The Neuroscience Department advances research at the interface of genetics, neurobiology, and disease, with programs spanning population genomics, brain circuit function, neurodevelopmental disorders, and tumor biology. Departmental studies on the Turkish Variome have generated a comprehensive map of population-specific genetic variation, providing insights into admixture, rare alleles, and medically relevant variants that serve as a foundation for disease gene discovery and association studies. Complementing these population-level efforts, work in neurodevelopment has revealed dysregulation of the mTOR pathway as a converging mechanism in genetically distinct forms of lissencephaly, using patient-derived cerebral organoids to model disease progression and identify therapeutic strategies. Investigations into hypothalamic circuits regulating feeding behavior uncovered a novel neuronal population in the dorsomedial hypothalamus that constrains food intake, underscoring fundamental mechanisms of energy balance. These circuit-level studies are supported by in vivo neurophysiology, including microelectrode recordings in the mouse brain, paired with behavioral assessments such as maze navigation and standardized cognitive and feeding tests, directly linking neuronal activity to behavior.
In parallel, the department maintains a strong research program in neuro-oncology, with a focus on glioblastoma. Investigators study glioma stem cells and their role in remodeling the tumor immune microenvironment, driving immune suppression and therapeutic resistance. Genomic profiling of rapidly progressive glioblastomas has uncovered high tumor mutation burdens and recurrent deleterious variants, including changes in candidate driver genes, while preclinical approaches have demonstrated the potential of compounds such as thymoquinone to induce apoptosis, DNA damage, and oxidative stress in glioma cells. Together, these integrated lines of research—from genetic variation and brain circuitry to tumor biology—reflect the department's commitment to uncovering mechanisms of human disease and translating discoveries into therapeutic opportunities.
Active Labs Under Neuroscience
- Hatiboglu Lab
- Caglar Lab
- Cingoz Lab
