Özlem Yalçın and her team investigate the effects of hemorheological properties on the circulatory system in detail. These studies examine the circulatory system for pathophysiological conditions like anemia and polycythemia. The team’s long-term goal is to investigate the erythrocyte factors that can affect the local regulation of the circulation and to elucidate their pathophysiological consequences. Thus, the mechanisms of erythrocyte-related problems will be identified in disorders such as coronary artery disease, arteriosclerosis, sickle cell anemia, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiac syndrome X, ischemic shock, and congenital heart disease.

This device has a technology that can increase the chance of the survival of one-third of the patients with active bleeding and bleeding disorders by up to 100 percent. The device works on a microfluidic basis and can analyze coagulation pathways rapidly. Thus, a detailed evaluation of the coagulation pathways is possible for patients with bleeding and bleeding disorders to determine the source of bleeding very quickly. The widespread use of the device will minimize bleeding and transfusion-related complications.

This project aims to determine the risk of anemia with a non-invasive methodology by taking a photograph with a smartphone. The project involves the development of an algorithm that can analyze the photographic samples of different patient groups.

Cancer treatment is another research topic of the team. Two different studies are carried out in this area: -In the first project, photo-electrical stimulation of voltage-gated ion channels is aimed to ensure cell death in electrically excitable cancer cells. This unique technology has all the advantages of photodynamic therapy and radiotherapy with low invasiveness and wireless remote treatment capabilities. It also requires less light power to provoke the cell stimulation and cell death mechanisms. The triggering mechanism of cell death is based on generating electrical charges in the cell membrane by light stimulation. It does not require the presence of chemical/enzymatic reactions or oxygen as in photothermal therapy or radiotherapy. -Nanotechnology has entered all areas of our lives with its utilization in cancer treatment by enhancing the cell response to chemotherapy. The team’s second project aims to produce nano-carrier platforms for cancer cells resistant to chemotherapeutic agents and enable cells to respond to chemotherapy. The purpose of this study is to increase the efficiency of chemotherapy by identifying target proteins that are responsible for drug resistance.