Associate Professor Ömür Acet, a faculty member of the Pharmacy Services Department at our Vocational School of Health Services, has been awarded support under the TÜBİTAK 2218 Domestic Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program for her project titled “‘Jammer’ Systems for Staphylococcus aureus: Molecularly Imprinted Polymers That Silence Bacterial Signaling.”

The project will be carried out in collaboration with Hacettepe University and will involve advanced research over a period of 18 months.

The “jammer” systems developed for Staphylococcus aureus represent an innovative approach that focuses not on killing bacteria, but on disrupting their communication with one another. These bacteria rely on chemical signaling to coordinate pathogenic behaviors such as toxin production and biofilm formation. The molecularly imprinted polymers used in this project are smart materials with three-dimensional recognition capabilities that selectively capture and bind these signaling molecules, much like a sponge. By neutralizing bacterial communication, these materials prevent the initiation of harmful behaviors. As a result, even if the bacteria remain alive, they become significantly less harmful or incapable of causing infection.

This strategy offers a smarter and more targeted solution compared to antibiotics, as it makes it more difficult for bacteria to develop resistance.

Being accepted under this nationally prestigious funding program, the project is expected to make a significant contribution to strengthening our university’s research capacity and scientific productivity.

We congratulate Associate Professor Ömür Acet on this valuable academic achievement and wish her continued success in her research.