AYSEL
OZPINAR, DVM, PhD |
 |
Educational Background:
DVM (1976-1981) University of Istanbul, School of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul.
MSc. (1980-1981) Biochemistry, University of Istanbul, School of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul.
Ph.D. (1982-1986) Biochemistry, University of Istanbul, School of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul.
Research Interests:
My research has two general areas. The first area is directed at identifying the impact of nutrition and stress on health. The second area is investigating the effect of environmental chemical contaminants on the immune and endocrine response using piglet or monkey as an animal model for public health issue. In my research I address these issues by taking advantage of my research strengths/expertise in veterinary endocrinology and nutritional biochemistry. For the last four years I have focused specifically on the effects of stress and environmental toxic chemicals such as ammonia and perchlorate on the immune and endocrine system.
Animal research has resulted in saving both animal and human lives. Human and monkey share a close genetic relationship and physiological similarities. Therefore non-human primates have played a critical role in biomedical research of food safety and security. The long term goal of my current research is to understand the chronic effect of perchlorate exposure through the environment on the public health. Over the last few decades, research has shown that elevated TSH in pregnant women plays a critical role during the brain development of the foetus at the first trimester. However, less is known about chronic levels of perchlorate toxicity. This is important, since the thyroid can compensate for iodide deficiency for a limited time. Since perchlorate inhibits thyroid uptake, long term chronic thyroid uptake inhibition must also effect of thyroid function.
My current research involves the study of the effects of environmental chemical contaminants on Public Health Food Safety and Security: 1) the long-term effects of perchlorate on thyroid metabolism, 2) perchlorate contamination of food and water, 3) chemical contaminant in food additive.
Research Support:
Completed Research
2005-2006, Western
Institute For Food Safety and Security # 03-04, Perchlorate Exposure
in Lactating Rhesus Monkeys, The
goal of this project was to establish the dose response in non-human
primate for perchlorate inhibition of thyroidal iodide uptake and any
short-term effects on thyroid hormones in lactating Non-Human Primate.
Co-Principal Investigator $ 40 000
Funded Research
Quatrogens and iodide levels in feed, water and eggs from laying-hen farms
(Pilot Study).
PI: Aysel Ozpinar,
Co-Is: Jerry Gillespie, Ben Blount
February 2007, School
of Veterinary Medicine and National Center of Environmental Health, CDC, $35,038
Submitted research proposals
Perchlorate:
health effects of long-term exposure in pregnant and
infant monkeys.
PIs:
Jerry Gillespie, Aysel Ozpinar
Co-Is: Mari Golub, Robert Poppenga,
Philip Kass
Consultants: John Harvey, Bill Lesley
February 2007, NIH-R-O1 (No: 7533425,
for 5 years, $ 4,300,000
Not Granted
Biomarkers
of Animal Disease: Applications of Acute Phase Protein Analysis
in Animal Health and Welfare.
PI: David Eckersall, UK
Co-Investigator: Aysel Ozpinar
March 2007, European
Science Foundation, EU FP7, Cost Action, Theme 2, Food, Agriculture
and Fisheries and Biotechnology.
Honors, Awards and Appointments:
2006-current, President, International Society for Animal Clinical Pathology
2006, President, International Society for Animal Clinical Biochemistry Congress, Istanbul/Turkey
2004-2006, Vice President, International Society for Animal Clinical Biochemistry (ISACB)
1996-2006, Outstanding Researcher Award, Istanbul University (several times)
1996-2006, Outstanding Researcher Award, The Scientific & Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) (several times)
2003-2004, Fulbright Scholarship Award, University of California
1990, 1998, 2002, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Research Grand and Scholarship Award, Germany
2000-2002, President, Alumni Society of Istanbul Veterinary Science
1997-1998, German Research Foundation (DFG)Research Grand and Scholarship Award, Hohenheim University, Germany
1992-1996, Vice President, Istanbul Branch of Turkish Biochemical Society, Turkey
1986-1988, European Union Research Foundation,Scholarship and Grand Award, Zurich University, Switzerland