Overview:
Dr. Onat graduated from Boğaziçi University, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics in 2004.
Between 2004 and 2012, he researched the causes of rare diseases during his master’s and doctoral
studies at Bilkent University, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics. The main research area in
this process was on the discovery of disease-causing genes of a cerebellar hypoplasia (CAMRQ) that is
notable for walking on all fours in humans. After his doctorate education, he focused on unraveling the
molecular mechanism of the "hunger/satiety" feeling regulated by neurons in the hypothalamus region
of the brain in a collaborative project between Rockefeller and Bilkent Universities co-directed by Drs.
Jeffrey Friedman, the discoverer of the hormone leptin and the winner of the Lasker award and Tayfun
Özçelik, TUBITAK science award winner. During this period, he focused on diseases with complex
inheritance and took part in establishing a comprehensive DNA bank and genome database. In this
context, he continued his studies on the discovery of genes for metabolic diseases such as familial
obesity, extreme leanness, and polycystic ovarian syndrome, neurodegenerative diseases such as
essential tremor and Parkinson's, and psychiatric and behavioral phenotypes associated with circadian
rhythm such as delayed sleep phase and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. He is a leading
expert in the field of omics data analysis, and his research has been published in top scientific journals
such as Cell, Nature Genetics, JCI, Genome Research, PNAS, and EJHG. Dr. Onat is a passionate advocate
for the use of omics data to improve human health, and he is committed to training the next generation
of omics scientists.
The main focus of Onat Lab is to contribute to the genetic etiologies of human diseases and the
enhancing precision medicine by developing new analysis methods and algorithms to investigate
disease-causing mutations and genes by comparing next-generation sequencing genomic data of
patients with control individuals or unaffected family members. For this, the Lab apply and combine
computational biology approaches such as bioinformatics, statistical genomics, biological databases,
network modellings, machine learning, population genetics, with molecular cytogenetic approaches such
as homozygosity mapping, linkage analysis, SNP genotyping, and with various molecular biology
approaches. By integrating omics data with clinical and population health information, the Lab aims to
bridge the gap between basic research and clinical practice by leveraging cutting-edge techniques and
methodologies to analyze large-scale biological datasets, generate meaningful insights, and translate
scientific discoveries into practical applications that benefit healthcare and society.
Affiliations:
1. 1.Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Health Sciences, Bezmialem Vakif University, Turkey
2. 2.Department of Molecular Biology, Beykoz Institute of Life Sciences and Biotechnology,
Bezmialem Vakif University, Turkey
Education:
● 2013-2021 Post Doctorate, Ihsan Dogramaci Bilkent University, Faculty Of Scıence, Department
Of Molecular Bıology And Genetıcs, Turkey
● 2006 -2012 Doctorate, Ihsan Dogramaci Bilkent University, Faculty Of Scıence, Department Of
Molecular Bıology And Genetıcs, Turkey
● 2004 -2006 Postgraduate, Ihsan Dogramaci Bilkent University, Faculty Of Scıence, Department Of
Molecular Bıology And Genetıcs, Turkey
● 1999 -2004 Undergraduate, Bogazici University, Faculty Of Arts And Scıences, Department Of
Molecular Bıology And Genetıcs,Turkey
Research Interests:
Human Genetics, Genomics, Rare and Common Disorders, Bioinformatics, Disease Gene Identification
Metabolic Disorders, Neurodegenerative Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders, Behavioral Phenotypes,
Cytogenetics, Disease Epidemiology, Population Genetics.
Awards / Honors:
● 2013-2020 Post-doctoral fellowship, Rockefeller University Center for Clinical and Translational
Science (RUCCTS) Grant Award Number 8 UL1 TR000043
● 2010 Conference fellowship from ESHG for 42nd European Human Genetics Conference; 2010,
Gothenburg, Sweden (Best poster award candidate)
● 2008 Conference fellowship from Turkish Society of Medical genetics for 8th National Prenatal
Diagnosis and Medical Genetics Conference; 2008, Çanakkale, Turkey
● 2006-2009 Project fellowship from the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey,
TUBITAK, Ankara, Turkey
● 2006 Conference fellowship from ESHG for 38th European Human Genetics Conference; 2006,
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
● 2006 Conference fellowship from Turkish Biochemical Society for 31st FEBS Congress “Molecules
in Heath and Diseases”; 2006 Istanbul, Turkey
● 2006 Conference fellowship from Turkish Society of Medical Genetics for 7th National Prenatal
Diagnosis and Medical Genetics Conference; 2006, Kayseri, Turkey
● 2006 Conference fellowship from TUBITAK for 6th ICGEB Conference “Emerging Topics in Human
Functional Genomics and Proteomics”; 2006, Antalya, Turkey
● 2004-2012 Full-fellowship from the Institute of Engineering and Science, Bilkent University,
Ankara, Turkey
Publications (selected)
1. The genetic structure of the Turkish population reveals high levels of variation and admixture.
Kars M.E., Basak A.N., Onat O.E., Bilguvar K.,Choi J., ItanY.,Caglar C.,Palvadeau R., Casanova J.,
Cooper D.N., et al. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA, vol.118, no.36, 2021.
2. Human CRY1 variants associate with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Onat O.E., Kars
M.E., GÜL Ş., Bilguvar K., Wu Y., Ozhan A., Aydin C., Basak A.N., Trusso M.A., Goracci A.,et al.
JOURNALOF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, vol.130, no.7, pp.3885-3900, 2020.
3. Mutation of the Human Circadian Clock Gene CRY1 in Familial Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder.
Patke A., Murphy P. J., Onat O.E., Krieger A.C., Ozcelik T., Campbel S.S., Young M.W. CELL, vol.169,
no.2, pp.203-215, 2017.
4. Genomic landscape of the Greater Middle East. Ozcelik T., Onat O.E. NATURE GENETICS, vol.48,
no.9, pp.978-979, 2016.
5. Mitochondrial serine protease HTRA2 p.G399S in a kindred with essential tremor and Parkinson
disease. Gulsuner H.U., Gulsuner S., Mercan F.N., Onat O.E., Walsh T., Shahin H., Lee M.K., Dogu
O., Kansu T., Topaloglu H., et al. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, vol.111, no.51, pp.18285-18290, 2014.
6. Missense mutation in the ATPase, aminophospholipid transporter protein ATP8A2 is associated
with cerebel ar atrophy and quadrupedal locomotion. Onat O.E., Gulsuner S., Bilguvar K., Basak
A.N., Topaloglu H., Tan M., Tan U., Gunel M., Ozcelik T. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN
GENETICS, vol.21, no.3, pp.281-285, 2013.
7. Homozygosity mapping and targeted genomic sequencing reveal the gene responsible for
cerebellar hypoplasia and quadrupedal locomotion in a consanguineous kindred. Gulsuner S.,
Tekinay A.B., Doerschner K., Boyaci H., Bilguvar K., Unal H., Ors A., Onat O.E., Atalar E., Basak
A.N.,et al. GENOME RESEARCH, vol.21, no.12, pp.1995-2003, 2011.
8. Mutations in the very low-density lipoprotein receptor VLDLR cause cerebellar hypoplasia and
quadrupedal locomotion in humans. Ozcelik T., AKARSUA.N., Uz E., Caglayan S., Gulsuner S., Onat
O.E., Tan M., Tan U. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA, vol.105, no.11, pp.4232-4236, 2008.
Outlink:
https://avesis.bezmialem.edu.tr/onur.onat
Grants (Ongoing):
1. The genetics of PCOS (PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome) in Turkish Families: Identification of causal
gene mutations in PCOS, Rockefeller University Center for Clinical and Translational Science
(RUCCTS)
2. The Genetics of Obesity in Turkish Families: Identification of causal gene mutations in obesity,
Rockefeller University Center for Clinical and Translational Science (RUCCTS)
3. Investigation and molecular characterization of the roles of obesity-associated STEAP1B, KCNQ5
and UCP1 genes in disease pathogenesis, TUBITAK 1001.
Contact Info:
Office: +90 212 523 2388 - 4901
Email: onur.onat@bezmialem.edu.tr
Address: Bezmialem Vakıf Üniversitesi, Yaşam Bilimleri ve Biyoteknoloji Enstitüsü, Yalıköy, 34820
Beykoz/İstanbul
