Prof. Dr. Başak Ceyda Meço
meco@ankara.edu.tr
Molecular Neurogenetics and Neurophysiology
Our research group adopts a multi-layered approach positioned at the intersection of genetic predisposition and environmental exposures to unravel the brain's complex functions and disorders. We aim to model the gene–environment–epigenetic interaction within a holistic framework across complex phenotypes, including the schizophrenia spectrum, autism spectrum disorder, and perioperative neurocognitive disorders.
In this context, we investigate how disease risk is shaped throughout the psychosis spectrum by integrating the exposome approach with polygenic risk scores. Simultaneously, we examine the cumulative effects of environmental exposures on biological systems through the lenses of cellular aging and telomere biology.
A primary focus of our research is understanding how these interactions are manifested at the epigenetic level. We aim to decipher the biological correlates of environmental load via DNA methylation and microRNA (miRNA)-based regulatory networks. We extend this approach beyond mere disease risk to encompass impacts on higher cognitive functions, such as time perception.
Our group is developing a translational research framework designed to test molecular findings derived from clinical observations within experimental systems. Within this scope, we plan to investigate the functional effects of microRNA patterns using advanced cellular modeling and neuronal network-level analysis. Through this approach, we aim to elucidate the mechanistic impact of molecular changes on synaptic organization via neuronal activity and network dynamics.
Prof. Dr. Güvem Gümüş Akay
ggumusakay@ankara.edu.tr
Dr. Filiz Çetinkaya (Postdoctoral Researcher)
filizogan@gmail.com
Biologist Zeynep Ceren ÖZMEN (Master's Student)
Nuran Salgın (MD-PhD Student)
Muhammed Göl (Undergraduate Student)
Research Partners
• Prof. Dr. Meram Can SAKA (Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry)
• Prof. Dr. Yeşim AYDIN SON (METU Graduate School of Informatics, Dept. of Health Informatics)
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Merve ÇIKILI UYTUN (Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Diseases)
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nuray VAROL (Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Medical Biology)
• Asst. Prof. Dr. Öykü MANÇE ÇALIŞIR (Ankara University Faculty of Educational Sciences, Dept. of Guidance and Psychological Counseling)
Former Lab Members:
•Dr. Burcu ÇEVİK (Ankara University Faculty of Medicine)
•Başak Doğa FİDANCI (TUBITAK STAR Scholar)
Decoding Autism: The Role of Synaptic Dysfunction in Neurodevelopment
Çetinkaya F., Bandırmalı D., Gümüş Akay G.
Journal of Ankara University Faculty of Medicine , cilt.78, sa.3, ss.259-272, 2025 (TRDizin)
Synaptic Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Narrative Review of Neuronal Changes
Gamze Doğan , Güvem Gümüş Akay
Journal of Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Year 2025, Volume: 78 Issue: 4, 283 - 294, 31.12.2025
The relationship between childhood trauma, psychotic symptoms, and cognitive schemas in patients with schizophrenia, their siblings, and healthy controls: results from the EU-GEI study.
Üçok A, Noyan H, Gülöksüz S, Saka MC, Alptekin K, Atbaşoğlu C, Akturan E, Karadayı G, Baran Tatar Z, Akdede B, Binbay T, Altınyazar V, Ulaş H, Yalınçetin B, Gümüş-Akay G et al.
Psychol Med. 2024 Jul;54(10):2414-2425. doi: 10.1017/S0033291724000540. Epub 2024 Apr 12.PMID: 38606591
Investigation of Liver X Receptor Gene Variants and Oxysterol Dysregulation in Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Menteşe Babayiğit T, Gümüş-Akay G, Uytun MÇ, Doğan Ö, Serdar MA, Efendi GY, Erman AG, Yürümez E, Öztop DB.
Children (Basel). 2024 May 5;11(5):551. doi: 10.3390/children11050551.PMID: 38790546
Clustering Schizophrenia Genes by Their Temporal Expression Patterns Aids Functional Interpretation
van der Meer D., Cheng W., Rokicki J., Fernandez-Cabello S., Shadrin A., Smeland O. B., et al.
Schizophrenia Bulletin , cilt.50, sa.2, ss.327-338, 2024 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
Synaptic dysfunction in schizophrenia
Mısır E, Akay GG.
Synapse. 2023 Sep;77(5):e22276. Epub 2023 May 21. PMID: 37210696.
Examining the association between exposome score for schizophrenia and cognition in schizophrenia, siblings, and healthy controls: Results from the EUGEI study.
Fusar-Poli L, Prachason T, Erzin G, Pries LK, Brondino N, Politi P, Delespaul P, Kenis G, Luykx JJ, Lin BD, Richards AL, Akdede B, Binbay T, Altınyazar V, Yalınçetin B, Gümüş-Akay G et al.
Psychiatry Res. 2023 May;323:115184. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115184. Epub 2023 Mar 28.
PMID: 37015164
Genetic Analysis of RASD1 as a Candidate Gene for Schizophrenia.
Durmaz CD, Karabulut HG, Saka MC, Sucularlı C, Gümüş Akay G, Atbaşoğlu C, Ilgın Ruhi H.
Balkan Med J. 2022 Nov 7;39(6):422-428. doi: 10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2022.2022-5-90. Epub 2022 Oct 28.PMID: 36305088
The association between cannabis use and facial emotion recognition in schizophrenia, siblings, and healthy controls: Results from the EUGEI study.
Fusar-Poli L, Pries LK, van Os J, Radhakrishnan R, Pençe AY, Erzin G, Delespaul P, Kenis G, Luykx JJ, Lin BD, Akdede B, Binbay T, Altınyazar V, Yalınçetin B, Gümüş-Akay G et al.
Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2022 Oct;63:47-59. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2022.08.003. Epub 2022 Aug 30.PMID: 36055075
PERIOPERATIVE NEUROCOGNITIVE DISORDERS IN GERIATRIC PATIENTS: A REVIEW OF NEURONAL PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
MEÇO B. C., GÜMÜŞ AKAY G.
TURKISH JOURNAL OF GERIATRICS-TURK GERIATRI DERGISI , cilt.25, sa.2, ss.339-346, 2022 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
A replication study of JTC bias, genetic liability for psychosis and delusional ideation.
Henquet C, van Os J, Pries LK, Rauschenberg C, Delespaul P, Kenis G, Luykx JJ, Lin BD, Richards AL, Akdede B, Binbay T, Altınyazar V, Yalınçetin B, Gümüş-Akay G et al.
Psychol Med. 2022 Jul;52(9):1777-1783. doi: 10.1017/S0033291720003578. Epub 2020 Oct 13.PMID: 33046166
Evidence, and replication thereof, that molecular-genetic and environmental risks for psychosis impact through an affective pathway.
van Os J, Pries LK, Ten Have M, de Graaf R, van Dorsselaer S, Delespaul P, Bak M, Kenis G, Lin BD, Luykx JJ, Richards AL, Akdede B, Binbay T, Altınyazar V, Yalınçetin B, Gümüş-Akay G et al.
Psychol Med. 2022 Jul;52(10):1910-1922. doi: 10.1017/S0033291720003748. Epub 2020 Oct 19. PMID: 33070791
Görev: araştırmacı
Examining facial emotion recognition as an intermediate phenotype for psychosis: Findings from the EUGEI study.
Fusar-Poli L, Pries LK, van Os J, Erzin G, Delespaul P, Kenis G, Luykx JJ, Lin BD, Richards AL, Akdede B, Binbay T, Altınyazar V, Yalınçetin B, Gümüş-Akay G et al.
Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2022 Mar 8;113:110440. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2021.110440. Epub 2021 Sep 16.PMID: 34536513
Cognitive functioning throughout adulthood and illness stages in individuals with psychotic disorders and their unaffected siblings
Velthorst E, Mollon J, Murray RM, de Haan L, Germeys IM, Glahn DC, Arango C, van der Ven E, Di Forti M, Bernardo M, Guloksuz S, Delespaul P, Mezquida G, Amoretti S, Bobes J, Saiz PA, García-Portilla MP, Santos JL, Jiménez-López E, Sanjuan J, Aguilar EJ, Arrojo M, Carracedo A, López G, González-Peñas J, Parellada M, Atbaşoğlu C, Saka MC, Üçok A, Alptekin K, Akdede B, Binbay T, Altınyazar V, Ulaş H, Yalınçetin B, Gümüş-Akay G, et al.
Mol Psychiatry. 2021 Aug;26(8):4529-4543. doi: 10.1038/s41380-020-00969-z. Epub 2021 Jan 7. PMID: 33414498
Examining the association between exposome score for schizophrenia and functioning in schizophrenia, siblings, and healthy controls: Results from the EUGEI study.
Erzin G, Pries LK, van Os J, Fusar-Poli L, Delespaul P, Kenis G, Luykx JJ, Lin BD, Richards AL, Akdede B, Binbay T, Altınyazar V, Yalınçetin B, Gümüş-Akay G et al.
Eur Psychiatry. 2021 Mar 19;64(1):e25. doi: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.19. PMID: 33736735
Examining the independent and joint effects of genomic and exposomic liabilities for schizophrenia across the psychosis spectrum.
Pries LK, Dal Ferro GA, van Os J, Delespaul P, Kenis G, Lin BD, Luykx JJ, Richards AL, Akdede B, Binbay T, Altınyazar V, Yalınçetin B, Gümüş-Akay G, et al.
Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci. 2020;29:e182. doi: 10.1017/S2045796020000943.PMID: 33200977
Neuronal network dysfunction in a model for Kleefstra syndrome mediated by enhanced NMDAR signaling.
Frega M, Linda K, Keller JM, Gümüş-Akay G, Mossink B, van Rhijn JR, Negwer M, Klein Gunnewiek T, Foreman K, Kompier N, Schoenmaker C, van den Akker W, van der Werf I, Oudakker A, Zhou H, Kleefstra T, Schubert D, van Bokhoven H, Nadif Kasri N.
Nat Commun. 2019 Oct 30;10(1):4928. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-12947-3.PMID: 31666522
White Noise Speech Illusions: A Trait-Dependent Risk Marker for Psychotic Disorder?
Schepers E, Lousberg R, Guloksuz S, Pries LK, Delespaul P, Kenis G, Luykx JJ, Lin BD, Richards AL, Akdede B, Binbay T, Altınyazar V, Yalınçetin B, Gümüş-Akay G et al.
Front Psychiatry. 2019 Sep 25;10:676. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00676. eCollection 2019.PMID: 31607966
Estimating Exposome Score for Schizophrenia Using Predictive Modeling Approach in Two Independent Samples: The Results From the EUGEI Study.
Pries LK, Lage-Castellanos A, Delespaul P, Kenis G, Luykx JJ, Lin BD, Richards AL, Akdede B, Binbay T, Altinyazar V, Yalinçetin B, Gümüş-Akay G et al.
Schizophr Bull. 2019 Sep 11;45(5):960-965. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbz054.PMID: 31508804
Psychometric liability to psychosis and childhood adversities are associated with shorter telomere length: A study on schizophrenia patients, unaffected siblings, and non-clinical controls.
Çevik B, Mançe-Çalışır Ö, Atbaşoğlu EC, Saka MC, Alptekin K, Üçok A, Sırmatel B, Gülöksüz S, Tükün A, van Os J, Gümüş-Akay G.
J Psychiatr Res. 2019 Apr;111:169-185. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.01.022. Epub 2019 Feb 8.
PMID: 30776705
Higher schizotypy predicts better metabolic profile in unaffected siblings of patients with schizophrenia.
Atbasoglu EC, Gumus-Akay G, Guloksuz S, Saka MC, Ucok A, Alptekin K, Gullu S, van Os J.
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2018 Apr;235(4):1029-1039. doi: 10.1007/s00213-017-4818-z. Epub 2018 Jan 6.PMID: 29306964
Identifying gene-environment interactions in schizophrenia: contemporary challenges for integrated, large-scale investigations.
European Network of National Networks studying Gene-Environment Interactions in Schizophrenia (EU-GEI); van Os J, Rutten BP, Myin-Germeys I, Delespaul P, Viechtbauer W, van Zelst C, Bruggeman R, Reininghaus U, Morgan C, Murray RM, Di Forti M, McGuire P, Valmaggia LR, Kempton MJ, Gayer-Anderson C, Hubbard K, Beards S, Stilo SA, Onyejiaka A, Bourque F, Modinos G, Tognin S, Calem M, O'Donovan MC, Owen MJ, Holmans P, Williams N, Craddock N, Richards A, Humphreys I, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Leweke FM, Tost H, Akdeniz C, Rohleder C, Bumb JM, Schwarz E, Alptekin K, Üçok A, Saka MC, Atbaşoğlu EC, Gülöksüz S, Gumus-Akay G et al.
Schizophr Bull. 2014 Jul;40(4):729-36. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbu069. Epub 2014 May 24.PMID: 24860087
Ongoing Projects
Project Title: The Relationship Between WIF1 Gene DNA Methylation and the Exposome Score for Schizophrenia (ES-SCZ): A Patient–Sibling–Control Study
Role: Principal Investigator
Supporting Institution: AU-BAP (Ankara University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit) (2026-)
Project Title: Evaluation of the Effects of Anesthesia and Surgery-Related Variables on Cognitive Functions Using fNIRS in Patients Undergoing Major Colorectal Resection Under the ERAS Protocol
Role: Researcher
Supporting Institution: ADEP (2024–)
Project Title: Development of Biomarkers and Advanced Technological Warning Systems for the Diagnosis, Monitoring, and Treatment of Nerve Damage-Related Diseases
Role: Researcher
Supporting Institution: TÜBİTAK( 2023 - )
Project Title: Investigation of the Effect of Inhalation Anesthesia Administered with Bispectral Index Monitoring on Serum S100B and S100B Polymorphisms, Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction, and Delirium
Role: Researcher
Supporting Organization: ADEP (2023 –)
Project Title: Neuroscience and Neurotechnology Center of Excellence (NÖROM) Infrastructure Project
Role: Researcher
Supporting Organization: Republic of Türkiye, Presidency of Strategy and Budget
Completed Projects
Project Title: Investigation of Candidate Biomarkers in Anesthesia-Related Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction via Comparative Transcriptome Analysis
Role: Principal Investigator
Supporting Institution: ADEP (2023 – 2025)
Project Title: Investigation of the Relationship Between Exposome Score and Telomere Length for Schizophrenia in Patients, Unaffected Siblings, and Control Groups
Role: Principal Investigator
Supporting Institution: TÜSEB (2023 – 2024)
Project Title: Investigation of Plasma-Derived Exosomal miR-135a-5p Expression in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Role: Principal Investigator
Supporting Institution: TÜSEB (2023 – 2024)
Project Title: Longitudinal Follow-up Study on the Potential of the Relationship Between Clinical Changes and microRNA Alterations as Biomarkers in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Role: Researcher
Supporting Institution: TÜBİTAK (2020 - 2023 )
Project Title: The Effect of Social Stress on Time Perception: An Epigenetic and Brain Imaging Study
Role: Researcher
Supporting Institution: AÜ-BAP(2021 - 2024)
Project Title: Investigation of the Relationship Between Brain Oxysterol Metabolism, Liver X Receptor (LXR) Polymorphisms, and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Role: Researcher
Supporting Institution: TÜBİTAK(2020 - 2022)
Project Title: Biobanking Study for the Investigation of the Molecular and Genetic Etiology of Autism
Role: Researcher
Supporting Institution: AÜ-BAP (2019-2022)
Project Title: EU-GEI: European Network of National Schizophrenia Networks Studying Gene-Environment Interactions
Role: Coordinator of the Biobanking Component
Supporting Institution: EU 7th Frame Programme
Project Title: Investigation of the Relationship Between Predisposition to Diabetes Mellitus and Predisposition to Psychosis
Role: Researcher
Supporting Institution: TÜBİTAK
Project Title: Investigation of the Relationship Between Predisposition to Psychosis and Telomere Length: A Sibling-Pair Study
Role: Principal Investigator
Supporting Institution: TÜBİTAK
Last Updated : 10.04.2026