The supported projects include: Prof. Dr. Yusuf Öner’s project titled “Design and Application of High-Speed Synchronous Reluctance Motor for Electric Vehicles” from the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Dr. Lecturer Gurbet Çelik Turgut’s project titled “Development of Gene Therapy by Targeted Delivery of IL17 and IL23 siRNA to Activated Th17 Cells for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis through the Synthesis of Anti-IL23R Peptide-Coated Hybrid Nanoparticles” from the Department of Organic Farming Management, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Berna Kavakcıoğlu Yardımcı’s project titled “Multi-Omics Analysis of Cellular and Molecular Effects of Bcl-xL Protein Against Aging Under Different Environmental Conditions in Yeast Model” from the Department of Chemistry.

 

PAU’s Domestic Motor Initiative for Electric Vehicles: TÜBİTAK-Supported Synchronous Reluctance Motor Project

The project “Design and Application of High-Speed Synchronous Reluctance Motor for Electric Vehicles”, supported under TÜBİTAK-ARDEP 1001-Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program and led by Prof. Dr. Yusuf Öner of PAU’s Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, also involves Prof. Dr. Sinan Aksöz from the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering at the Faculty of Technology, and Lecturer Metin Ersöz from the Department of Electronics and Automation at Çardak Organized Industrial Zone Vocational School.

“The aim is to develop highly efficient, eco-friendly, and cost-effective motors that do not require magnets, using domestic resources.”

Prof. Dr. Yusuf Öner stated that with the support of TÜBİTAK-ARDEP 1001 and the newly established Advanced Research and Testing Laboratory for Electric Vehicles, new motor technologies and designs that will contribute to today’s electric vehicles will be developed. He emphasized that “an important step has been taken in Türkiye towards electric vehicle technologies” and highlighted their aim to develop motors that are efficient, eco-friendly, cost-effective, and do not require magnets using national resources.

Explaining the motivation behind the project, Prof. Dr. Öner noted: “The main reason why electric vehicle manufacturers have reduced magnet usage in recent years is the rising and volatile cost of motor components. Since our country depends on foreign sources for rare elements, which are critical in motor production, magnet-free motors in electric vehicles should be seen as a strategic necessity for the future.”

He further explained that traditional high-performance electric motors rely on costly permanent magnets made of rare earth elements, and that magnetic laminations in the rotors of these motors cause losses at support points, negatively affecting magnetic interaction between the stator and rotor.

Prof. Dr. Öner emphasized that the synchronous reluctance motor design developed under the project aims to overcome these challenges: “With this original design that eliminates the need for rare-earth magnets, costs will be reduced, and by optimizing the arrangement of magnetic and non-magnetic regions, the magnetic circuit will be improved. This will allow the motor to operate more efficiently, more powerfully, and at higher speeds. The new motor will be designed to achieve high speeds, ensure energy efficiency, and be suitable for mass production. This project is expected to reduce foreign dependency in the electric vehicle sector while strengthening Türkiye’s competitiveness. It is anticipated to be an important step shaping the future of electric vehicle motors.”

 

Dr. Turgut: “A multi-layered gene therapy approach, applied for the first time in MS treatment, will enable the development of a targeted smart drug system.”

Another TÜBİTAK-supported PAU project, titled “Development of Gene Therapy by Targeted Delivery of IL17 and IL23 siRNA to Activated Th17 Cells for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis through the Synthesis of Anti-IL23R Peptide-Coated Hybrid Nanoparticles”, has a budget exceeding 2.4 million TL and a duration of 30 months. It aims to develop an innovative therapy platform for Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

The project will introduce, for the first time in MS treatment, a multi-layered gene therapy approach to develop a targeted smart drug system. This interdisciplinary project brings together expert teams from Erciyes University, Dokuz Eylül University, and PAU, aiming to pioneer groundbreaking solutions for MS treatment. Researchers include Prof. Dr. Alaattin Şen (PAU Faculty of Science, Department of Biology), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Aydın (Erciyes University Faculty of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering), Lecturer Dr. Özden Özgün Acar (PAU Vocational School of Health Services, Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques), Lecturer Gizem Kurşunluoğlu Aydın (Erciyes University), and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Seda Özbal (Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology).

“We aim to produce innovative solutions in both diagnosis and treatment of MS.”

Dr. Lecturer Gurbet Çelik Turgut shared the following remarks: “With this project, we aim to pioneer the development of individualized and targeted therapies for autoimmune diseases based on smart drug design. In MS, we seek to generate innovative solutions in both diagnosis and treatment through a strong research team. With TÜBİTAK’s support, we aim to contribute further to our country’s scientific and technological advancement.”

 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kavakcıoğlu: “Our aim is to systematically reveal the protective mechanisms against aging under different conditions and at various stages of the aging process.”

Another TÜBİTAK-supported project at PAU is led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Berna Kavakcıoğlu Yardımcı, titled “Multi-Omics Analysis of Cellular and Molecular Effects of Bcl-xL Protein Against Aging Under Different Environmental Conditions in Yeast Model”. The project will be carried out by a multidisciplinary team under the coordination of PAU.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kavakcıoğlu Yardımcı explained: “Aging is a complex biological process arising from the interaction of genetic, environmental, and metabolic factors. Reduced energy production in cells, increased oxidative stress, and impaired cellular functions are directly related to aging. Bcl-xL, one of the molecules regulating these processes, is noteworthy for its anti-apoptotic effect that protects cells from premature death. However, the literature shows that while Bcl-xL contributes to longevity by protecting cells, it may also lead to the accumulation of aged cells in tissues. Therefore, investigating the dual effects of Bcl-xL in aging is of great importance.”

“The project aims to fill a critical gap in aging biology literature and contribute to drug development studies.”

The project will employ the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast), which is widely used in aging research due to its short life cycle, genetic tractability, and similarity to many human aging mechanisms. The study will examine the effects of Bcl-xL protein on cells under different environmental conditions, using transcriptomic (RNA-Seq), proteomic, and metabolomic analyses, supported by biochemical validation tests.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kavakcıoğlu Yardımcı added: “Our goal is to systematically reveal the protective mechanisms of Bcl-xL protein against aging under different conditions and at various stages of the aging process. The data we obtain will provide a holistic perspective on the fundamental components of aging, such as mitochondrial stress response, energy metabolism, cell death mechanisms, and oxidative stress. Thus, this protein may go beyond being a subject of basic biological research, providing a scientific foundation for developing new therapeutic approaches to combat age-related diseases.”

The project is expected to fill a significant gap in aging biology literature and provide fundamental mechanistic insights that will contribute to senotherapeutic drug development efforts.