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 la...
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
