Emine Ezel Çilek
DVM, PHD
Ankara
Summary
I'm a DVM with PhD in basic research and experience in clinical practice. Much of my research work has focused on revealing the functional outcome of gene regulation at systemic and cellular level. I particularly enjoy working in different fields to develop new skills and solve new challenges
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education
4
4
Languages
Work History
Veterinary Surgeon
Self Employed
11.2021 - Current
- I've been working as a part time clinician specially interested in feline medicine. As in house veterinarian to help and provide medical care to the feral cats in our region
- Promoted animal welfare by advocating for responsible pet ownership through community outreach initiatives
Visiting research fellow
SLU
04.2020 - 07.2020
- The functionality of Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) in ECM progress of breast cancer
Postdoctoral fellow
Karolinska Institute
08.2018 - 09.2019
- Dose dependent effects of miR-34a in early brain development
- Maintained records of research findings with analysis and evaluation of results
- Collaborated with colleagues to gather research and publish findings
- Designed robust experiments that produced reliable data, enabling accurate interpretation of results
Research associate
Ankara University Biotechnology Institute
07.2017 - 03.2018
- Integrative analysis of lapatinib responsive miRNA and mRNA profiles in SKBR3 cells
- Gathered, arranged, and corrected research data to create representative graphs and charts highlighting results for presentations
- Assisted in the development of new research proposals, resulting in increased funding opportunities and project growth potential
Visiting PhD Student
University Medical Center Groningen
06.2016 - 09.2016
- AGO2-IP enrichment analysis and functional characterization of the candidate microRNAs
- Conducted academic research, contributing valuable findings to faculty's knowledge base
Visiting PhD Student
University Medical Center Groningen
05.2015 - 02.2016
- AGO2-IP analyses of candidate lapatinib responsive miRNAs in breast cancer cells
- Optimized lab setup procedures, optimizing experimental methods in breast cancer cells
Teaching Assistant
University of Mehmet Akif Ersoy
10.2011 - 02.2012
- Performed clinical rotations in emergency clinic and took part in surgical operations and radiological diagnosis of small animal and large animal clinic patients
DVM Visiting researcher
Friedrich Loeffler Institute
05.2011 - 08.2011
- Performed molecular and phylogenetic analyses of Hantavirus infections in mice populations
DVM researcher
University of Ankara
01.2010 - 05.2011
- Conducted serological and molecular diagnosis of the zoonotic and animal viral diseases and setting up RNAi experiments in PPRV infected cell lines
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Virology, Ankara/Turkey
Teaching Assistant
University of Ankara
01.2010 - 05.2011
- Supervised undergraduate students for virus inoculation, isolation, primary cell cultures methods and serological diagnosis of viral diseases
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Virology, Ankara, Turkey
Intern DVM student
The Free University of Berlin
06.2008 - 08.2008
- Performed clinical rotations in small animal surgery, internal medicine and wild animal clinic and critical care of the hospitalized patients
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal Clinic, Berlin, Germany
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Department of Systems Biotechnology
Ankara University Biotechnology Institute
01.2012 - 01.2017
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Ankara University
01.2004 - 01.2009
Skills
Molecular Biology methods:
RNA/DNA isolation
RT-qPCR
One step qPCR and Nested PCR
Flow cytometry analysis (BD Calibur and BD CantoII)
Molecular cloning and lentiviral vector transduction AGO2-IP method
Cell culture methods
Cryosections and immunofluorescence staining
Confocal microscopy
Time lapse imaging
miRNA isolation and miRNA-qRT-PCR analysis
Transient miRNA transfections
Wound healing and migration assay
Cell proliferation assays
Apoptosis and cell cycle arrest assays
Microarray profiling
Western blotting
Drug treatment and cytotoxicity analysis
(WST/MTT methods)
XCelligence RTCA cell invasion analysis
Virology Methods
Virus isolation methods (Serum neutralization assay, IFA test, Plaque neutralization test, Viral titration methods)
Serological methods (ELISA and in-house ELISA)
Bioinformatic Skills
Functional enrichment analysis: Webgestalt, Genecodis, DAVID, mirBASE, TCGA, GSEA
Microarray data analysis: BRB Array Tools, Genespring
In silico analysis of miRNA targets: DIANA, miRANDA, Targetscan, miRDB Network analysis: Cytoscape
Coding languages: R and Python (Beginner)
Clinical Skills
Animal handling and abdominal surgery techniques
Blood sampling and injections in mice
Mouse embryo dissections
Wound management
Radiography
Client communication
Animal diagnostics
Vaccinations
Treatment Planning
Dissertation
Title: microRNAs as responsive elements in EGFR targeted therapies of breast cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer seen in women. In my thesis studies, we aim to identify miRNA mediated regulations in lapatinib and trastuzumab treatment combining cell biology and bioinformatics approaches at systemic level
Publications
Cilek EE., Ozturk H., Gur-Dedeoglu B., “Construction of miRNA-miRNA network models revealing the complexity of the miRNA-mediated mechanisms in trastuzumab treated breast cancer cell lines” PloS ONE, 2017. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185558
Ergunay K, Aydogan S, Ozcebe O, Cilek EE, Hacioglu S, Karakaya J, Ozkul A, Us D. "Toscana Virus (TOSV) exposure is confirmed in blood donors from Central, North and South/Southeast Anatolia, Turkey". 2011. Zoonoses and Public Health. DOI: 10.1111/j.1863- 2378.2011.01436.x
Conference Proceedings
Cilek EE. “Investigating sex specific molecular differences in female and male patient groups of bladder cancer” HIBIT2020, 13th International Symposium on Health Informatics and Bioinformatics 22-23 October 2020
Cilek EE, Gurdal H., Gur-Dedeoglu B., “The effects of lapatinib responsive miRNA on cell proliferation and cell invasion in HER2+ breast cancer cell line” 25th Biennial Congress of the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR25), 30 June – 03 July 2018, Amsterdam
Cilek EE., Gur-Dedeoglu B., “miRNA-mediated mechanisms of trastuzumab and lapatinib treatment in breast cancer”, 40th Congress of The Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS), 4-9 July 2015, Berlin
Cilek EE., Öztemur Y., Bekmez T., Gur-Dedeoglu B., “Meta-Analysis of gene expression in canine mammary tumors reveals novel clinical biomarkers and biological mechanisms”, The 32nd World Veterinary Congress, 12-15 September 2015, Istanbul
Cilek EE., Noyan S., Gur-Dedeoglu B., “Integration of two different high throughput technologies revealing trastuzumab responsive microRNAs”, EMBO Conference: Functional Genomics and Systems Biology, 8- 11 November 2014, Heidelberg
Oral Presentations
Construction of miRNA-miRNA networks in trastuzumab treated breast cancer cell lines, The 1st International Congress on Environment and Animal Health, 04/06/18 - 04/08/18, Ankara, Turkey
Fellowships
TUBITAK 2218 Postdoctoral Fellowship for Turkish Citizens, 2024
Karolinska Institute Postdoctoral Stipend, 2018-2019
TUBITAK 2214 International Research Fellowship Program for Doctorate Students, 2015 - 2016
EMBO Travel Grant, 2014
TUBITAK 2211 National PhD Fellowship Program, 2011-2015
ERASMUS Training Scholarship, 2011
The Prime Ministry Foundation Scholarship for the Undergraduate Studies, 2004 – 2009
Awards
EACR Meeting Bursary Award, 7th EACR-OECI Joint Training Course: Molecular Pathology Approach to Cancer, 2017
Clinical Sciences Award of Prof. Dr. Selahattin Yalki, Summa cum laude in clinical sciences, Veterinary Medicine of Ankara University, 2009
High Honors Degree Award, Summa cum laude for the class of 2009, Veterinary Medicine of Ankara University, 2009
Certificates
Laboratory Animal Science - Function C&D Rodents and lagomorphs (FELASA C), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, 2019
Microscopy: improve your imaging skills - from sample preparation to image analysis, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, 2019
Anesthesia, analgesia and surgery (mice and rats), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, 2018
7th EACR-OECI Joint Training Course: Molecular Pathology Approach to Cancer, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 2017
Laboratory Animals Training Course (FELASA B), Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey, 2016
EMBO Practical Course: Non-coding RNAs; from discovery to function, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland, 2014
Affiliations
Turkish Biochemistry Society
Turkish Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons
Previous Referees
Dr. Hataitip Tasena, Co-PI, ht.tasena@gmail.com, National University of Singapore
Dr. Nevin Belder, Assistant Professor, nevinbelder@gmail.com, belder@ankara.edu.tr, Ankara University Biotechnology Institute
Timeline
Veterinary Surgeon
Self Employed
11.2021 - Current
Visiting research fellow
SLU
04.2020 - 07.2020
Postdoctoral fellow
Karolinska Institute
08.2018 - 09.2019
Research associate
Ankara University Biotechnology Institute
07.2017 - 03.2018
Visiting PhD Student
University Medical Center Groningen
06.2016 - 09.2016
Visiting PhD Student
University Medical Center Groningen
05.2015 - 02.2016
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Department of Systems Biotechnology
Ankara University Biotechnology Institute
01.2012 - 01.2017
Teaching Assistant
University of Mehmet Akif Ersoy
10.2011 - 02.2012
DVM Visiting researcher
Friedrich Loeffler Institute
05.2011 - 08.2011
DVM researcher
University of Ankara
01.2010 - 05.2011
Teaching Assistant
University of Ankara
01.2010 - 05.2011
Intern DVM student
The Free University of Berlin
06.2008 - 08.2008
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Ankara University
01.2004 - 01.2009