News
October 2015 - Istanbul Microalgae Biotechnologies Research and Development Center (IMBIYOTAB) kicks off with major grant funded by Istanbul Development Agency Innovative Actions Program. Coordinated by Bogazici University, Istanbul Medeniyet University and Yildiz Technical Universities are other partners in the project.
Experiments are currently underway at the laboratories of The Institute of Environmental Sciences, while pilot-scale studies will be conducted at newly constructed state-of-the-art facilities to be opened in Summer of 2016 at Bogazici University Saritepe Campus located on the shoreline of Black Sea.
Project IMBIYOTAB's research program is based on comprehensive understanding of the systems biology of novel microalgae species. High-throughput sequencing based transcriptomics and genomics studies coupled with metabolomics, proteomics and modelling analyses are conducted to optimize the biomass productivity of algae at laboratory and pilot-scales. The center aims to develop value added products and technologies for food, pharmaceutical, energy and environmental sectors.
Project IMBIYOTAB team consists of algae experts specialized in water and wastewater treatment, biofuels, nutraceuticals, and food supplements. The team offers consulting and provides R&D support to both public and private entities developing value added products and technologies in food, pharma, energy and environmental sectors.
IMBIYOTAB also trains graduate students conducting MS and PhD studies within the center, along with several outreach activities collectively organized with local municipalities, K-12 schools, and non-governmental organizations.
Current projects of the PI and co-PIs are funded through Istanbul Development Agency, Turkish Ministry of Development, The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), US National Science Foundation (NSF), and The Royal Society of UK. IMBIYOTAB is also a partner of European network for algal-bioproducts (EUALGAE) COST action and participant to other EU projects.
IMBIYOTAB hosts a wide collection of algae and cyanobacteria species isolated from various locations and habitats including Turkey. There are also species obtained from Culture Collection of Algae at The University of Texas (UTEX) and American Type Culture Collection (ATCC).
