SCIENTIST 
 
   

Bahri received his Masters degree and Ph.D. from the Ohio State University in the field of Human Molecular Genetics. He is currently working at the University of Iowa at the Department of Pediatrics as a Research Scientist. His main goal in his research is to acquire information pertaining to an early childhood nervous system cancer called "neuroblastoma".

Neuroblastoma is a pediatric cancer of nervous system. It is the most common solid extracranial neoplasm in children and is responsible for approximately 15% of all childhood cancer deaths. Despite advances in treatment modalities, including radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy, many children with neuroblastoma still face a poor prognosis.  Nearly half of the children with advanced neuroblastoma die of the disease, and many survivors suffer from learning, memory and fine motor disabilities. It is obvious that improvement in therapy for neuroblastoma is needed.

Under normal circumstances, the life of a cell may be ended by a death mechanism that is under the control of specific genes. This mechanism of apoptosis is nonfunctional in tumors, which contributes to the generation of tumors and to the failure of chemotherapy. One of Bahri’s research goals is to activate this internal death mechanism in neuroblastoma tumors by delivering the death-inducing genes to the tumor cells using gene therapy techniques. Bahri’s ultimate goal is to substitute chemotherapy with gene therapy to provide a specific and effective treatment for neuroblastoma and to eliminate the unwanted side effects of the anti-cancer drugs currently in use. Bahri’s research is funded by grants provided by National Cancer Institute, Children’s Miracle Network and Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

  
       

Read Bahri’s thoughts 
on Genetic Engineering

   
    Bahri Karacay, working with virus.  
 
EDUCATION
1992 - 1996 Doctor Of Philosophy The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 
1990 - 1992 Masters of Science  The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
1987 - 1988  Training in Research Friederich Wilhelm university, Bonn, Germany
1985 - 1987 Masters of Science Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
1981 - 1985 Bachelor of Science Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey (Magna Cum Laude)
RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Research
2001-present Research Scientist, University of Iowa, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Neurology, Iowa City, Iowa.
1997- 2001 Post-Doctoral Fellow, Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Columbus, Ohio and University of Iowa, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Iowa City, Iowa.“ Role of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Receptor Type 1 in Development of Nervous System”
Mentor: M.Sue O’Doriso, M.D., Ph.D.
1992 -1996 Graduate Research Associate, Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
"Regulation and Function of the Erythrocyte Mebrane Protein Band 4.2 Gene" (Ph.D. Thesis)
"Regulation of the Human Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 4.2 Expression" (Master Thesis)
Advisors: Caroline A. Breitenberger, Ph.D. (Adviser); Long-Sheng Chang, Ph.D. (Co-Adviser)
HONORS AND AWARDS
1996 Graduate Research Forum Award, Biological Sciences 2nd place, Counsel Of Graduate Studies, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
1995 Scott Falkenthal Memorial Graduate Student Colloquim Award
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
Scientific Presentation Award, 20th Annual ICSABER Society Graduate Research Forum,
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
1992 Scientific Presentation Award, 13th Annual Research Forum,
 Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
1987 - 1988 Scholarship from German Foundation for International  Development, Germany
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
American Association of Cancer Research
GRANTS INVOLVED
As co-investigator:
Title: "An animal model of congenital LCM virus infection."
Source: March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
Principal Investigator: Daniel J. Bonthius. 
PUBLICATIONS
Journal Articles
Karacay, B.,  M.S. O’Dorisio, M. Summers, M. Robinson, and D.J. Bonthius. (2002).  Expression  of VIP Receptor 1 (VPAC1) promoter in Central and Peripheral Nervous System (manuscript in preparation).
Karacay, B.,  Lu, D-Y, and L.S. Chang (2002). Upstream Sequences of Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 4.2 Specifies Its Tissue Specific Expression in Transgenic Mice (manuscript in preparation)  
Bonthius D. J.,  Karacay, B., and Mahoney J. (2002).  A Critical Role for Glial Cells in the Infection, Propagation and Spread of Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus in the Developing Rat Brain. (J.Virol. in press)  
Bonthius D. J.,  Tzouras G., Karacay, B., Mahoney J., Hutton A., McKim R., and Pantazis N. J. (2002). Deficiency of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) worsens alcohol-induced microencephaly and neuronal loss in developing mice. (Brain Res.in press).
Karacay, B.,  M. S. O’Dorisio, K. Kasow , C. Hollenback, and Krahe R. (2001). Expression and Fine Mapping of Vasocative Intestinal Peptide Receptor I J. Molec. Neurosc. 17: 311-324  
Bonthius, D.J.,  Pantazis, N.J., Karacay, B., Bonthius, N.E., Taggard, D.A., and Lothman E. W. (2001). Alcohol Exposure During the Brain Growth Spurt Promotes Hippocampal Seizures, Kindling and Spreading Depression. Alcoh. Clin. Exp. Res. 25:734-745  
Lara-Marquez,  M.L., O'Dorisio, MS., O'Dorisio, T.M., Shah, M.H., and Karacay, B. (2001). Selective gene Expression and Activation-Dependent regulation of VIP Type 1 (VPC1) and Type 2 (VPAC2) in Human T-Cells J. Immun. 166:2522-2530.
Karacay, B.,  M.S. O’Dorisio, M. Summers, and J. Bruce. (2000). Regulation of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Receptor Expression in Developing Nervous System Ann. NY. Acad. Sci. 9: 165-174  
Lara-Marquez,  ML, O'Dorisio MS, Karacay, B. (2000). Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptor type 2 (VPAC2) is the predominant receptor expressed in human thymocytes. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 9: 45-54
Karacay, B.,   and L.S. Chang (1999). Induction of erythrocyte protein 4.2 gene expression during differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells. Genomics 1999, 59: 6-17
Karacay, B.,   Xie, E., and L.S. Chang (1995). The murine erythrocyte protein-4.2- encoding gene: similarity and differences in structure and expression from its human counterpart. Gene 158 : 253-256  
Book Chapter
Karacay, B.,  and M.S. O’Dorisio (2002). Vasocative Intestinal Peptide (VIP): Neurotransmitter, Hormone and Cytokine. Encyclopedia of Peptides and Hormones. Academic Press.
Bonthius D.J.  and B. Karacay (2002). Meningitis and Encephalitis in Children: An Update. Neurologic Clinics of North America. Editors: Bale, J. F. and J.R. Bodensteiner.
PRESENTATIONS
Karacay B.,  and M.S. O’Dorisio. 5’- Flanking Sequence of VPAC1 Gene Targets Expression of a Reporter Gene to Cerebellum. 5th International Meeting VIP, PACAP, Secretin, Glucagon and related Peptides. November 4-8, 2001, Santa Barbara, California.
Katz. S.E.,  Klisovic, D.D., Karacay, B., Lubow, M., and O’Dorisio, M.S. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), VIP receptor 1 and 2 (VIPR1 and VIPR2) gene expression in human ocular tissues. ARVO Annual Meeting Fort Lauderdale, Florida April 30-May 5, 2000  
Lara-Marquez M.,  O'Dorisio M.S., Shah M., Karacay, B. Quantitation of human VIP receptors type 1 (VPAC1) and type 2 (VPAC2) transcripts on human T cell subpopulations and monocytes in healthy volunteers. Annual meeting of the Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society (PNIRS). April 28 - May 1, 1999, Galveston, Texas.  
Karacay, B.,  M.S. O'Dorisio, M. Summers, J. Bruce. Regulation of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Expression in Developing Nervous System 20th Annual Children's Hospital Research Forum - June 1-2, 1999 Columbus, OH  
Karacay, B.,  Summers, M., Balster, D., and O’Dorisio, M.S. Regulation of VIPR1 promoter activity in neuroblastoma cells. Society for Neuroscience 28th Annual Meeting, November 7-12, 1998 Los Angeles, CA
Summers, M.,  Karacay, B., Balster, D., and O’Dorisio, M.S. Regulation of VIPR1 promoter activity in neuroblastoma cells. 12th International Symposium on Regulatory Peptides. September 16-20, 1998 Michigan, USA.
Karacay, B.,  Xie, Enzhong, and L.S. Chang. Towards developing an animal model for hereditary spherocytosis caused by erythrocyte protein 4.2 deficiency. 16th Annual Children's Hospital Research Forum, June 1-2, 1995 Columbus OH.  
Karacay, B. ,  and L.S. Chang. Erythroid specific transcription GATA-1 regulates the expression of erytrocyte membrane protein 4.2. VII Annual Ohio State University Molecular Biology Program Meeting, September 8-10, 1994, Put-In Bay, OH 
Karacay, B. ,  D. Yu-Lu, and L.S. Chang.Regulation of the human erythrocyte membrane protein 4.2 expression. IV Annual Ohio State University, Molecular Biology Program Meeting, September 4-6, 1992, Put-In- Bay, OH. 
TEACHING
1997 - 2001  Postdoctoral Assoaciate
 

Individual participated

 Type of Training

 Current position

Doug Balster, M.D.Ph.D. Graduate student

Basic Molecular Biology Techniques

Medical Student, The Ohio State University

Nancy McAllister, M.D.
Pediatric Resident

Cell culture, Transfection, and Reporter Gene Assay

Physician,
Boise, Idaho

Altaf Jamil, M.D.
Hematology/Oncology
Fellow

Basic Molecular Biology Techniques, Cell Culture, Transfection


Jarrod Bruce, B.S.
Research Technician

Molecular Biology Techniques, Transgenic Animal Care and Analysis of Reporter Minigenes in vivo

Medical Student,
The Ohio State University

John Seaberg, B.S,
Research Technician

Basic Molecular Biology Techniques, Cell Culture and Reporter Gene Assays

Medical Student,
University of Oklahoma

Mary Cox B.S.
Research Technician

Basic Molecular Biology Techniques

Research Technician
University of Iowa

Amy Stecklein,
Study Student

Transgenic Animal Care and Analysis of Reporter
Minigenes in vivo

Student University of Iowa

Adam Cohen,
Study Student

Cloning and Gel Electrophoresis

Student
Harvard University

1992 - 1993 Graduate Teaching Associate,  
Biology 101 and 113. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
ACTIVITIES
1997 - 1998 President, Wexner Graduate Student-Post Doctoral Fellow Association  
1994 - 1995 Director of Cultural Affairs, Turkish-American Association of Central Ohio  
1992 - 1993 President, Turkish Student Association of The Ohio State University
LANGUAGES
Turkish, English and German  
     
Bahri Karacay, working in his lab.