Overview
My research interest is based on drug delivery via extracellular vesicles to the retina. The aim of my project is to investigate novel therapeutics to prevent neuron loss in the retina. I started my PhD in October 2021, supervised by Dr Ben Mead and Professor Marcela Votruba.
Qualifications
- PhD (2021-Present): Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
- MRes (2019-21): Neuroscience, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- Bsc (2012-17): Integrated master’s degree in Pharmacy, Ege University, Izmir, Turkiye.
Professional Memberships
2017-present: Turkish Pharmacists' Association, Turkiye
External Committees/Memberships
2022-present: CU Biobank Scientific Review Committee
2022-present: International Society for Extracellular Vesicles
2021-present: UK Society for Extracellular Vesicles
Conference/seminar presentations
Durmaz E., Esmaeilli M., Kutnyanszky M., Votruba M., Mead B. (2022) New drug delivery vehicle to the retina: Extracellular vesicles derived from the R-28 cell line showed improved cellular uptake by retinal ganglion cells. UK For Extracellular Vesicles Forum 2022, Edinburgh, UK (Poster Presentation)
Durmaz E., Mehrabyan Z., Bernstein S., Votruba M., Mead B. (2022) Therapeutic testing of optic nerve head-derived exosomes for the survival of retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve crush. International Society for Extracellular Vesicles, Lyon, France (Poster Presentation)
Honors and awards
UK Society for Extracellular Vesicles Early Researcher Move Scholarship/2022
Republic of Turkiye, Ministry of National Education Scholarship/2017
Republic of Turkiye, Council of Higher Education Scholarship/2017
DIFEL Best Poster Award for Synthetic Biology/2016
Supervision
2023- Habibah Nahhar- BSc student/Ophthalmology (Cardiff University, UK)
Research
Teaching
2022 – present: Demonstrator experience, From Cells to Systems (OP1205), BSc Optometry and Vision Sciences program (1st year), School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, UK.
Thesis
Neuroprotective miRNA Delivery via Extracellular Vesicles in Glaucoma
Funding source
Republic of Turkiye, Ministry of National Education
