Where analytical chemistry meets synthesis, functional materials and biological application.
Led by Prof. Umut Bulut
Research theme 05 / 06
Drug discovery and natural products
Candidate molecules, existing drugs and natural products: formulation, pharmacology, analytical chemistry and quality control in the Faculty of Pharmacy.
- 4groups
- 22researchers
- 3facilities
Theme lead
Prof. Günay Yetik Anacak
About this theme
The Faculty of Pharmacy hosts three research groups founded in 2025: the Pharmaceutical Research, Development and Education Group (FAR), which studies the therapeutic potential of candidate molecules, existing drugs and natural products and develops drug and cosmetic formulations; ACUNAT, which identifies bioactive compounds from plants and other natural sources and runs quality-control analyses of products on the market; and ACU-FUNCHEM, which works where analytical chemistry meets synthesis, functional materials and biological application.
The Pharmaceutical Laboratories (pharmaceutical chemistry and drug metabolism, pharmacology and toxicology, pharmacognosy and phytotherapy, pharmaceutical technology and cosmetology) and the Chromatography and Spectroscopy Laboratory support this work.
Groups & labs 4
All groupsResearch group ACU-FUNCHEM — Functional Chemistry Research Group Research group ACUNAT — Natural Health Products Research Group Bioactive compounds from nature: identification, pharmacology and the quality control of natural health products.
Led by Assoc. Prof. Timur Hakan Barak
Research group FAR — Pharmaceutical Research, Development and Education Group The therapeutic potential of candidate molecules, existing drugs and natural products, from formulation to target.
Led by Prof. Günay Yetik Anacak
Research group NutriEra — Nutrition Research Group Nutrition as a biological, behavioural and social process: evidence for safe, sustainable, health-promoting eating.
Led by Prof. Murat Baş
People 22
All 22 researchers-
Asst. Prof. Ahmet Emin Atik
Assistant Professor of Basic Sciences
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Assoc. Prof. Timur Hakan Barak
Associate Professor of Pharmacognosy; ACUNAT natural health products research group
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Prof. Elif Sinem Bireller
Professor of Biochemistry
-
Prof. Umut Bulut
Professor of Analytical Chemistry; Functional Chemistry Research Group (ACU-FUNCHEM)
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Prof. Mehmet Engin Celep
Professor of Pharmacognasis
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Assoc. Prof. Gülen Melike Demirbolat
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Technology
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Prof. Fabienne Dumoulin
Professor of Chemistry
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Research Assistant Şevval Günbay
Research Assistant of Analytical Chemistry
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Prof. Zühtü Tanıl Kocagöz
Professor of Medical Microbiology
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Research Assistant Kübra Kolci
Research Assistant of Pharmaceutical Toxicology
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Prof. Sinem Tuncel Kostakoğlu
Professor
- Asst. Prof. Sevgi Sarıgül Özbek Assistant Professor of Analytical Chemistry
Facilities 3
Research capacity
Core facilities
Research laboratories
Fifteen laboratories from cell culture and molecular biology to nanobiotechnology and medical-device testing, run through ACUTAB.
Access terms : Basic Research Laboratories
Clinical research infrastructure
ACU-DEHAM
An AAALAC-accredited animal facility of about 700 m² with five research laboratories, breeding and full veterinary care.
Access terms : ACU-DEHAM — Experimental Animals Application and Research Center-
Core facilities
Pharmaceutical labs
Four Faculty of Pharmacy laboratories for drug metabolism, pharmacology and toxicology, pharmacognosy and phytotherapy, and pharmaceutical technology and cosmetology.
Access terms : Pharmaceutical Laboratories
Latest news
All 18 news itemsTÜBİTAK 2515 funds a study of Toxoplasma gondii in atherosclerotic plaques
Prof. Zühtü Tanıl Kocagöz of Medical Microbiology leads the project, funded under the COST Action Members R&D Support Programme within the AtheroNET Action.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Staff Exchange funds ARMOR, with Prof. Fabienne Dumoulin
Next-Generation Biomimetic Vesicles for Combating Antimicrobial Resistance in Chronic Biofilm Infections is selected under the HORIZON-MSCA-2026-SE-01 call.
Prof. Dr. Muhittin A. Serdar Elected President of the Turkish Biochemical Society
Acıbadem University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry faculty member Prof. Muhittin A. Serdar has been elected President of the Turkish Biochemical Society.
1 min readTÜBİTAK 2237-A Project Writing Training Held at Acıbadem University
Acıbadem University hosted the “Scientific Research Project Proposal Writing and Career Development Training for Undergraduate Students in Health Sciences” within the scope of the TÜBİTAK 2237-A Scientific Education Activities Support Program.
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Oncology
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Theme lead
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1 group
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Neuroscience
Epilepsy, autism and neurodegeneration, studied from genetic rat models and NMR metabolomics to functional near-infrared brain imaging.
Theme lead
Prof. Filiz Onat
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Biomaterials
Biosensors, functional materials, tissue engineering and medical-device testing, built on the Biomaterials Application and Research Center.
Theme lead
Assoc. Prof. Özgül Gök Özatay
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Medical AI & data
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Theme lead
Dr. Sinem Burcu Erdoğan
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Rare diseases & genomics
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Theme lead
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