ESRA AYDEMİR AYAZ

<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;

mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Assoc. Prof. Dr. Esra Aydemir Ayaz is a distinguished

researcher in the fields of molecular biology, biotechnology, and oncology. Her

career is characterized by pioneering research into rare tumors, cancer stem

cell resistance, and innovative drug repurposing strategies. Dr. Aydemir Ayaz

established a strong international foundation in the life sciences before

specializing in biotechnology. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Molecular

Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University (USA). She earned her Master’s

& Doctorate Degrees in Biotechnology, Yeditepe University (Turkey). With

years of laboratory experience, she is highly proficient in fundamental and

advanced molecular techniques in including primary human cell culture

development, tissue and cell culture isolation, molecular cloning and immunomodulation

assays. Dr. Aydemir Ayaz is noted for her groundbreaking work on chordoma, a

rare bone tumor. She provided the first evidence of the existence of stem cells

within chordoma tumors. Her research focused on identifying and isolating cancer

stem cells, differentiation therapy particularly working on methods to force

stem cells to differentiate, thereby breaking their high resistance to

traditional chemotherapy.

<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;

mso-ansi-language:EN-US">In addition to her research and editorial roles,

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Esra Aydemir Ayaz has a strong record of international

collaboration and competitive funding applications. As a principal

investigator, she is currently leading a national grant funded by TÜBİTAK. Dr.

Aydemir Ayaz has actively sought to expand her research through prestigious

international funding bodies. Her efforts include applications for: British

Council: Engaging with UK-based funding opportunities to support scientific

exchange and research development. TÜBİTAK Bilateral Calls: Pursuing strategic

partnerships through the Scientific and Technological Research Council of

Türkiye, specifically targeting bilateral cooperation calls with Greece and

Scotland.

<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;

mso-ansi-language:EN-US">She is in collaboration across other disciplines with

polymer and material scientists to advance cancer treatment technologies. She

had collaborations in Turkiye with well known chemists and material scientists

in the field of pharmacy to study to find ways to inhibit the formation of new

blood vessels that feed tumors. Her work in drug repurposing has evolved to

include modern computational techniques. She collaborates with internationally

recognized scientists in the field of AI-based drug design and development. These

collaborations focus on in silico modeling such as “Using artificial

intelligence to predict how drug compounds interact with cancer targets” and accelerated

discovery that includes “Leveraging AI to identify existing commercially

available drugs that can be effectively reused for cancer treatments,

particularly in suppressing resistant pathways”.

<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;

mso-ansi-language:EN-US">A defining feature of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Esra Aydemir

Ayaz’s academic profile is her rigorous focus on tangible, market-oriented

outputs. Her research transcends theoretical discovery, resulting in a diverse

portfolio of high-value biotechnological applications, including Dermaceuticals

which were developed CosIng-compatible biotechnological cosmetic active

ingredients with proven anti-aging and anti-wrinkle properties, Novel

Therapeutics: Secured patent-protected immunomodulatory drug candidates and

developed innovative, low-toxicity transfection reagents for gene therapy, Biotechnology

Platforms: Established antibody-based therapeutic and diagnostic platforms

alongside advanced photodynamic therapy agents and finally Medical Devices:

Engineered specialized hydrogel- and microneedle-based medical devices designed

for accelerated tissue repair and wound healing.

<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;

mso-ansi-language:EN-US">This product-driven orientation distinguishes Dr.

Aydemir Ayaz as an academic researcher capable of contributing directly to

industrial innovation across both the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors. By

bridging the gap between molecular biology and commercial validation, she

ensures her scientific breakthroughs achieve real-world clinical and consumer

utility.