Education
- PhD (2003) — Hacettepe University, Institute of Health Sciences: Advanced Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery).
- Residency (1990–1997) — Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine: Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.
- Subspecialties — Hand Surgery (2011); Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (2012).
- Fellowships — Craniofacial Surgery, Erasmus MC Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam (2012); Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, USA (2014–2015).
Research Areas
- Craniofacial anomalies and their surgical treatment
- Vascular anomalies — diagnosis and treatment
- Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
OMIM Catalog Records
Phenotypes and causative genes described with his team that have entered the international OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man) catalog. One of them is recorded in the literature as Balcı-Vargel Syndrome.
| Phenotype entry (OMIM) | Gene / locus | Nature of contribution |
|---|---|---|
| VMPI · #606893 — Vascular Malformation, Primary Intraosseous | *606421 ELMO2 (Engulfment and Cell Motility Gene 2) | Direct discovery — Identified the genetic mutation responsible for this rare intraosseous vascular condition. |
| FND3 · #613456 — Frontonasal Dysplasia 3 | *601527 ALX1 (Aristaless-like Homeobox 1) | Direct discovery — Defined a new form of frontonasal dysplasia and its causative gene. |
| Balcı-Vargel Syndrome · #609466 — Cleft Palate, Midfacial Hypoplasia, and Hearing Loss | Molecular basis currently under study | Clinical discovery — First-ever description of this autosomal recessive syndrome. |
| NYS1 · #310700 — Nystagmus 1, Congenital, X-linked | *300628 FRMD7 (FERM Domain-Containing Protein 7) | Mapping — Crucial role in the genetic localization and clinical characterization of X-linked nystagmus. |
| FND2 · #613451 — Frontonasal Dysplasia 2 | *605420 ALX4 (Aristaless Homeobox 4) | Classification — Instrumental in redefining the phenotypic spectrum of ALX-related craniofacial disorders. |
| CRS4 · #614779 — Craniosynostosis 4, AR (Crouzon-like) | *600939 IL11RA (Interleukin 11 Receptor, Alpha) | Direct discovery — Identified the first autosomal recessive form of Crouzon-like craniosynostosis. |
Patent
Closed Reduction Distractor with External Fixation
- Patent no: 2021/021264 · Date: 29.07.2021
- Institution: Hacettepe University HT-TTM Patent Office
- Status: Brought to commercial product stage through university–industry collaboration
A device for extracapsular mandibular condyle fractures that reduces the fracture ends in three axes by a closed technique, while providing fixation and distraction osteogenesis. Addressing a universal problem of craniofacial surgery, this domestically developed product was patented and advanced to the commercial stage.