OHAMR Call for proposals 2026

General Information

• Project title: Increasing fuguscide efficacy with metal oxide nanoparticles against Aspergillus species in wall mold, causative agent of Respiratory Tract Infections and elimination properties of the nanoparticles and their effects on human health
• Type: Project looking for partner
• Organisation: Health Sciences University, Experimental Medicine Application and Research Center.
• Country: Türkiye (TR)
• Career stage: Other.

Research area

• Scientific area(s) of the call:
  1. Topic 1: Identify and develop new combination treatments using existing or innovative antimicrobials or antimicrobial with adjunctive treatments to extend drug efficacy and combat resistance.
• One Health Setting:

  H - Human Health

• Keywords:

  antifungal; moisture; nanobiotechnology; commercial product development; infection prevention

• Brief description of your expertise / expertise you are looking for:

  Our institution has advanced research infrastructure in medical and industrial biotechnology and extensive experience in coordinating international research and innovation projects focused on the development, characterization, and commercialization of antimicrobial products nanoparticles. Within the scope of tissue engineering and biomaterial technologies, nanoparticle systems with controlled release properties are designed and produced, and their physicochemical characteristics are comprehensively characterized using advanced analytical technologies. Antimicrobial efficacy, biocompatibility, and cytotoxicity are evaluated in in vitro and in vivo experimental models employing advanced imaging, cellular phenotyping, and molecular analysis platforms. As a coordinating institution in multidisciplinary and multicenter international consortia, we lead the scientific coordination, integration of work packages, and management of translational processes, with the aim of converting nanoparticle-based antimicrobial systems into scalable, regulation-compliant, and commercially viable products for clinical and industrial applications. In this project, we seek collaboration with teams possessing expertise in microbiology and fungal biology, particularly in the culture, characterization, and antifungal assessment of Aspergillus species. We aim to partner with researchers who can contribute to studies on fungal growth inhibition, spore viability, biofilm formation, and molecular mechanisms of antifungal activity, as well as those experienced in advanced imaging and phenotypic analysis of fungal-nanoparticle interactions. Collaborating with such teams will not only strengthen the scientific quality of the project but also help distribute experimental workload, enabling more efficient progress across microbiology-focused work packages

• Brief description of your project / the project you would like to join:

  This project addresses a pervasive and costly issue in the construction sector—wall mold contamination—which remains undetected for long periods, adversely affecting indoor air quality and posing significant health risks. The focus is on Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger, filamentous fungi commonly colonizing building surfaces. The primary objective is to develop innovative antifungal systems based on oxidized metal nanoparticles, specifically zinc (Zn/ZnO) and lipid-based nanoparticles, and to elucidate their preventive mechanisms against mold formation at a microbiological level. The antifungal efficacy of the nanoparticles will be assessed through fungal growth inhibition assays, spore viability tests, and biofilm formation studies, while cellular damage and interaction mechanisms will be investigated using advanced imaging and molecular analysis techniques. Concurrently, the potential impacts of these nanoparticles on human health will be evaluated through biocompatibility, cytotoxicity, and in vivo exposure models. Translational studies will integrate these nanoparticles into building materials to assess practical antifungal performance and commercial viability. By combining multidisciplinary microbiological, biomaterial, and translational approaches, the project aims to deliver scalable, regulation-compliant, and commercially exploitable antifungal solutions, improving both public health and industrial sustainability.

Assistant Professor Gülşen ARSLAN ATAY

• Organisation: Health Sciences University, Experimental Medicine Application and Research Center.
• Position:
• E-mail: gulsenxarslan@gmail.com
• Phone: 05531270033
• Web: detuam.sbu.edu.tr/kurumsal/hakkimizda/