiling, biomarker discovery and validation, drug and therapeutic candidate evaluation, functional assessment of therapeutic strategies, and experimental validation of biological mechanisms and treatment responses. For Digital and Smart Health projects, our role is particularly relevant to the biological and experimental validation of AI-supported biomarkers, predictive and early-warning models, and digital/virtual twin approaches by providing measurable molecular, cellular and functional endpoints.