Molecular Oncology · Cancer Biology

Remzi Okan Akar
PhD Candidate

Molecular Oncology, Istinye University | Co-Founder & CEO, OvoBoard Biotechnology

I am a cancer researcher and entrepreneur specializing in anti-cancer drug discovery, angiogenesis, and in ovo CAM assay models. With over 20 peer-reviewed publications and 2 international patents, my work bridges bench science and translational medicine to develop next-generation oncology therapeutics.

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20+
Publications
2
Patents
7+
Years Research
3
Institutions
1
Biotech Founded

EDUCATION

2021 – Present
PhD in Molecular Oncology
Istinye University, Istanbul, Turkey
2017 – 2020
MS in Cancer Biology and Pharmacology
Istinye University, Istanbul, Turkey
2013 – 2017
BS in Molecular Biology and Genetics
Istanbul Kultur University, Istanbul, Turkey
2009 – 2013
High School — GPA 3.78/5.00
Samiha Ayverdi Anadolu Lisesi, Istanbul, Turkey

EXPERIENCE

Co-Founder & CEO
OvoBoard Biotechnology
2022 – Present
Founded OvoBoard Biotechnology to commercialize in ovo CAM assay technology for evaluating anti- and pro-angiogenic drug candidates using fertilized chicken eggs. The company also develops patient-derived xenografts and tests anti-cancer compounds on cell-line-derived tumors, enabling personalized treatment strategies.
Research Assistant
Istinye University — Faculty of Medicine, Medical Biochemistry & Molecular Cancer Research Center
2017 – Present
Investigates newly synthesized chemical compounds for anti-cancer efficacy and mechanistic pathways. Also teaches medical biochemistry to faculty of medicine students as a research assistant.
Trainee Researcher
Karolinska Institutet — Cancer Center Karolinska
2018
Worked in Prof. Leonard Girnita's group investigating Erk/MAPK signaling and IGF1-R biology. Studied how Mdm2 fine-tunes β-arrestin-mediated IGF1-R biased signaling in U-SOS (Mdm2-high) and SAOS-2 (Mdm2-low) sarcoma cell lines using western blot time-course experiments.
Undergraduate Researcher
Istanbul Kultur University — Molecular Cancer Biology Laboratory
2014 – 2017
Investigated the apoptotic effects of ibuprofen and diclofenac in p53-null and p53-overexpressing PC3 prostate cancer cells using Western blot, PCR, flow cytometry, and immunoprecipitation techniques.

PUBLICATIONS

H. Başpinar Küçük, T. Yildiz, Y. Arasan et al., R. O. Akar et al. — Evaluation of Anticancer Activity of Novel Sulfanyl-Substituted Hydrazone Compounds in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: In Vitro, In Silico, and In Ovo Studies ACS Omega · DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.5c13125
S. Malcanlı, R. O. Akar, E. Ulukaya, A. B. Özkaya, Ö. G. Geyik — Enhancing 5-fluorouracil efficacy in colorectal cancer by inhibiting glutathione antioxidant mechanisms with an xCT inhibitor Scientific Reports · DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-41179-x
L. Alparslan, S. Özdemir, B. Karacan, R. O. Akar et al. — Formulation and Characterization of an Oleuropein-Enriched Oral Spray Gel: Microbiological Performance and In Ovo Histopathological Safety Pharmaceutics · DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics18020200
M. Ekremoğlu, R. O. Akar, C. Altınkaynak, B. P. Kutluay, E. Ulukaya — Enhancing Anti-Angiogenic Therapy With Bevacizumab-Based Nanoflowers through the Chorioallantoic Membrane Assay ChemistrySelect · DOI: 10.1002/slct.202504665
N. Alhalak, A. Şen, G. N. Öter, R. O. Akar, T. Şekerler — Anti-Angiogenic and Cytotoxic Potential of Different Eremurus spectabilis Extracts on Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Hep3B) Cells: In vitro, In Ovo and In silico Study Computers in Biology and Medicine · DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2025.110498
O. Nejati, G. Torkay, A. Girgin, R. O. Akar et al. — Biocompatible silver nanoparticles from apricot kernel skin: green synthesis for antibacterial and antiangiogenic therapies Chemical Papers · DOI: 10.1007/s11696-024-03793-9
A. Bal-Öztürk, G. Torkay, N. İdil, R. O. Akar et al. — Propolis-loaded photocurable methacrylated pullulan films: Mechanical, antibacterial, biocompatibility, wound healing and pro-angiogenic evaluation International Journal of Biological Macromolecules · DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.137071
C. Icsel, V. T. Yilmaz, M. Aygun, M. Erkisa, E. Ulukaya, R. O. Akar — Pd(II) and Pt(II) saccharinate complexes with phosphine derivatives: Synthesis, anticancer and antiangiogenic activities Applied Organometallic Chemistry · DOI: 10.1002/aoc.7433
K. Adacan, Z. Gokmen, R. O. Akar, Z. Ozyıldız, H. Dinçer, D. Karakaş, E. Ulukaya — Synthesis, Characterization and Apoptosis Capabilities of a Novel Naphthoquinone-Derived Compound in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer ChemistrySelect · DOI: 10.1002/slct.202301955
D. Karakas, M. Erkisa, R. O. Akar, G. Akman, E. Y. Senol, E. Ulukaya — Targeting Periostin Expression Makes Pancreatic Cancer Spheroids More Vulnerable to Natural Killer Cells Biomedicines · DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020270
Z. Gerçek, U. Yıldız, R. O. Akar, E. Ulukaya — Selective Cytotoxicity of Novel Copper(II) Complex on Colon Cancer Cell Lines European Journal of Advanced Chemistry Research · DOI: 10.24018/ejchem.2022.3.3.115
M. Erkisa-Genel, S. Selvi, I. Yilmaz, R. O. Akar, I. Yaylim, A. Şengül, E. Ulukaya — Differential Cytotoxic Activity of a New Cationic Pd(II) Coordination Compound in Cancer Cell Lines Experimed · DOI: 10.26650/experimed.1188586
R. O. Akar, İ. Yılmaz, M. Erkısa, A. Şengül, E. Ulukaya — Highly Promising Antitumor Agent of a Novel Platinum(II) Complex Bearing a Tetradentate Chelating Ligand ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters · DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.9b00676
S. Bozkurt, F. Yarımcan, H. Ayhan, R. O. Akar, V. S. Hançer et al. — Investigation of PTGS2, MAGE-A3, CALR, KRT19 and TMPRSS4 expressions in HCT116 and PC3 cancer cell lines Genetics & Applications · DOI: 10.31383/ga.vol4iss2pp37-42
E. D. Arısan, R. O. Akar, Ö. Rencuzogullari et al. — Molecular targets of diclofenac vs. ibuprofen differ in inducing apoptosis and EMT via oxidative stress management in PC3 prostate cancer cells Prostate International · DOI: 10.1016/j.prnil.2019.09.003
Z. Gercek, U. Yıldız, E. Ulukaya, R. O. Akar — Synthesis, DNA binding and cytotoxic activity of new copper(II) complexes of trisubstituted imidazoles Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal · DOI: 10.1007/s11094-022-02578-2
D. Karakas, R. O. Akar, Z. Gokmen, N. G. Deniz, E. Ulukaya — A Novel 1,4-Naphthoquinone-Derived Compound Induces Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptotic Cell Death in Breast Cancer Cells Turkish Journal of Biology · DOI: 10.3906/biy-1901-19
R. O. Akar, S. Selvi, E. Ulukaya, N. Aztopal — Key actors in cancer therapy: Epigenetic modifiers (Review) Turkish Journal of Biology · DOI: 10.3906/biy-1903-39
M. Erkisa, S. Aydinlik, B. Cevatemre, N. Aztopal, R. O. Akar et al. — A promising combination for metastatic prostate cancer: Chloroquine as autophagy inhibitor and Pd(II) barbiturate complex Biochimie · DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2020.05.010
M. Ekremoğlu, R. O. Akar, C. Altınkaynak, E. Ulukaya — Toxicity and Anti-Angiogenic Effects of Bevacizumab, Adalimumab, Infliximab and Combinations by In Ovo CAM Assay (Poster) EUROTOX 2025, Athens · DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2025.07.446
G. N. Öter, R. O. Akar, A. Şen, E. Ulukaya, C. Küçükgergin — Anti-cancer effect of Myrtus communis extract against lung adenocarcinoma in vitro and in ovo (Poster) 48th FEBS Congress, Milano 2024
B. H. Şahin, T. Doğan, R. O. Akar, M. Acar, P. Ata — Apoptotic and Antiproliferative Effects of Geraniol on PC-3 Prostate Cancer Cells (Oral) 2024
R. O. Akar, M. Ekremoğlu, C. Altınkaynak, E. Ulukaya — Bevacizumab-loaded Nanoflowers: Inhibitory Effect on Neovascularization in ovo CAM Assay (Poster) EUROTOX 2023, Ljubljana · DOI: 10.1016/S0378-4274(23)00767-1
R. O. Akar, K. Adacan, E. Ulukaya — In ovo: Dinosaur's Offspring as an Alternative In Vivo Model (Oral) 2nd International Multidisciplinary Cancer Research Congress, Giresun 2022
D. Karakas Zeybek, M. Erkisa, R. O. Akar, E. Ulukaya — Targeting Pancreatic Cancer Stroma Increases NK Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity in Spheroid Tumor Microenvironment (Poster) FEBS 2022, Lisbon
M. Erkisa, R. O. Akar, S. Selvi, E. Ulukaya, A. Şengül — A Newly Synthesized Platinum Complex as a Potent Antitumor Drug Candidate (Poster) International Molecular Medicine Symposium, Bahçeşehir University 2019
R. O. Akar, Ö. Rencuzogullari, E. D. Arısan et al. — Diclofenac Increased ROS Generation to Proceed EMT Processes p53-Independently in PC3 Cells (Poster) 6th Stem Cell Symposium, Marmara University 2017

PATENTS

2023/001257
PCT/TR2023/050190
Novel Copper(II) Complex Containing 5-Fluorouracil and Terpyridine with Anticancer and Antiangiogenic Activity
2022/015931
PCT/TR2022/051215
An Agent with Antimetastatic Activity Effective on Prostate Cancer Cells and Usable in the Treatment of Such Diseases

AWARDS & HONOURS

🏆
Young Investigator Fellowship — Molecular Cancer Research Association (MOKAD), October 2018
🎓
Graduated 2nd Highest GPA in Year Level — BS Molecular Biology & Genetics, Istanbul Kultur University (3.39/4.00), June 2017

SKILLS

LABORATORY TECHNIQUES
Cell Culture Western Blotting PCR Applications Flow Cytometry Immunoprecipitation Chromatin IP ELISA Immunofluorescence Transfection/Transformation HPLC 2D Gel Electrophoresis In Ovo CAM Assay Laboratory Animals
COMPUTER & SOFTWARE
MS Office GraphPad Prism ImageJ ImageLab BD Accuri C6
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
Project Management Leadership Teamwork Critical Thinking Problem Solving Time Management
RESEARCH FOCUS
Anti-cancer Drug Discovery Angiogenesis Molecular Oncology In Ovo Models Epigenetics Nanomedicine

REFERENCES

Prof. Dr. Engin Ulukaya
Coordinator of Health Science R&D Labs; Director, Molecular Cancer Research Center; Head, Molecular Oncology PhD Programme; Head, Clinical Chemistry Lab — Istinye University, Istanbul, Turkey
eulukaya@istinye.edu.tr
Assoc. Prof. Leonard Girnita
Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Leonard.Girnita@ki.se
Prof. Dr. E. Damla Arısan
Institute of Biotechnology, Gebze Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
d.arisan@gtu.edu.tr

CONTACT