Yildiz Neuro Lab (YNLab) at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University was established in 2017 under the leadership of Ayşegül Yildiz in the Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics. YNLab focuses on translational research toward elucidating the complex molecular mechanism involved in neurodegeneration and neurodegenerative disorders in hope of developing and testing novel hypotheses for their prevention. Currently, YNLab is actively studying the role of Speedy/RINGO, a cell cycle regulatory protein that increases the survival of p53-positive mitotic cells by inhibiting the apoptotic machinery, in protecting neurons from neurodegeneration and the roles it plays in nervous system-associated cancers.
YNLab also leads researchers working on elucidating the role of transcription factors in cancer prognosis and the molecular mechanisms involved, especially in neuroblastoma cells. YNLab is also working on developing bioinformatic pipelines for meta-screening of early-stage drug candidates for use in cancer therapeutics.