Support for GTU Academic under TÜBİTAK 1002-A

March 5, 2024-GTU Office of Press and Public Relations

Gebze Technical University (GTU) Research Assistant Hatice Büşra Lüleci's project titled "Detection of Molecular Differences between Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Alzheimer's Patients and Understanding Its Relationship with Cognitive Impairment through Comprehensive Transcriptome Analyses" has been awarded support within the scope of TÜBİTAK 1002-A Program.

The summary of the project, supervised by GTU Department of Bioengineering Professor Tunahan Çakır, is as follows:

Alzheimer's disease (AD) significantly impairs individuals' lives, particularly those aged 65 and above, by causing a decline in cognitive functions such as thinking, memory, and behavior, thus reducing their quality of life. Early diagnosis of AD is crucial for managing the disease process and developing effective treatments. Asymptomatic Alzheimer's Disease (AsymAD) is an intriguing condition where neuropathological changes similar to AD occur in the brain for many years without cognitive decline, and its diagnosis is only possible through postmortem examinations. Understanding the molecular differences between individuals with AsymAD and symptomatic AD will provide insights into molecular mechanisms that confer resistance against cognitive and memory impairments. The project aims to characterize AsymAD molecularly by evaluating transcriptome data from various perspectives, identifying transcripts, genes, protein modules, biochemical reactions, and associated pathways that could be linked to cognitive impairment and memory decline. Consequently, both biomarkers for early diagnosis and molecules for preventing cognitive impairment will be proposed as treatment approaches.

We congratulate our academic and wish her continued success.