Gokay Yamankurt

Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences

Faculty Mentors: Professors Chad Mirkin and Richard Carthew

Research

Gokay received a B.S. in Chemistry and a B.S. in Biochemical and Biophysical Sciences from the University of Houston. His current research is focused on a nanoparticle platform called Spherical Nucleic Acids (SNAs). Gokay’s research combines the fields of biology and chemistry to understand how SNAs interact with biological systems inside cells, and applies this knowledge to develop SNAs for biomedical applications. He is currently working to improve the SNA architecture for the treatment of prostate cancer and retinal diseases.

Awards & Fellowships

• Chemistry of Life Processes Predoctoral Fellowship (NIGMS T32GM15538)

Publications

1. Wu, H.; Yamankurt, G.; Luo, J.L.; Subramaniam, J.; Hashmi, S.S.; Hu, H.; Cunha, S.R., Cardiovasc Res. 2015, 107, 466-77.
2. Yamankurt, G.; Wu, H.; McCarthy, M.; Cunha, S.R., PLoS ONE. 2015, 10, e0128177.
3. Yamankurt, G.; Nguyen, F.T.; Mohler, P.J.; Cunha, S.R., J Proteomics Bioinform. 2012, S4:002.