Istanbul Hosted World-Renowned Scientists with the Partnership between Sabri Ülker Food Research Foundation and Harvard University

Harvard University Sabri Ülker Center’s research efforts promise new treatments for metabolic disorders

• Sabri Ülker Center, which carries out research at Harvard University TH Chan School of Public Health Department of Genetics & Complex Diseases, released the striking results of its studies in 2015 at “Metabolism and Life Symposium” hosted by Sabri Ülker Food Research Foundation.

• Prof. Brian Kobilka, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2012, was the guest of honor. at the symposium where promising scientific research was discussed.

• Turkish scientist, Assis. Prof. Kıvanç Birsoy, Director of the Laboratory of Metabolic Regulation and Genetics at the Rockefeller University in the U.S., was awarded the Sabri Ülker International Science Award.

Led by Prof. Gökhan Hotamışlıgil, from the Harvard University TH Chan School of Public Health Department of Genetics & Complex Diseases, Sabri Ülker Center shared the results of the 2015 study at the “Metabolism and Life Symposium“, which was held in Istanbul. Alongside the new research providing insights into the mechanisms linking metabolism and diseases, new approaches in the prevention and treatment of the obesity, diabetes and associated disorders are discussed in depth in the 2015 studies report published by Harvard Sabri Ülker Center Genetics and Complex Diseases Laboratory. A press conference was organized to share the results of the year-long research conducted at the Center, which will continue to host studies under the name of “Sabri Ülker Center” for a decade with the donations of the Ülker Group in 2014. Ali Ülker, Vice Chairman of Yıldız Holding said : “By supporting Harvard University Sabri Ülker Center, we have aimed at inspire the creation of a similar scientific environment in Turkey. Today, we are forging ahead with the same determination. As the third largest biscuits company in the world, we have expanded the region where we do business and where we feel responsible for. This is why it is important for us to support such projects for the improvement of public health. Projects undertaken at the Sabri Ülker Center promise hope for each of us.“ Ali Ülker said that Sabri Ülker Foundation is acting towards countering the spread of information pollution in nutrition, food and healthcare in Turkey as well. He added that the Foundation implements a wide variety of projects to raise awareness among the society, saying “Metabolism and Life Symposium, co-organized by Sabri Ülker Center and Sabri Ülker Foundation, marks a milestone for public health.
 

Sabri Ülker Center’s first annual report reveals striking findings!

Prof. Gökhan Hotamışlıgil, Chair of Sabri Ülker Center, emphasized that research conducted on the molecular relationship between metabolism and nutrition is very promising for the improvement of public health. Stating that research carried out at Sabri Ülker Center have offered significant achievements for the betterment of human health, Hotamışlıgil said: “We want to uncover functions of certain items ingested with foods, while ensuring protection against degeneration caused by metabolic diseases and aging. We have gained new insights into structural and biologic changes inside the cells causing dysfunctions as part of the obesity, and currently developing innovative tools to treat metabolic diseases. Research carried out at the center will be inspirational not only for the diagnosis and treatment of the metabolic diseases, but also for the discoveries that will make life longer and healthier.” Sabri Ülker Center studies several different topics including how body cells utilize the foods that we eat and relationship between foods and diseases. It also includes the latest developments in the practices of prevention and treatment of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and associated disorders. The works of the center continue to features in the most prestigious magazines of the scientific world, including Nature Medicine, Cell Metabolism, and Science, which are acclaimed as “high impact factors.“
 

Diabetes vaccine is in the pipeline!

Dr. Ana PaulaArruda, one of the successful researchers at our center, found out that excessive food consumption may lead to re-organization and alteration on numerous elements inside the cell. Dr. Arruda and other colleagues demonstrated that such an alternation may cause certain obesity-related cellular dysfunctions, insulin resistance, and fatty liver. These results will allow for the development of novel treatment methods for many metabolic diseases primarily the obesity.

Fellow researchers Dr. Güneş Parlakgün and Dr. Ekin Güney, both fellows under the “Sabri Ülker Fellowship” program, are conducting research on how cells and tissues deal with stress. Results obtained so far have already opened new horizons in gaining insight into obesity-related dysfunctions inside cells and the impact of these disorders on the sugar metabolism.

Dr. Ling Yang and Dr. Ediz Calay, performing post-doctorate studies in the center, have long been working on to provide new findings that certain signals in the liver caused by obesity may lead to insulin resistance and diabetes. Dr. Abdullah Yalçın, Dr. Yankun Lee and Dr. Suneng Fu offers an important technological progress regarding the restoration of these mechanisms with chemical methods and transformation into medication for the medical world.

On the other hand, Dr. Meriç Erikçi Ertunç delivers impressive findings to grasp the influence of a protein secreted from the fatty tissue and acting as a hormone over the diabetes and heart diseases. Dr. Furkan Burak successfully manages the project to halt this hormone through vaccination to be used in the treatment of diabetes.

World-renowned scientists come together in Istanbul and hosted by Sabri Ülker Foundation

Prof. Brian Kobilka, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2012, was the guests of honour at the “Metabolism and Life Symposium” organised by Sabri Ülker Foundation in Istanbul.

In his opening speech, Prof. Kobilka expressed his pleasure to be visiting Turkey for the first time in order to attend a scientific congress. The symposium offered the latest news in the metabolism and nutrition all over the world, research the results of which are yet to be published and new projects in the process of implementation for the treatment of obesity, diabetes and heart diseases.
 

Sabri Ülker International Science Award was given to Assis. Prof. Kıvanç Birsoy, who successfully represents Turkey in the U.S.!

The Sabri Ülker International Science Award was also given for the third time during the event, in line with the objective of the Sabri Ülker Foundation “to encourage research in the areas of food, nutrition, and health and scientists working in these fields.”

One of the rising stars of Turkey in the scientific world, Assis. Prof. Kıvanç Birsoy was awarded with Sabri Ülker International Science Award. Birsoy, continuing with his scientific career on the link between cancer and metabolism at the Laboratory of Metabolic Regulation and Genetics of the Rockefeller University, received the award from Prof. Kobilka.

Birsoy and his team are mapping the interdependence of different types of cancer with foods based on “DNA-Barcoding Technology.” This study also sheds light on the discovery of new, sustainable and economic treatment methods in the fight against cancer.

Birsoy was also awarded with a 100-Turkish lira prize under the Sabri Ülker International Science Award.