Assoc. Prof. GÖKHAN DURUKSU

Assoc. Prof. Gökhan Duruksu completed his undergraduate education in Food Engineering at the Middle East Technical University (METU, Turkiye) in 2001. In the same year, he started his doctoral studies in Biotechnology at the METU Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences. In 2007, he received his Ph.D. with his thesis titled "Expression and analysis of Aspergillus fumigatus endo beta-1,4-mannanase in heterologous host organisms." During his doctoral studies, he spent one year as a visiting researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology in Potsdam, Germany.

Dr. Duruksu began his academic career in 2009 as a Research Assistant at the Kocaeli University, Center for Stem Cell and Gene Therapies Research and Application (KOGEM). He was appointed Assistant Professor in 2011 and Associate Professor in 2020. He currently teaches postgraduate students in the Department of Stem Cells at the Institute of Health Sciences and continues his extensive research at the same Center.

Dr. Duruksu's research primarily focuses on mesenchymal stem cells, utilizing stem cells derived from various sources, including Wharton's jelly, adipose tissue, dental pulp, and bone marrow. His work aims to explore the potential therapeutic applications of these stem cells in neuronal regeneration, infertility treatment, restoration of pancreatic islet function, and eye health.

Additionally, mitochondrial biology plays a central role in his stem cell research. Specifically, he investigates the role of mitochondria in stem cell function, differentiation, and its therapeutic use via mitochondrial transfer in degenerative diseases.

Dr. Duruksu's work has been published in over 66 international journals indexed in SCI and presented as over 50 abstracts at international and national conferences. These publications have received 1577 citations (as of October 2025), establishing a significant impact in the scientific community. He has contributed to the field by authoring three book chapters and translating two book chapters in developmental biology. Dr. Duruksu has supervised nine master's and three doctoral theses at Kocaeli University, mentoring the next generation of researchers. He has participated in a total of 65 R&D projects; 40 of which were supported by the University Research Support Unit, and 25 by TÜBİTAK or TÜSEB (Turkish Health Institutes). Furthermore, he has actively contributed to knowledge sharing by lecturing and serving on the organizing committees of 20 national applied courses and one international summer school focused on stem cells and tissue engineering.