Stem Cell and Organoid Technologies

Principal Investigator: Prof. Ersa ERDAL

Stem Cell and Organoid Technologies Laboratory focuses on developing liver and brain organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells to create in vitro disease models that closely recapitulate human disease phenotypes. These models are employed to evaluate drug efficacy and safety in preclinical research.

In recent years, we have developed an endodermal hepatic organoid (eHEPO) technology to model rare metabolic liver diseases. This platform is being advanced as a scientifically robust and ethically superior alternative to animal models for hepatotoxicity testing, a critical step in the drug development pipeline.

In addition, our laboratory conducts fundamental research aimed at elucidating cancer stem cell biology, tumor initiation mechanisms, and the role of the tumor microenvironment, particularly in liver cancer. These studies integrate cancer cell lines and animal models to generate significant insights into cancer progression and therapeutic targeting.

Research Areas

Rare diseases
Cancer
Development of organoid- and stem cell–derived disease models
Cancer stem cells
Hepatotoxicity

Publications

Karabicici M., Akbari S, Caliskan C, Celiker C, Oz O, Binokay L, Karakulah G, Senturk S, Erdal E. “Modeling Hepatic Fibrosis in TP53 Knockout iPSC-Derived Human Liver Organoids,” Mol. Cancer 2025 (Kabul edildi)

Akbari, S., Ersoy, N., Bagriyanik, A., Arslan, N., Önder, T. T., Erdal, E. Generation of Functional Endodermal Hepatic Organoids. J. Vis. Exp. (219), e65027, 2025

Karabicici M., Akbari S., Gumustekin M., Erdal E. "Human liver organoid models for assessment of drug toxicity at the preclinical stage" Endocrine Metabolic & Immune Disorders – Drug Targets 2023 Apr 11.

Saglam-Metiner P., Devamoglu U., Filiz Y., Akbari S., Beceren G., Bagca G., Yaldiz B., Yanasik S., Biray Avci C., Erdal E., Yesil Celiktas O. "Spatio-temporal dynamics enhance cellular diversity, neuronal function and further maturation of human cerebral organoids" Communications Biology 6, 173 (2023).

Akbari S, Gurhan Sevinc G, Ersoy N, Basak O, Kaplan K, Sevinc K, Ozel E, Sengun B, Enustun E, Ozcimen B, Bagriyanik A, Arslan N, Onder T, Erdal E. Robust, long-term culture of endoderm derived hepatic organoids for disease modeling. Stem Cell Reports 2019 Oct 8;13(4):627-641

Projects

Projects led by E. Erdal

TÜBİTAK-Italy Bilateral Cooperation – 124N833 – Exploring Therapeutic Strategies for cblC Disease: Italy-Turkey Collaboration (Ongoing)

TÜBİTAK-1001 – 221S447 – Investigation of the Effects of Culture Microenvironment Modifications on Function and Maturation in Hepatic Organoids at the Single-Cell Level (Ongoing)

TÜBİTAK-1001 – 124R024 – Establishment and Functional Characterization of Zonation in Liver Tissue Using a Liver-on-a-Chip Organoid Model (Ongoing)

TUSEB-B-R&D – 35887 – Cellular Characterization of a Human Liver Fibrosis Organoid Model and Elucidation of Mechanisms Related to Extracellular Matrix Alterations Regulated by p53 (Ongoing)

Project led by S. Akbari

TÜBİTAK-1001 – 124Z228 – Elucidation of Cell-Cell Interaction Networks Governing Liver Organoid Development and Differentiation

Patent

Turkish Patent – 2020-16056 and US Patent – 18/247,651 – Robust, Long-Term Culture of Endoderm-Derived Hepatic Organoid Technology (Under examination)

Team

Active Members

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Former Members

İmge Kunter

Sanem Tercan Avcı

Kübra Aslan

Zeynep Fırtına

Ceyda Çalışkan

Mustafa Karabiçici