2017 New Investigator Award: Fatma Erdem

Fatma Erdem (Istanbul University, Turkey)

What made you chose a career in bioanalysis?

I am eager to develop new tools to detect and treat diseases. I am interested in biotechnology. I am also interested in biosensors, especially aptamer based sensors.

Describe the main highlights of your bioanalytical work?

I am independent, self-motivated. I usually provide innovative idea in the project meetings. I finished four projects that will be published in quality journals. After a big project proposal that I have contributed to write and submit in all steps, I realized that I really want to research in the bioanalytical field. I had experience in collaborative research. I have three patent applications that passed first examination. These patents aim to bring new solutions both laboratory staff and patients who suffer from diseases.

How has your work impacted your laboratory, the bioanalytical field and beyond?

I have significant contributed to the quality studies of good clinical and laboratory practices in national levels. I worked self motivated and adapted interdisciplinary team work that includes quality. Universities and SMEs from the European countries.

Describe the most difficult challenge you have encountered in your scientific career and how you overcame it?

I completed my PhD equivalent program after four years in Clinical Microbiology this December and received my specialty on December 22nd 2016 from the Istanbul University, Istanbul School of Medicine. I gave my thesis in the beginning of this September. I completed my PhD equivalent program in Clinical Microbiology by December 22nd 2016. Last month, I started to work in public health center as a clinical microbiologist. But I want to work in a research center or a university as a research. This award will encourage me to contine my research life in the bioanalytical field. And maybe I will be able to meet some new people and hear about new opportunities

Describe your role in bioanalytical communities/groups?

I have contributed assistance of demonstrated achievement for high potential innovative research project proposal (H2020-NMBP-2016-2017 Call for Nanotechnologies, advanced materials).

List up to five of your publications in the field of bioanalysis:

1 The First Enterobacter cloacae Co-producing NDM and OXA-48 Carbapenemases and Inter-hospital spread of OXA-48 and NDM Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, Istanbul, Turkey, ICAAC/ICC 2015 San Diego, California / September 17-21 (accepted to publish by journal of Clinical Laboratory).

2 Comparison of a noval OXA-48 K-SeT test and Blue-Carba test in detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae using PCR as reference method., Erdem F1, Abulaila A1, Aktas Z1, OnculO2. Clin Lab, 2017 Mar 1;63(3):515-522. Doi:10.7754/Clin.Lab.2016.160911.

3 In vitro evaluation of double carbapenem and colistin combinations against OXA-48, NDM and KPC carbapenemase-producing colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Fatma Erdem1, Ayham Abulaila1, Mustafa Fevzi Ozsoy2, Osman Sahingöz3, Zerrin Aktas1, Oncul4 p.218, abstract #5511, Eposter-EVO430 ECCMID Congress 2016, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

4 First determination of NDM-1 with CTX-M-15 and RmtC co-producing Escherichia coli ST471 carrying IncI2, A/C and Y plasmids from clinical isolates in Turkey. Mahir Kapmaz, Fatma Erdem, Ayham Abulaila, Erhan Yeniaras, Oral Oncul, and Zerrin Aktas. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance 7 (2016) 152-153

5 Charaterization and PCR-based replicon typing of resistance plasmid in carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Thesis Project (accepted by ECCMID Committee for ECCMID 2017).

 

Find out more about this year’s New Investigator Award, the judging panel and the rest of our nominees.