Turkish Academy of Sciences Outstanding Young Scientist Award

EMBO Young Investigator Programme

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nesrin.ozoren@boun.edu.tr

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Research: Apoptosis Signaling, Inflammasome Activation in Behcet`s Disease

The main goal of the Apoptosis and Cancer Immunology Laboratory (AKIL) is the elucidation of the role the adaptor ASC plays in human tumorigenesis, and more specifically in skin cancer or melanoma development. Previous studies suggest that ASC has important functions in two different pathways. First, ASC plays a crucial role in the innate immune system, where it takes part in the recognition of intracellular pathogens. ASC is required for the activation of caspase 1 and thus controls the secretion of the cytokines IL-1 and IL-18. Second, it is suggested that ASC takes part in several apoptotic pathways. ASC is normally expressed in a wide variety of tissues, however its expression is lost in a high percentage of several tumor types including melanoma. We aim to clarify the role of ASC in the development of these tumors.

The second theme of AKIL research focuses on the molecular defects that may be the cause of Behcet`s disease. We believe that aberrant inflammasome activity may be at the basis of the autoimmune symptoms observed in Behcet`s patients.

Seminar at Osaka University, 19.02.2009
Turkish Academy of Sciences, TUBA
Science online news
EMBO Installation Grant
Star Newspaper Article, 10 December 2007
Hürriyet Newspaper Article, 22 February 2008
TÜBA-EMBO Forum News, February 2008