Sabri Ülker Foundation Science Award Found Its Winner
The Sabri Ülker Science Award, given annually by the Sabri Ülker Foundation to support scientific studies, was presented this year to Dr. Aydan Bulut Karslıoğlu for her groundbreaking research on stem cell biology and embryonic development. Dr. Karslıoğlu won this prestigious award for her innovative work on the “diapause” mechanism that regulates the survival and dormancy of stem cells during embryonic development. The award was presented at a ceremony held in Istanbul.
The Sabri Ülker Science Award, given by the Sabri Ülker Foundation since 2016, was presented to its winners at a ceremony held in Istanbul. This award, given to young scientists conducting research on public health, is considered one of the most prestigious programs. This year's award was given to Dr. Aydan Bulut Karslıoğlu, who leads the Stem Cell Chromatin Group at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin. Dr. Karslıoğlu, who was deemed worthy of the award for her pioneering contributions in the fields of stem cell biology and embryonic development, was presented the award by Yıldız Holding Chairman of the Board Ali Ülker, Yıldız Holding Board Member Yahya Ülker, Harvard Sabri Ülker Center and Award Jury President Prof. Dr. Gökhan Hotamışlıgil, Harvard TH Chan School Faculty of Public Health Dean Prof. Dr. Andrea Baccarelli, and Sabri Ülker Foundation President Dr. Talat İçöz.
Ali Ülker: “The discoveries of our scientists are the driving force that shapes the future”
Drawing attention to the contribution of the Sabri Ülker Science Award to society and humanity by supporting scientific research, Yıldız Holding Chairman Ali Ülker said, “Approximately 9 million scientists around the world are working non-stop to produce solutions to the challenges humanity faces and to improve the quality of life. The positive results of these studies can be observed scientifically all over the world. Data from the World Health Organization show that human life expectancy has increased dramatically in the last century. The average life expectancy, which was 1900-31 years in the early 40s, has increased to 2000-75 years in developed countries in the 80s. This is due to the early diagnosis of diseases, their treatment, and detailed knowledge of the human life cycle. We are very happy to stand behind these valuable efforts and encourage our young scientists with the Sabri Ülker Science Award. Their devoted work sheds light on the future as well as the present. This award is not only a recognition, but also paves the way for new ideas to flourish in the world of science and innovative projects to come to life. Between 2010 and 2020, approximately 26,4 million scientific articles were published worldwide, which shows that scientific knowledge is rapidly increasing. Our efforts motivate young researchers and support them to bring new discoveries to the scientific world and shape the future of humanity. As the Yıldız Holding and Ülker families, we will continue to support our young scientists who dedicate themselves to science and provide great service to our country and humanity.”
Prof. Dr. Gökhan Hotamışlıgil: “We are proud of the worldwide success of our young scientists”
Harvard Sabri Ülker Center President Prof. Dr. Gökhan Hotamışlıgil, in his speech “He drew attention to the importance of the sustainable support provided by the Sabri Ülker Foundation for scientific studies. Hotamışlıgil noted the following: ‘Serious time and resources need to be allocated for scientific research to be successful. I believe that it is very important to encourage all scientists and crown their successes in this long and bumpy journey. With the Sabri Ülker Science Award, which is being organized for the 9th time this year, we applaud the work of all our young Turkish scientists who make important discoveries in different fields every year. I congratulate Dr. Aydan Bulut Karslıoğlu, who was deemed worthy of the award this year for her pioneering work on ‘diapause’, one of the mechanisms that is effective in the adaptation processes for the efficient use of energy and food resources of both cells and living things and for the continuation of life.’” Prof. Hotamışlıgil expressed his gratitude to the Ülker Family and the Sabri Ülker Foundation for their support of science and expressed his hope that Dr. Karslıoğlu would take his future studies even further with this motivation.
Dr. Aydan Bulut Karslıoğlu: “We are proud that our efforts to solve the mystery of stem cells and embryos are appreciated”
This year's winner of the award, Dr. Aydan Bulut Karslıoğlu, said: “On behalf of our entire team, I would like to thank the Sabri Ülker Foundation and the jury members for honoring the pioneering research of young scientists with this valuable award. The recognition of our research, which examines the genetic, epigenetic and metabolic changes that embryos undergo in the first few days of life, is a great source of pride and motivation for us. Embryonic stem cell research has provided great strides in science and the treatment of diseases so far and will continue to shed light on stem cell treatments in the future. This award, which I have been deemed worthy of, means that not only individual success but also the contribution of science to the development of public health is rewarded.”
Research That Could Be Groundbreaking in Disease Prevention
Embryonic diapause is observed in various mammals. It is debated whether similar mechanisms exist in humans, but Dr. Bulut Karslıoğlu’s group has recently suggested that human cells also have the capacity for diapause. Cellular dormancy is known to play an important role in the functioning of the human body, where dormant stem cells serve as a pool for tissue regeneration and repair. Therefore, Dr. Bulut Karslıoğlu’s research also has the potential to advance research on cellular dormancy in other contexts. “We hope that our embryonic system will be a tool for fundamental discoveries that concern not only us but also other sleep systems,” says Dr. Aydan Bulut Karslıoğlu.
Who is Dr. Aydan Bulut Karslıoğlu?
Aydan Bulut-Karslıoğlu received her BSc in Chemical Engineering and Minor in Biology from Middle East Technical University (METU) in 2006. Bulut Karslıoğlu did her master's research on molecular biology and genetics at Bilkent University between 2006-2008. She joined the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg, Germany in 2008 for her doctoral studies. Dr. Bulut Karslıoğlu joined the University of California, San Francisco in 2013 for her postdoctoral research. In 2018, Bulut Karslıoğlu established an independent research laboratory at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Genetics in Berlin. In recent years, she has won prestigious awards such as the Sofja Kovalevskaja Award, the Emmy Noether Fund, and the European Research Council Fund. Dr. Aydan Bulut Karslıoğlu currently serves as the leader of the Stem Cell Chromatin Group at the same institute. Shedding light on critical biological processes, Dr. Karslıoğlu's scientific studies in the field of molecular biology and his publications in respected international journals are considered "inspiring" for future generations of scientists.
The Sabri Ülker Science Award has been given since 2016 to encourage basic research conducted by young Turkish scientists in Turkey and around the world in the fields of nutrition, metabolism and public health. Project applications for this award, which is among the most prestigious awards for young scientists, are evaluated according to the criteria of "being scientifically pioneering, revealing new mechanisms, encouraging society's nutrition and healthy lifestyles, and being complete and applicable."
The scientists who have won the Sabri Ülker Science Award to date are:
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kıvanç Birsoy
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ebru Erbay
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Omer Yilmaz
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tamer Onder
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elcin Unal
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elif Nur Firat Karalar
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nilay Yapıcı
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elvan Boke
