Research/Areas of Interest
Aging biology, long-lived species, nutrient-sensing and energy metabolism, cellular senescence
Education
- PhD, Biochemistry, Marmara University, Istanbul, 2015
Biography
Perinur Bozaykut Eker, PhD, is a Scientist II in the Metabolism & Basic Biology of Aging directive at the HNRCA. Dr. Bozaykut Eker's research utilizes comparative biology to uncover molecular mechanisms that promote healthspan and extend lifespan. Her work currently focuses on three major areas: 1) Exceptional longevity, resistance to age-related decline, and remarkable hypoxia tolerance in long-lived species such as the blind mole rat and naked mole rat. Current efforts center on how the interplay of these adaptations can contribute to optimized longevity; 2) Nutrient-sensing and energy metabolism pathways and how these pathways are fine-tuned under various stresses across the species; 3) Targeting nutrient-sensing pathways in short-lived models like progeria to mitigate vascular senescence.
Dr. Bozaykut Eker's previous research involved transcriptome-based signatures of longevity across a wide range of species, including long-lived mammals, and led to the identification of several novel lifespan-extending interventions and deepened the understanding of the lifespan regulation.
She is a member of the International Society on Aging and Disease and the Federation of European Biochemical Societies.