WELCOME TO DURDAGILAB

Prof. Dr. Serdar DURDAĞI


I am a dedicated scientist, passionately pursuing research in the field of protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions. My primary focus is on developing effective computational techniques that enable a deeper understanding and exploration of these interactions. With an interdisciplinary approach, my research encompasses rational drug design, including protein modeling, dynamics, engineering, as well as ligand- and structure-based drug design. To achieve these ambitious goals, I devote my time to writing and developing programming codes for various biological problems, in addition to molecular modeling applications.

In recent years, my laboratory has been dedicated to developing novel codes using machine learning approaches to develop structure- or ligand-based models against different diseases. We engage in virtual screening of ultra-large molecular databases using these models, ultimately designing new therapeutic molecules. Additionally, we prioritize drug repurposing studies in my laboratory, seeking opportunities to repurpose existing drugs for new therapeutic purposes. Collaborative partnerships with experimental research groups are another significant aspect of our work, as they allow us to address compelling questions that require theoretical expertise in interpreting experimental results. 

My contributions to the scientific community have been acknowledged through several prestigious awards. I received several prestigious awards including the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA) Academy Award and TÜBA Academy Medal (2023); The Scientific and Technological Research Institution of Turkiye (TÜBİTAK) Incentive Award (2016); Science Academy BAGEP award (2014); Health Institutes of Türkiye (TÜSEB) Aziz Sancar Incentive Award (2017); BAU Respect for Science Awards - Contribution to Science Award (2017); BAU Respect for Science Awards - Contribution to Society Award (2021); and BAU Respect for Science Awards - Contribution to Science Award (2023); and BAU 25th Year Special Science Award (2023).

I am also the Ambassador of the Biophysical Society (BPS) of Türkiye for the term of 2024-2026.