Prof. Dr. Furkan Ayaz

Prof. Dr. Furkan Ayaz is an internationally trained immunologist and biotechnologist with a strong and distinctive record in translating fundamental immune biology into biotechnological products for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Chemistry from Boğaziçi University, Turkey, and completed his PhD in the Molecular and Cellular Biology Program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA. During his doctoral training, he conducted comprehensive research on autoimmune diseases, immune regulation, and T-cell acute leukemia, establishing a rigorous mechanistic foundation in both adaptive and innate immunology. Throughout his academic career, Prof. Ayaz has developed an interdisciplinary research profile at the interface of immunology, chemistry, materials science, nanotechnology, and bioengineering. His research philosophy is based on an end-to-end translational approach that spans target biology, structure-informed molecular and antibody design, plasmid-level construct development, in vitro and ex vivo functional assays, animal disease models, and application-driven formulation. He has extensive hands-on experience with macrophages, T helper cell subsets, thymus-derived immune cells, bone marrow–derived cells, and splenocytes, as well as validated preclinical models such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the gold-standard animal model for Multiple Sclerosis. One of Prof. Ayaz’s notable achievements is an international patent describing a Bacillus subtilis–derived exopolysaccharide with potent immunomodulatory activity that prevents the development of EAE in mice, positioning this molecule as a promising drug candidate for autoimmune disorders. His subsequent and ongoing studies focus on how drug candidates, antibodies, biomaterials, nanoparticles, and small molecules modulate immune cell function, with particular emphasis on T helper cell polarization and macrophage plasticity. This mechanistic focus is consistently linked to therapeutic, diagnostic, and industrial applicability. Prof. Ayaz is currently a Professor at Istinye University, where he leads an active research group and manages fully functional laboratories. His infrastructure includes dedicated cell culture and molecular biology laboratories, an animal experimentation facility, and access to flow cytometry, quantitative RT-PCR, ELISA and MTT plate readers, fluorescence microscopy, and confocal microscopy. He also collaborates with external research institutes and industrial partners for advanced proteomics and analytical studies. He supervises graduate and undergraduate students as well as doctoral-level researchers and coordinates multidisciplinary teams to deliver defined work packages within national and international research projects. In addition to his research activities, Prof. Ayaz plays an active role in the international scientific community through editorial service. He holds editorial positions at Heliyon, Discover Immunity, Discover Biotechnology, and Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy, reflecting his recognized expertise across immunology, biotechnology, and translational medicine. In recognition of his international scientific contributions, he has been awarded an Honorary PhD from Odesa National Medical University and holds a Visiting Professorship, underscoring his global academic standing and commitment to international collaboration. Prof. Ayaz is currently coordinating, leading, or contributing to a broad portfolio of large-scale research and development projects, **some of which are funded, some provisionally accepted, and others under evaluation or consideration by national, European, bilateral, and private funding bodies**. These projects collectively represent a high-value pipeline aimed at the development of monoclonal antibodies, vaccine adjuvants, immunomodulatory agents, biomaterials, medical devices, and cosmetic biotechnology products. His role across these initiatives includes principal investigator, executive researcher, and senior scientific contributor, depending on the project structure and funding mechanism. This portfolio reflects sustained competitiveness in highly selective programs such as the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, COST Actions, TÜBİTAK, TÜSEB, bilateral EU–Germany (DAAD) and EU–Greece schemes, as well as direct industry-sponsored research. Importantly, several projects are specifically designed to progress from proof-of-concept toward pre-industrial validation, regulatory alignment, and product development. Beyond these large-scale initiatives, Prof. Ayaz has accumulated extensive experience in nationally supported research projects addressing personalized cancer immunotherapy, nanoparticle-based anticancer strategies, photodynamic therapy agents, immune-modulating pharmaceuticals, vaccine formulations, transfection reagent development, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and biomaterials. Across these projects, he has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to integrate immune biology with advanced materials, nanotechnology, and molecular design to generate innovative and application-oriented solutions. A defining feature of Prof. Ayaz’s academic profile is his strong focus on tangible, marketoriented outputs. His research has resulted in CosIng-compatible biotechnological cosmetic active ingredients with anti-aging and anti-wrinkle activity, patent-protected immunomodulatory drug candidates, novel low-toxicity transfection reagents, antibody-based therapeutic and diagnostic platforms, photodynamic therapy agents, and hydrogel- and microneedle-based medical devices for tissue repair and wound healing. This product-driven orientation distinguishes him as an academic immunologist capable of contributing directly to industrial innovation in both pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors.