Website: ncnpl.org
The Neurochemistry and Neurophysics Laboratory (NKPL) at Üsküdar University is one of the central units of the university's neuroscience-focused thematic research infrastructure, where research in molecular neuroscience and biophysics is conducted through an integrated approach.
What is the Neurochemistry and Neurophysics Laboratory (NKPL)? / What is Its Purpose?
Core Purpose: The primary purpose of the Neurochemistry and Neurophysics Laboratory (NKPL) is to investigate the neurochemical and neurophysical functions, changes, and mechanisms occurring in sleep-related neural systems and neurodevelopmental disorders from different experimental and theoretical perspectives. The laboratory was established in early 2018 within the Neuropsychopharmacology Application and Research Center (NPFUAM) with the aim of mapping the central nervous system at both chemical and biophysical levels.
Key Features: The laboratory's scientific vision focuses on analyzing functional balance in the brain from the microscopic to the macroscopic level. In line with this vision, research conducted in the laboratory covers the following levels:
- Identification of intracellular molecular pathways at the single-cell level,
- Analysis of molecular systems that directly reveal neural function,
- Investigation of neurotransmitters responsible for synaptic communication between neurons,
- Analysis of the anatomical and functional systems formed by these neurotransmitters in the mammalian brain in terms of their chemical structures and biophysical functions.
Academic Contribution: Rather than limiting the investigation of complex processes in the nervous system to a single method, NKPL employs a multidimensional research methodology. Molecular processes and biophysical mechanisms are examined by combining in vivo (within a living organism), in vitro (in a laboratory environment or under artificial conditions), and in silico (through computer-based simulations and modeling) methods. This approach provides researchers working on neurodevelopmental and sleep mechanisms with comprehensive datasets that have global scientific relevance.
Equipment and Technical Infrastructure Available in the Laboratory
Key Features: The laboratory has adopted an integrated infrastructure architecture that supports in vivo, in vitro, and in silico research. The technical equipment areas and methodological infrastructures integrated into NKPL research include:
- In Vivo Monitoring and Model Systems: Experimental monitoring modules suitable for observing the biophysical and neurochemical parameters of sleep-related neural systems and behavioral processes at the level of living organisms.
- In Vitro Molecular Analysis Units: Biochemical and biophysical measurement tools that enable the analysis of intracellular molecular pathways at the single-cell level, neurotransmitter release, and chemical structures at the tissue level.
- In Silico Computational Modeling Stations: High-performance computational neuroscience software and hardware used to simulate signaling pathways, neurotransmitter systems, and neurophysical data flows in computer environments and to develop theoretical models.
Research and Application Areas
Academic Contribution: The Neurochemistry and Neurophysics Laboratory conducts thematic research across a broad spectrum, ranging from the fundamental building blocks of the nervous system to its macroscopic systems. The laboratory's main research and application areas are listed below:
- Analysis of Sleep-Related Neural Systems: Functional investigation of neurochemical releases and instantaneous neurophysical changes in brain regions associated with sleep mechanisms.
- Mapping of Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Micro- and macro-level neurochemical and neurophysical mapping of specific brain regions and subsystems that are prominent in neurodevelopmental pathologies.
- Intracellular Signaling Pathway Research: Monitoring the molecular pathways that determine the continuity or disruption of neural functions at the single-cell level using biophysical methods.
- Neurotransmitter System Modeling: Simulation of the kinetics of molecules responsible for chemical communication in the brain, receptor interactions, and the systemic effects of these interactions at the macroscopic level using in silico methods.
Contributions to Students and Industry
- Three-Dimensional Methodological Perspective: Students and researchers gain the ability to approach neuroscience problems simultaneously from three fundamental scientific perspectives: in vivo, in vitro, and in silico (computational).
- Thematic Neuroscience Expertise: In line with Üsküdar University's thematic university vision, the laboratory supports the development of qualified experts with a comprehensive understanding of the brain's chemical and biophysical structure, ranging from intracellular molecular pathways to neurotransmitter systems.
- Integration of Biophysical and Chemical Data: Innovative solutions are developed by combining computer-based simulations with laboratory experiments for drug targeting, neurological disease models, and fundamental neuroscience discoveries required by both industry and academia.
