Z. Gunnur Dikmen

Dr. Dikmen graduated from Ankara University Medical Faculty and subsequently completed her residency and received her PhD from Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Department of Medical Biochemistry. She completed her doctoral research at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Cell Biology in the Shay-Wright Lab. Her research has been focused on the discovery of novel molecules targeting telomeres and telomerase, mainly working on GRN163L (Imetelstat) and 6-thio-2’-deoxyguanosine (6-thio-dG) to show their potent effects on different in vitro and in vivo cancer models. Currently, she is a professor at Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Department of Medical Biochemistry, as well as the director of the hospital’s emergency laboratory. She has a broad range of experimental and clinical experience in molecular & cell biology and clinical biochemistry, translating research results from bench to bedside and from academia to clinical laboratory to mentor the next generation of multidisciplinary research projects by providing new therapeutic approaches for cancer and telomere related diseases.

During her career, she has worked in the EFLM (European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine) – Patient-Focused Laboratory Medicine Working Group between 2015-2017 and still works in the EFLM – Post-Analytical Phase Working Group. She has profound experience in managerial positions which can be proven by her assignment as the Chair of the Biochemistry Department between 2017-2020. Recently, Dr. Dikmen was selected as a member of the Turkish Committee for Residency Training in Biochemistry. Under her capacity as Secretary-General of the Turkish Biochemical Society, she has organized various important national and international courses and congresses. She has also served as a member of the IUBMB (International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) nominating committee.

Dr. Dikmen has various international scientific publications as well as oral and poster presentations in national and international meetings. She has also published several book chapters in the fields of telomere-telomerase and clinical biochemistry. She was awarded by L’OREAL – Women In Science program in 2003 and received the Hacettepe University-Science Incentive Award in 2010. Considering her solid educational background combined with her professional experience in academic research, Dr. Dikmen is one of the most well-known names in the field.