Tuğba BAĞCI-ÖNDER
2008-2012: Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital
Postdoctoral research fellow
2002-2008: Tufts University Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences
Ph. D. in Neuroscience
1998-2002: Bilkent University, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics
B.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics
Dr. Bagci-Onder received her undergraduate degree in molecular biology and genetics from Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.
She then moved to the US to pursue her doctoral and postdoctoral studies. Dr. Bagci-Onder has long been interested in understanding the complex biology of malignant brain tumors. These interests have been spurred during her PhD studies in the Neuroscience graduate program of Tufts University (Boston, MA), where she trained in Prof. Daniel Jay’s Laboratory, one of the leading laboratories that study the mechanisms of cell motility. She addressed the molecular mechanisms of brain tumor cell migration and discovered that migratory tumor cells adopt characteristics of motile neurons by inducing the expression of axon guidance molecules, namely Neuropilin-1 and Semaphorin3A (Sema3A). Her work suggested that targeting Sema3A-Neuropilin-1 signalling may limit the infiltration of GBMs.
To gain further insight into therapeutic targeting of brain tumors, Dr. Bagci-Onder joined the Molecular Neurotherapy and Imaging Laboratory (MNIL) led by Prof. Khalid Shah at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. During her postdoctoral training, she had the opportunity to utilize state-of-the-art technologies including bioluminescent imaging and mouse models of malignant brain tumors. Her research at MNIL was focused on developing stem-cell mediated TRAIL therapies for primary and metastatic brain tumors. Specifically, she developed strategies to combine stem-cell delivered TRAIL and systemic chemotherapeutics to combat GBMs in vivo.
She recently returned to her home country to set up the Brain Cancer Research and Therapy Laboratory (BCRTL) at Koç University School of Medicine.
The laboratory’s research is centered around two fundamental questions:
1) What governs apoptotic resistance in malignant brain cancers?
2) What are the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of GBM progression and invasion?
The BCRTL is funded by Koç University School of Medicine and major national and international agencies, such as TUBITAK and European Commission.
Lab Members
Özlem YEDİER BAYRAM, Ph. D.
Post-doctoral researcher
Bagci-Onder Lab, Koç University
Ph. D. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Koç University
M. Sc. in Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering, Sabancı University
B. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Istanbul Technical University
Nareg DEĞİRMENCİ
Ph. D. Candidate in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Koç University
M. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Koç University
B. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Istanbul Technical University
Ezgi Yağmur KALA
Ph. D. Candidate in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Koç University
B. Sc. in Genetics and Bioengineering, Yeditepe University
Ebru YILMAZ
Ph. D. Candidate in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Koç University
B. Sc. in Genetics and Bioengineering, Yeditepe University
Canan BAYRAKTAR
Ph. D. Candidate in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Koç University
B. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics
B. Sc. in Pshycology, Başkent University
Beyza Nur KÖSEOĞLU
Ms. C. Student in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Koç University
B. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Abdullah Gül University
İpek KÖK
Ph. D. Student in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Koç University
B. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Izmir Institute of Technology
Sedef SARAÇ
Ms. C. Student in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Koç University
B. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Boğaziçi University
Current Undergraduate Students
Alumni
Ezgi KAYA
Ph. D. Student in Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine
M. Sc. Biomedical Science and Engineering, Koç University
B. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetic, Bilkent University
İbrahim Çağrı KURT
Ph. D. Student in Harvard University, School of Public Health
M. Sc. Molecular Biology and Genetics, Koç University
B. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetic, Bilkent University
Selena KAZANCIOĞLU
Associate Scientist in New York Genome Center
B. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetic, Koç University
Tolga LOKUMCU
Ph.D. Student in Brain Tumor Translational Targets Lab, DKFZ, Heidelberg
M. Sc. Biomedical Science and Engineering, Koç University
B. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetic, Istanbul Technical University
Nastaran LANGARIZADEH, Ph.D.
Ph. D. in Biotechnology, Ege University
M. Sc. in Microbiology, Azad University
B. Sc. in Biology, Azad University
Filiz ŞENBABAOĞLU, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Researcher,
University of Oxford
Ph. D. in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Koç University
M. Sc. in Biomedical Science and Engineering, Koç University
B. Sc. in Biology, Middle East Technical University
Seher EMREOĞLU
Ph. D. Student in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Koç UniversityMPhil. Candidate in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Imperial College of London
M. Sc. in Medical Molecular Microbiology, University of London
B. Sc. in Biology, Ataturk University
Ezgi ÖZYERLİ-GÖKNAR, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Researcher,
University of Freiburg
Ph. D. in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Koç University
B. Sc. in Moleculat Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University
Fidan ŞEKER-POLAT, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Researcher,
University of Chicago
Ph. D. in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Koç University
B. Sc. in Moleculat Biology and Genetics, İstanbul Technical University
Ayşe Derya CAVGA, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Researcher,
University of Cambridge
Ph.D. in Chemical and Biological Engineering, Koç University
M.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University
B.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University
İlknur SUR-ERDEM, Ph. D.
Post-doctoral Researcher,
University of Oxford
Ph. D. in Medical Biochemistry, Cologne University
M. Sc. in Biotechnology, Yeditepe University
B. Sc. in Biology, Gazi University
Birsu KÖLEMEN
Administrative Planning Specialist,
KUTTAM
M. Sc. in Chemistry, Middle East Technical University
B. Sc. in Chemistry, Bilkent University
Alişan KAYABÖLEN, Ph. D.
Post-doctoral Researcher,
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (MIT)
Ph. D. in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Koç University
M. Sc. in Biomedical Engineering, Middle East Technical University
B. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Middle East Technical University
Ali Cenk AKSU, Ph. D.
Post-doctoral Researcher,
University of Oxford
Ph. D. in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Koç University
B. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Haliç University
Ezgi KURT, M. Sc.
Ms. C. in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Koç University
B. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, İstanbul University
Vuslat Akçay, M. Sc.
B. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Koç University
Beril Esin, M. Sc.
Ph.D. Student,
Technical University of Munich
M. Sc in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Koç University
B. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Koç University
Mina Küçüktaş, M. Sc.
Ph.D. Student,
University of Basel
Ms. C. in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Koç University
B. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Abdullah Gül University
Göktuğ Karabıyık, Ph. D.
Post-doctoral Researcher,
Tampere University
Ph. D. Candidate in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Koç University
M. Sc. in Biotechnology, Yeditepe University
B. Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Koç University
Ahmet CİNGÖZ, Ph. D.
Asist. Prof.,
Bezmialem Vakıf University BILSAB
Ph. D. in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Koç University
M. Sc. in Medical Biochemistry, Marmara University
B. Sc. in Biology, Istanbul University
Gizem DOĞAN YILMAZ
Ph. D. Student in Biomedical Science and Engineering, Koç University
M. Sc. in Bioengineering, Yıldız Technical University
B. Sc. in Bioengineering, Yıldız Technical University
Undergraduate students
Duygu UÇKU, School of Medicine, Koç University
Yusuf Mert DEMİRLENK, School of Medicine, Koç University
Erinç Barçın, School of Medicine, Koç University
Simge ACAR, School of Medicine, Koç University
Semra Cemre ATALAR, School of Medicine, Koç University
Mehmet Enes ARICI, School of Medicine, Koç University
Kerem MUSLU, School of Medicine, Koç University
Nazlı ERGÜDER, School of Medicine, Koç University
Dilan GÖKYER, School of Medicine, Koç University
Alp ERKENT, School of Medicine, Koç University
Elifnur ERDEM, School of Medicine, Koç University
Işıl KARANFİL, School of Medicine, Koç University
Kubilay KAYMAZ, School of Medicine, Koç University
Merve KARABÖRK, School of Medicine, Koç University
Hevra Ekin ARPACI, School of Medicine, Koç University
Bahar Güliz YENİDÜNYA, School of Medicine, Koç University
Mami BURGAÇ, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Koç University
Summer trainees
Başak Çoban, Gebze Technical University
Turusan Avcıoğlu, Bilkent University
Berk Toy, Marmara University
Murat Cem KÖSE, Bahçeşehir University
Miray ÇETİN, York University
Aslı AZİZOĞLU, Oxford University
Kimia SHAHANGIAN, University of British Columbia
Nicole LIN, Miami University
Mimoza İrtem, German School of Istanbul
Ö. Nehir KÜÇÜK, Ankara Science High School
Z. Ayça SAKAL, Ankara Science High School
Olivia Lal ALATAN, British International School Istanbul
Available positions
We are looking for talented, friendly and enthusiastic members; read below if you are interested!
Prospective Masters and PhD Students:
Please email Dr. Bagci-Onder a CV and summarize your previous experience and explain why you are interested in the lab. Please apply to the Molecular Biology and Genetics Graduate program at Koç University.
Prospective Postdocs:
Please email Dr. Bagci-Onder a CV and explain why you are interested in the lab. Strong background in molecular biology, biochemistry, computational biology is required.