معرفی
Professor Halil Kavaklı serves as Dean of the College of Sciences at Koç University while maintaining dual faculty appointments in the College of Engineering (Chemical and Biological Engineering Department) and College of Science (Molecular Biology and Genetics Department). His research program focuses on biological clocks, circadian rhythm in cancer, and drug design, with particular emphasis on cryptochrome proteins and their role in circadian regulation.
His research interests span multiple interconnected areas of chronobiology including:
- Biological clock molecular mechanisms
- Circadian rhythm disruptions in cancer development
- Drug design targeting circadian components
- Cryptochrome protein structure and function
- Circadian pharmacology for cancer treatment
Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on cryptochrome proteins (CRY1 and CRY2), their molecular structures, regulatory mechanisms, and potential as therapeutic targets. His work increasingly bridges basic circadian biology with translational applications, particularly in cancer chronotherapy and metabolic disorders.
His scientific achievements have been recognized with prestigious awards:
- TGC Sedat Simavi Science Award (2023)
- Aziz Sancar Science Award (2022)
- FABED Outstanding Success Award (2008)
- TÜBA Outstanding Young Scientists Award (2006)
Professor Kavaklı actively mentors graduate students including Gizem, Onur, Saliha, Kübra, Barış, and Şerefs, whose work appears in high-impact journals such as Nature Communications, Journal of Biological Chemistry, and Journal of Biological Rhythms. His laboratory receives substantial research funding supporting investigations into circadian mechanisms and their therapeutic applications.
His research team operates at the intersection of molecular biology, structural biology, and pharmacology, focusing on how circadian disruptions contribute to disease and how clock components can be targeted for therapeutic benefit.
