SABITA Research Highlights | February 2026
Recent publications from SABITA researchers highlight advances across neuroscience, biomedical science, and translational research.
Bidirectional coupling of neuronal Ca2+ and nitric oxide signals visualized by a dual biosensor
A study investigating the interaction between calcium (Ca2+) signaling and nitric oxide (NO) production in neurons introduced a new dual biosensor platform that enables simultaneous imaging of both signals in living hippocampal neurons. By developing a bicistronic AAV-based sensor system, the researchers were able to visualize how neuronal activity translates into NO production under near-physiological conditions.
The results show that only strong neuronal depolarization crosses the calcium threshold required to trigger robust activation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and detectable NO generation. These findings provide a powerful experimental tool for studying redox signaling in the brain and contribute to a deeper understanding of how neuronal activity is linked to metabolic and signaling pathways in health and disease.
SABITA Researchers: Asel Aydeger, Sena Yıldırım, Tuba Akgül Çağlar, Asal Ghaffari Zaki, Seyed Mohammad Miri, Joudi Armouch, Hamzah Issa, Esranur Yavuz, Arda Kebapçı Emrah Eroğlu, Mehmet Koçak,
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from international partner institutions. Full author list available in the original publication.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213231726000923
A personalized plant-rich, time-restricted nutritional intervention for motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease: A randomized controlled trial
A study investigating the impact of dietary interventions on Parkinson’s disease explored whether a personalized plant-rich diet combined with time-restricted eating could influence both motor and non-motor symptoms. Using a randomized intervention design, the researchers evaluated how structured nutritional strategies affect disease-related outcomes and overall well-being in patients.
The findings suggest that targeted lifestyle and nutritional approaches may support symptom management and complement existing therapeutic strategies. This work highlights the growing importance of integrative and personalized approaches in the management of neurodegenerative disorders.
SABITA Researchers: Beyza Tağraf, Özden Erkan Oğul, Lütfü Hanoğlu,
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from national partner institutions.
Follicular fluid oxidative stress and antioxidant defense in relation to maternal age, ovarian reserve, and in vitro fertilization outcomes
A prospective study examining follicular fluid in women undergoing in vitro fertilization explored how oxidative stress and antioxidant defense are associated with maternal age, ovarian reserve, and pregnancy outcomes. The researchers analyzed markers of oxidative damage and antioxidant capacity in follicular fluid and found that women older than 35 showed higher oxidative stress together with lower antioxidant enzyme activity.
Cycles that resulted in clinical pregnancy were characterized by lower oxidative stress and stronger antioxidant defense, while several redox markers also correlated with ovarian reserve indicators such as AMH and FSH. These findings suggest that age-related redox imbalance in the follicular microenvironment may contribute to reduced IVF success and support the clinical value of oxidative stress profiling in reproductive medicine.
SABITA Researchers: Seda Karabulut, Çağrı Çakıcı
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from national partner institutions.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10715762.2026.2629303
Follicular cytokine profiles and granulosa cell integrity across ovarian response during in vitro fertilisation
A study examining the inflammatory microenvironment of ovarian follicles during in vitro fertilization (IVF) investigated how cytokine signaling relates to ovarian response and cellular integrity. By analyzing follicular fluid and granulosa cell expression of key inflammatory mediators—including IL-1β, IL-17, and IL-18—the researchers evaluated their relationship with chromatin stability and oocyte competence.
The results show that cytokine levels increase with ovarian response, while granulosa cell integrity is best preserved in normal responder cycles. Notably, IL-18 emerged as a central regulator linking physiological inflammation to oocyte quality and reproductive outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of the follicular inflammatory balance and suggest that cytokine profiling may support more individualized ovarian stimulation strategies in assisted reproductive technologies.
SABITA Researcher: Seda Karabulut
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from national partner institutions.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0040816626000625?via%3Dihub
Management of urethral stricture: translating guidelines into clinical practice
A nationwide study examining clinical practices in the management of urethral stricture disease evaluated how closely current approaches align with international guideline recommendations. Based on a survey conducted among members of the Turkish Association of Urology, the research assessed diagnostic strategies, treatment preferences, and decision-making patterns in daily clinical practice.
The findings reveal notable variations in the use of recommended diagnostic tools and highlight the continued reliance on repeated endoscopic procedures, while reconstructive approaches such as urethroplasty remain less frequently utilized. The study also shows that clinicians working in academic centers tend to follow guideline-based management more closely. These results provide valuable insight into real-world clinical practice and may help guide future efforts to improve guideline adherence and patient outcomes in urethral stricture management.
SABITA Researcher: Mehmet Koçak,
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from national and international partner institutions. Full author list available in the original publication.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00345-026-06312-5
Task-Specific Personalized Theta tACS Modulates Theta Dynamics in Associative Memory
A study investigating whether personalized theta-frequency brain stimulation can influence associative memory examined the effects of task-specific transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) applied over the left parietal cortex during memory encoding. Using EEG-derived individual theta frequencies, the researchers evaluated how personalized stimulation shapes both memory performance and underlying neural dynamics.
While the intervention did not significantly change behavioral performance, it modulated theta-band activity in a time- and hemisphere-dependent manner. These findings provide new insight into how individualized neuromodulation approaches can influence the neural mechanisms supporting associative memory.
SABITA Researchers: Busra Nur Kahraman, Mevhibe Sarıcaoğlu, Lütfü Hanoğlu
*This study was conducted within SABITA and Istanbul Medipol University research units.
Intergenerational Conditioning via Intermittent Parental Hypoxia Confers Stroke Resilience in Offspring
A study investigating whether parental environmental conditioning can influence stroke outcomes in the next generation found that intermittent hypoxia before mating increased resilience to ischemic stroke in offspring. In this work, parental intermittent hypoxia was associated with reduced infarct volume and brain swelling in offspring, supporting the idea that adaptive stress responses can extend beyond the directly exposed generation.
The study further suggests that this protective effect is linked to coordinated molecular changes in pathways related to survival and stress response. These findings open a new perspective on stroke biology by showing that parental physiological conditioning may shape offspring vulnerability to ischemic injury and could inspire new strategies for preventive and translational research.
SABITA Contributors: Ahmet B. Caglayan, Mustafa C. Beker, Serdar Altunay, Hayriye E. Yelkenci, Aysun Caglayan, Enes Doğan
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from international partner institutions. Full author list available in the original publication.
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STROKEAHA.125.052885
Abnormal Resting-State EEG delta and alpha rhythms in Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s Diseases: An exploratory study
A study comparing resting-state brain activity in Huntington’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease investigated how neurodegeneration affects large-scale neural oscillations. Using EEG recordings, the researchers analyzed changes in delta and alpha frequency bands and found widespread slowing of brain rhythms in both patient groups compared with healthy controls.
The results revealed that Huntington’s disease is characterized by particularly pronounced frontal slowing, and these electrophysiological alterations were associated with measures of cognitive, motor, and functional impairment. These findings highlight the potential of resting-state EEG markers to differentiate neurodegenerative disorders and to provide objective indicators of disease severity and progression.
SABITA Researchers: Bahar Güntekin, Lütfü Hanoğlu, Harun Yırıkoğulları
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from national and international partner institutions. Full author list available in the original publication.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388245726000179?via%3Dihub
Decoding Pulvinar Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease Dementia: Linking Brain Networks and Structural Alterations to Cognitive Impairment
A study investigating cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease dementia examined how pulvinar subregions are altered at both structural and network levels. Using resting-state fMRI and gray matter volume analysis, the researchers found reduced functional connectivity between the right anterior pulvinar and bilateral temporal regions, together with reduced right anterior pulvinar volume in patients with Parkinson’s disease dementia compared with healthy controls.
These alterations were also associated with clinical measures, including motor symptom severity, suggesting that pulvinar dysfunction is closely linked to the broader neural basis of cognitive decline in Parkinson’s disease dementia. The study highlights the right anterior pulvinar as a potentially important neuroimaging marker for understanding and monitoring cognitive symptoms in Parkinson’s disease dementia.
SABITA Researchers: Behçet Ayyıldız, Burak Yulug, Lütfü Hanoğlu, Halil Aziz Velioğlu,
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from national partner institutions. Full author list available in the original publication.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0925492726000442?via%3Dihub
From bench to bedside: Unveiling the background and benefits of nanovaccines tested in clinics
A study exploring the interpretation of functional MRI (fMRI) signals examines how neural activity and physiological processes jointly shape the signals measured in brain imaging. The authors highlight the distinction between “foreground” components linked to neuronal activity and “background” components arising from vascular, metabolic, and systemic physiological processes.
By clarifying how these signals interact, the study provides a conceptual framework for more accurate interpretation of fMRI findings. This perspective bridges fundamental neuroscience and clinical research, supporting more reliable use of neuroimaging in understanding brain function and disease.
SABITA Researcher: Mazdak G. Hakemi
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from international partner institutions. Full author list available in the original publication.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1818087626000024
Differential Effects of Lateralization-Task and Training on Low-Frequency EEG Oscillations in Upper- and Lower-Limb Amputees
A study investigating how limb amputation affects body-related attention mechanisms examined behavioral performance and brain oscillations during a hand laterality task. Using EEG recordings, the researchers compared individuals with upper-limb and lower-limb amputations with healthy controls while participants performed mental rotation tasks before and after lateralization training.
The results showed slower reaction times in upper-limb amputees and training-related improvements in task accuracy across groups. Electrophysiological findings revealed changes in delta and theta oscillations associated with attentional engagement and sensorimotor representation. These results provide new insight into neural mechanisms underlying body schema and suggest potential pathways for improving neurorehabilitation strategies in individuals with limb loss.
SABITA Contributors: Bahar Güntekin, Lütfü Hanoğlu, Ebru Yıldırım
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from national and international partner institutions. Full author list available in the original publication.
BPS2026 – ParBS condensates generate force for bacterial chromosome segregation
A study investigating the physical mechanisms of bacterial chromosome segregation examined how ParBS condensates contribute to the separation of duplicated genetic material during cell division. Using biochemical assays, microrheology measurements, and optical trapping experiments, the researchers analyzed the mechanical properties of ParB–DNA condensates formed around centromere-like ParS sequences.
The findings reveal that these condensates exhibit viscoelastic and liquid-like behavior and can generate measurable forces capable of moving DNA strands. This force-generating property suggests that ParBS assemblies actively contribute to the mechanical process of chromosome segregation. The study provides new insight into how biomolecular condensates can organize and mobilize genetic material in bacterial cells.
SABITA Researcher: Süleyman Üçüncüoğlu
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from international partner institutions. Full author list available in the original publication.
https://www.cell.com/biophysj/abstract/S0006-3495(25)02280-5