Centers and Units

Diabetes is a disease of vascular system which can lead to rapid atherosclerosis. For this reason, diabetes is a multi-system disease with capacity to lead disorders of almost all systems including cardiovascular, renal, ophthalmologic and neurologic systems, and a main disposing factor to neurologic diseases and coronary artery disease. Half of hemodialysis patients are diabetic. Diabetes is the main reason of blindness in people over 20 years of age. For all of the mentioned reasons, diabetes is a major health problem of societies, which draws interest of all disciplines of medicine.

In the Institute of Experimental Medicine (DETAE), Istanbul University, Metabolism and Diabetes Research and Application Unit is mainly interested in isolation and transplantation of Langerhans islets. However, there is neither stem cell research and development unit, nor molecular-biochemical researches, immune-genetic research nor experimental diabetic model development units.

For this very important reason, Diabetes Application and Research Center was established in DETAE institution, which is directly linked to Istanbul University Rectorate, and aims to develop and apply research projects, converting molecular genetical research with the aim of limiting the organ failures related with diabetes; a major health problem of our Country, applying new therapy options, executing Langerhans Islet transplantation and stem cell research, and also converting both clinic and basic scientific research, with the aim of convertion of the unit into a multi-discipline excellence center to merge all scientific departments related with these subjects mentioned above.

The basic component of the center; Metabolism and Diabetes Research and Application unit has a research lab (a Clean Room) with all required infrastructure.

 

Our institution being the first in Turkey to isolate Langerhans islets of human pancreata,is pioneering experimental Langerhans islet isolation and transplantation and helding educational courses since 1990.

The activities of our Center are:

  1. Multidisciplinary coordination of centers and scientific research interested in diabetes in Istanbul University, scientific cooperation with both national and international diabetes organizations, with the aim of establishing a general field for research,
  2. Producing and progressing national and international scientific research projects with an organized manner, converting the research to publications in SCI-journals, organising scientific meetings, organising or contributing to both private and government-owned institutions in both basic and clinical diabetes research, with the decision of board of directors, and also contributing to research as a partner,
  3. Converting studies in the field of experimental and clinical Langerhans islet isolation, culture and transplantation, and perform this programme,
  4. Establishing stem cell laboratory and convert research with the aim of radical therapy of diabetes,
  5. For a multi-disciplinary excellence center, complete the conditions proposed by International Diabetes Federation (IDF), International Pancreas and Islet Transplant Association (IPITA), European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), EASD’s work group Artificial Insulin Delivery Pancreas and Islet Transplantation (AIDPIT) and AIDPIT’s work group European Diabetes Technology and Transplantation (EuDTT), European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT), European Pancreas and Islet Transplant Association (EPITA) and European Transplant Coordinators Organisation (ETCO). Taking place among the excellence centers of these foundations. Developing projects with the aim of acquiring the most recent technologies,
  6. With the aim of supporting these studies, to convert molecular and biochemical research related with beta cells and other Langerhans cells,
  7. Converting research and establishing projects of beta cell immunology and genetics with the aim of investigating type-1 diabetes immunogenetics and ethiopathogenesis,
  8. Establishing required animal models for experimental diabetes studies, standardising these models and converting scientific research,
  9. Organising post-graduate courses in our country, supporting courses related with the centers are of interests in our country.

DIYAM 2014 Scientific Activities

 

PROJECTS

Project studies supported by TUBITAK for dates between 01.Feb.2014-01.Feb.2017 was initiated.

Project No: 113S029

Proje Title: Regenerative Therapy in Type 1 Diabetes. Development of New Technologies for Pancreatic Beta-cell Proliferation. A TUBITAK (INTEN-C) Project

The initiation meeting was held in April, 2014 in Giessen, Germany.

A PhD student visited Giessen in July 2014 with the aim of acquiring required laboratory techniques and knowledge.

Virtual meetings between Istanbul and Giessen working groups was help once a month via Skype, which enabled knowledge and scientific activity exchange. These meetings will be sustained till the end of the project.

With the permission of Turkish Ministry of Health, Langerhans islet isolations and immunological studies were done by using pancreata obtained from cadavers. 1st term progress report was submitted to TUBITAK.

SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS

  1. “Langerhans Islet Isolation and Transplantation Techniques” course to participants of Experimental Animals Utilization Course” was organized, which is held in DETAE.
  2. “Organ and Tissue Transplantation in Diabetes” conference in 6th DETAE Days.
  1. A project titled as “ Biomarkers in Type-1 Diabetes and Pancreas Cancer Relation: Candidate Genes and MiRNA’s” proposed in cooperation with DETAE, Dept. of Molecular Medicine won the first prize supported by Turkish Diabetes Foundation and Sanofi Aventis, in National Diabetes Congress, which was organised by Turkish Diabetes Foundation and Turkish Diabetes Society.

PUBLICATIONS

  1. Ali Osman Gürol. Diyabette Organ ve Doku Transplantasyonu (Organ and Tissue Transplantation in Diabetes) . 6. DETAE Days Abstract Book, page: 6.
  2. Ali Osman Gurol . An immunologic approach to the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. Global J Pathol Microbiol 2014; 2: 47-52.
  3. Suzergoz, S. Cinar, R. Oktay, F. Karakus, A.O. Gurol. Effect of the Achillea wilhelmsii extract intake upon blood lipid profile, haematologic and immunologic parameters in the rat. Food Agric Immunol 2015; 26: 46-59.

Contact

E-mail: diyam@istanbul.edu.tr

Tel        : +(90)212 / 414 20 00 (int: 33370)

Fax       : +(90)212 / 532 41 71

Ultracentrifuge Beckman

  • Floor model
  •  Speed up to 60.000 rpm
  •   Characterization of proteins, oligomers, aggregates, particles, colloids, and small structures
  •  No standards or calibrations are required

IVC -Individually Ventilated Cage- (Tecniplast)

Özellikleri

  • Fareler ve sıçanlar için kullanılmaktadır.
  • Kafesler özel polikarbondan yapılmaktadır.
  • Sahip olduğu HEPA-filtre aracılığıyla deney hayvanlarını her türlü mikroorganizmalardan korur.
  • 1-5 arası deney hayvanı barındırabilmektedir.
  • Özellikle ilaç çalışmalarında sterilizasyonun öneminden dolayı tercih edilmektedir.
  • Elimizde 48 adet kafes bulunmaktadır.
  •  Smartflow ek ünitesi mevcuttur ve bu ünitenin düşük voltajda çalışabilmesi nedeniyle enerji ihtiyacı minimumdur ve ortamın ısının artmasının engellenmesini sağlar.

Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy

In the Confocal/Laser Scanning Microscopy, a laser light beam is expanded to make optimal use of the optics in the objective. Through a x-y deflection mechanism this beam is turned into a scanning beam, focused to a small spot by an objective lens onto a fluorescent specimen. The mixture of reflected light and emitted fluorescent light is captured by the same objective and (after conversion into a static beam by the x-y scanner device) is focused onto a photo-detector (photomultiplier) via a dichroic mirror (beam splitter). The reflected light is deviated by the dichroic mirror while the emitted fluorescent light passes through in the direction of the photomultiplier. A confocal aperture (pinhole) is placed in front of the photo-detector, such that the fluorescent light from the specimen that is not within the focal plane  where the laser beam was focused will be largely obstructed by the pinhole. In this way, out-of-focus information (both above and below the focal plane) is greatly reduced.


Technicality

  • Confocal microscopy is an optical imaging technique used to increase optical resolution and contrast of a micrograph by using point illumination and a spatial pinhole to eliminate out-of-focus light in specimens that are thicker than the focal plane.
  •  It enables the reconstruction of three-dimensional structures from the obtained images.

Used wavelengths
488, 532, 561, 632 nm stimulation
405 nm stimulation, for nucleus staining






Sample Acceptation Criteria and Pricing

Researchers using Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy Laboratory Should Pay Attention to…

  1. Take an appointment from the responsible expert
  2. Fill the application form before analysis
  3. Analysis hours on weekdays are between 08.30-12.30 and 13.30-17.30.
  4. Researcher may accompany lab manager research associate in laboratory during the analysis.
  5. Potential risk factors which carry pathogens (e.g. bacteria, virus etc) will be rejected to the microscopy laboratory.
  6. Samples must not be harmful to human health and the environment.
  7. It must be given detailed information of risky samples to the lab supervisor before the study.
  8. Samples must be delivered to the laboratory on proper conditions. Ask information from lab supervisor for proper contidions.
  9. All responsibility of samples including storage and transportation until being brought to the laboratory is researcher’ responsibility.
  10. If needs, preliminary treatments for samples (e.g. drying, fixation etc.) must be made by researcher before being brought to the laboratory. Otherwise, sample will analyze as it stands.
  11. Samples brought to the laboratory must store in lightproof conditions. Proper transportation and storage of the samples are under the researcher’s responsibility.
  12. Deformated samples in any way (e.g. cracked, scratched, broken, dirty, etc.) will not accepted for analysis.
  13. Samples must be clearly coded by researcher. The samples having proper codes will be only used during reporting.
  14. Researcher must inform lab supervisor for the wavelength ranges of excitation and emission of flourophores that will use. Contact with lab supervisor for further information.
  15. Daily using period of confocal microscopy is for four hours due to the conditions for affecting human health negatively.
  16. Analysis period for a typical sample needs immersion oil is 15 minutes.
  17. Charges are ……TL sample/hours.
  18. Get in contact with the laboratory supervisor while appealing for getting information on samples, analysis conditions and process.
  19. Get in contact with Emrah Yücesan on emrahyucesan@yahoo.com for any advice.

Charging

Hourly usage charge for our Leica TCS-SPE Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy is 90.00 TL for NON-members of Istanbul University (I.U.) and 50.00 TL for members of I.U.



Yaşam bilimlerinde amaç, sistemi bir bütün olarak anlamaktır. Yeni teknolojiler, sistemi bir bütün olarak anlama ve çözüm üretmede yeni olanaklar sunmaktadır. Daha önce hayal bile edilmeyecek kadar bilgi “Whole genome sequencing systems”, “Microarrays”, “Proteomics” ve “Structural genomics” gibi yeni teknolojilerle kısa zamanda ve daha az bir maliyetle elde edilebilmektedir. Bilimsel alanların giderek multidisipliner hale gelmesi ve biyoteknolojideki gelişmelerin sonucu olarak “Sistem Biyoloji” alanı doğmuştur.

Sistemler Biyolojisinin temel aracı olan “Whole Genom Sequencing” teknolojisi bütün dünya ile eş zamanlı olarak İstanbul Üniversitesi Deneysel Tıp Araştırma Enstitüsü bünyesinde 4 modern laboratuar ile hizmet vermektedir. İhtiyaç duyan araştırmacıların veya özel teşebüs sahibi firmaların hizmetine uzman kadrosu ve uluslar arası standartlardaki teknik alt yapısı ile hizmet vermektedir.

Detaylı bilgi için web adresi : http://www.istanbul.edu.tr/ngslab

TUBERCULOSIS MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY LABORATORY

The Tuberculosis Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory is primarily involved in the detection of transmission dynamics of tuberculosis in the city of Istanbul and its vicinity, by obtaining the DNA fingerprints of Tuberculosis (TB) strains via molecular epidemiological typing methods (24-loci MIRU-VNTR typing, spoligotyping).Besides molecular epidemiology, research on other issues of molecular mycobacteriology are going on as well. An IG(P)RA test based on the detection of IP10 levels in ESAT6- and CFP10-stimulated whole blood to diagnose latent TB has already been developed in our laboratory and in routine use for more than 3 years now. A brand-new species, Mycobacterium celeriflavum sp. nov is described together with Italian and Iranian collaborators in one of the research studies. Studies on developing new kits, which alleviate rapid detection of drug resistance (RIF, INH, OFX, etc) and rapid molecular identification are among the subject of interests of the laboratory. In addition to research activities, the laboratory has been assigned “the Upper Level Laboratory” of Istanbul Union Against Tuberculosis based on an agreement between Rectorate of Istanbul University and Istanbul Union Against Tuberculosis on February 17, 2010, thus is involved in diagnostic services on a routine-basis.

Research Infrastructure of the Laboratory

The laboratory contains a broad spectrum of technologies to suit wide-ranging needs of scientific research.  A vast number of technical equipments ranging from light / flourescent microscobes for smear microscopy up to capillary electrophoresis and sequencers for fragment analysis and sequencing are within the reach of the laboratory’s separate divisions.

Collaborations and Projects

We have The description of new mycobacterial species -collaboration with Emerging Bacterial Pathogens Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy, The detection and adaptation of Beijing genotype TB strains to human populations in Turkey -collaboration with Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, St Petersburg Pasteur Institute, St Petersburg, Russia, Genotypic diversity and characteristics of human disease caused by Mycobacterium caprae – collaboration with AGES, Oesterreichische Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernaehrungssicherheit GmbH, Wien, Austria projects being progressed at our laboratory.

Contact person

O. Kaya Köksalan, M.D.

Tel: 0212 4142000 -33345

e-mail:okoksalan@istanbul.edu.tr