Virostem
Biotechnology

Our Team
Everything you Need to Know
Ozgur Tataroglu, PhD

Virostem Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer
Research Expertise:
Molecular Biology, Genetics, CRISPR gene editing, Protein Expression, High-throughput screening, mammalian, insect, fungal and bacterial models, animal behavior and neuroscience.
Professional Experience:
• Virostem Co-founder and CEO, Turkey, 2020-current
• Assistant Professor, Istinye University Medical School, Turkey, 2019-current
• Scientist I, Calico, San Francisco, CA, USA, 2017
• Post-doctoral Researcher, University of Massachusetts Medical School, MA, USA, 2011-2017
Education:
• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of Heidelberg, 2011
• M.S. in Biology, University of Virginia, 2006
• B.S. in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bogazici University, 2002
Ayca Zeynep Ilter, PhD

Virostem Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer
Research Expertise:
Molecular Biology, Genetics, CRISPR gene editing, Biotechnology, Viral biology and production, Cellular Biology, Bacterial biology, Mammalian cell cultures, Stem cell technologies, Biomolecular Engineering.
Professional Experience:
• Virostem Co-founder and CSO, Turkey, 2020-current
• Assistant Professor, Istinye University Medical School, Turkey, 2019-current
• Post-doctoral Researcher, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA, 2017-2018 (Tubitak BIDEB 2219 Fellow)
• Post-doctoral Fellow, Acibadem University, Turkey, 2016-2017
Education:
• Ph.D. in Biotechnology, Yeditepe University, 2016
• M.S. in Biotechnology, Yeditepe University, 2011
• B.S. in Biology, Istanbul University, 2008
Erdal Karaoz, PhD

Virostem Co-founder and Chief Development Officer
Research Expertise:
Stem cells and Regenerative Medicine, Industrial cGMP production, Clinical uses of cell therapy products, Tissue Engineering, Histology and Embryology, Cellular Biology.
Professional Experience:
• Virostem Co-founder and CDO, Turkey, 2020-current
• President, Istinye University, 2019-current
• Head of Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research & Manufacturing, Liv Hospital, 2014-current
• Director of Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering Research and Application Center, Istinye University, 2017-current
• Department Head, Histology and Embryology, Istinye University, 2016-current
• Vice-President, Istinye University, 2017-2019
• Founder and Director of Center for Stem Cell and Gene Therapies Research and Application, Kocaeli University, 2006-2014
• Head of Stem Cells Department, School of Medicine, Kocaeli University, 2007-2014
• Visiting Scientist, Joslin Diabetes Center of Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA, 2005