https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from Koc University Researchers at Koç University have developed a light-driven method to produce porous semiconducting polymers under ambient conditions without the need for metal catalysts. The study, led by Prof. Dr. Önder Metin from the Department of Chemistry, in collaboration with Dr. Melek Sermin Özer, Dr. Zafer Eroğlu, and Prof. Dr. Sermet Koyuncu, was published in Nature Communications. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-driven-method-enables-sustainable-production.html Polymers Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:20:03 EDT news694796641 Cancer is often thought of as a single disease. Yet even tumors that arise in the same organ can follow very different genetic paths. A new study shows that these differences can sometimes be traced back to tiny changes in a single gene. Research led by senior researcher Dr. Derya Deniz Özdemir from Koç University School of Medicine and the Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), published in Nature Genetics, reveals that mutations in one of the most frequently altered genes in cancer do not all have the same effect. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-cancer-mutations-equal-mutation-strength.html Sun, 22 Mar 2026 14:00:03 EDT news693133140 A research team led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Maner from Koç University's Department of Archaeology and History of Art has uncovered remarkable textile fragments at Beycesultan Höyük that rewrite our understanding of Bronze Age craftsmanship in Anatolia. Published in the journal Antiquity, the study presents the earliest evidence of indigo-dyed textiles and a sophisticated single-needle knitting technique previously unknown in the region. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-earliest-evidence-indigo-dyed-textiles.html Archaeology Sat, 21 Feb 2026 09:00:02 EST news690697124 Researchers led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Savaş Taşoğlu from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Koç University have developed a new, open-access and machine learning-assisted design tool aimed at automating microfluidic chip design. The research is published in Science Advances. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-automating-microfluidic-chip-hybrid-approach.html Biotechnology Mon, 02 Feb 2026 17:17:43 EST news689275021 In a study led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Levent Beker from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Koç University, researchers have developed a specialized wound dressing that incorporates a sensor that continuously measures the pH level of the wound environment. This technology aims to facilitate the monitoring of the healing process, particularly in chronic wounds. The study is published in the journal ACS Sensors. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-specialized-sensor-tracks-wound-ph.html Biomedical technology Fri, 30 Jan 2026 12:39:27 EST news688999141 An international research team led by Prof. Dr. Sedat Nizamoğlu from the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Koç University has developed a next-generation, safe, and wireless stimulation technology for retinal degenerative diseases that cause vision loss. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-ultra-thin-wireless-retinal-implant.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 23 Jan 2026 14:00:09 EST news688399101 A long-term study examining wolf–human interactions in Türkiye reveals the delicate balance between ecology and society. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-term-reveals-patterns-wolfhuman-conflict.html Plants & Animals Mon, 05 Jan 2026 11:30:25 EST news686835001 Prof. Dr. Elif Nur Fırat Karalar from Koç University's Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics and her team have uncovered the molecular mechanisms responsible for regulating a structure that plays a critical role in how cells communicate with their environment. Their new study has been published in Communications Biology. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-cell-antenna-malfunctions.html Cell & Microbiology Thu, 16 Oct 2025 13:06:03 EDT news679838761 A study, published in Nature Communications, sheds light on a newly identified subtype of muscular dystrophy, revealing an unsuspected role of SNUPN gene in muscle cell function. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-04-uncover-snupn-gene-responsible-muscular.html Genetics Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:03:23 EDT news633175401 Ceramic pots endure the corrosive effects of thousands of years, and organic remains preserved inside the pores can shed light on the culture, values, diets, and daily life of societies. This research is achieved with the help of biomarkers. https://phys.org/news/2024-04-archaeologists-illuminate-ancient-culinary-chemical.html Archaeology Mon, 01 Apr 2024 14:19:03 EDT news631199941 Home-delivery services perpetually compete for the consumer's attention not only through advertisements but also through methods that reduce basket decision time or make new suggestions. Current research on the topic focuses on optimizing delivery schedules and minimizing costs. However, neither the insufficiency of home delivery options for some cities nor the bigger problem of high carbon emissions due to the abundance of it, are resolved. https://techxplore.com/news/2023-09-eco-efficient-online.html Business Fri, 15 Sep 2023 13:37:02 EDT news614003821 Food waste and food-borne diseases are among the most critical problems urban populations face today. They contribute to greenhouse emissions tremendously and amplify economic and environmental costs. Since food spoilage remains the main reason for this waste, the circumstances of processing, transporting, and preserving food still need to be improved in line with current technological advancements. https://phys.org/news/2023-06-wireless-sensor-enables-real-time-spoilage.html Analytical Chemistry Fri, 09 Jun 2023 13:05:52 EDT news605534750 A new study conducted by researchers from Koç University İsbank Center for Infectious Diseases (KUISCID) reveals crucial data on the risk of preterm birth caused by the change in vaginal microbiota due to COVID 19. The research started during the spring of 2020, when the pandemic was at its peak, and continued until vaccines were available. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-effects-covid-preterm-birth-importance.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Fri, 11 Nov 2022 08:26:04 EST news587377562 Researchers at Koç University discovered why a promising class of cancer treatments fail, and their findings point to how such treatments might be made to work. The research revealed the mechanisms behind the development of resistance by cancer cells to TRAIL, or tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand. As reported in Oncogene, the scientists showed that combining TRAIL with proteasome inhibitors, drugs that block the action of cellular complexes that break down proteins, can overcome this resistance, opening up new avenues for cancer treatment. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-01-mechanisms-cancer-cell-resistance-trail.html Oncology & Cancer Fri, 28 Jan 2022 09:28:41 EST news562584511 Organoid technologies have become a powerful emerging tool to model liver diseases, for drug screening, and for personalized treatments. Assoc. Prof. Tamer Önder of Koç University and his team generated and characterized the hepatic organoid culture system using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS) as an intermediate. https://phys.org/news/2021-11-organoids-future-disease.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 01 Nov 2021 09:12:47 EDT news554976763 Assistant Professor Umut Güler of Koç University College of Administrative Sciences and Economics and his colleagues (Kanishka Misra, Rady School of Management, University of California, San Diego and Vishal Singh, Stern School of Business, New York University) proved in their latest paper published in the journal Marketing Science that the welfare effects of company mergers can be different for various consumer groups. This finding has been documented for the first time based on data. https://phys.org/news/2019-12-effects-company-mergers-prices.html Economics & Business Fri, 13 Dec 2019 09:50:44 EST news495453041 Research by Assoc. Prof. Nurhan Özlü of Koç University Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics and her team, recently published in Molecular & Cellular Proteomics, has uncovered the effects of two proteins in the transition from the epithelial to the mesenchymal cell type, the latter of which has mobility. The identification of these two proteins will contribute to the development of new methods for preventing cancerous cells from transitioning into the mesenchymal cell type and being transported via blood to other organs and tissues. https://phys.org/news/2019-10-caught-proteins-responsible-metastasis.html Biotechnology Wed, 02 Oct 2019 09:10:01 EDT news489225846 Just a few years ago, "haptics" (interaction by touching) was a subject studied in only a few labs around the world. As it became more widely used in touch screens and in the automotive industry, the number of researchers pursuing this field also grew larger, naturally. There is much attention on surface haptics in particular. The main objective in this area is to provide tactile feedback to the user through frequently used touch screens in mobile devices, tablets, and kiosks. https://techxplore.com/news/2019-07-technology-fingertips.html Robotics Mon, 29 Jul 2019 11:33:51 EDT news483618823 A recent study published in the April 8 issue of Nature Chemical Biology improves on the "Cellular Reprogramming" method developed by Nobel Laureate in Medicine and Physiology Prof. Shinya Yamanaka, making it possible to produce cells in a considerably shorter time and with greater success. Yamanaka's method, which is referred to as "Cellular Reprogramming," obtains pluripotent cells, similar to the ones we know exist in the very early stages of the embryo.Since such cells are obtained by transforming existing cells of the body (such as skin cells), they are referred to as induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS in short. https://phys.org/news/2019-06-era-stem-cell-therapy.html Biochemistry Thu, 13 Jun 2019 09:59:28 EDT news479638760 In a paper published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Dr. Özdemir has studied two protein families named Rho GTPases and IQGAPs, which are known to play an important role in cancer metastasis. These two "suspicious" protein families have been studied by many researchers over the years, but the interaction between them had not previously been fully understood. https://phys.org/news/2019-04-cancer-proteins-interact.html Biochemistry Mon, 15 Apr 2019 09:20:02 EDT news474537786