| Gulnar Rizvan Abdullayeva | |
| Place of birth | Baku, Azerbaijan |
| Date of birth | 30.06.1995 |
| Education | Baku State University – Bachelor Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences - Master University of Oxford - PhD |
| Scientific degree | Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Biology |
| Academic rank | - |
| Speciality code and title for PhD thesis | Oncology Goblet cell differentiation in colorectal cancer |
| Total number of printed scientific publications | 24 |
| Number of scientific publications printed abroad | 11 |
| Number of papers published in journals indexed and abstracted in international databases | 7 |
| Number of patents and certificates of authorship | - |
| Staff training: - number of PhD
| - |
| Key scientific achievements | 1.The regulatory mechanisms associated with the differentiation of functional goblet cells in colorectal cancer were systematically investigated. 2.The mRNA and protein expression profiles of the goblet cell–specific genes MUC2 (Mucin-2) and TFF3 (Trefoil Factor-3) were comprehensively analysed across a large panel of colorectal cancer cell lines. 3.Colorectal cancer–derived cell lines were classified into five major categories based on the expression levels of MUC2 and TFF3. Notably, approximately 30% of the analysed colorectal cancer samples demonstrated positive TFF3 expression but negative MUC2 expression, revealing the presence of a novel subgroup. 4.The classification of colorectal cancer cell lines based on goblet cell differentiation was further validated using tumour tissue samples obtained from colorectal cancer patients. 5.Furthermore, 12 different genes (MUC2, TFF3, ATOH1, SPDEF, CDX1, CDX2, GATA6, HES1, ETS2, OLFM4, TOX3, and LGR5) were shown to play regulatory roles in the process of goblet cell differentiation. The findings of this study were published in the article titled “Goblet Cell Differentiation Subgroups in Colorectal Cancer” (DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2414213121) in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). |
| Titles of publications | 1. Abdullayeva G., Huseynova I., Bodmer W. (2025). Advances in understanding goblet cell differentiation in colorectal cancer. International Conference on “Challenges in Energy, Food, Environment, and Climate Security (EFEC 2025)”, Baku, p. 174-175. 2. Ramli F.F., Rejeki P.S., Ibrahim N., Abdullayeva G., Halim S (2025). A mechanistic review of toxicity effects of methamphetamine. Int J Med Sci. 22(3):482-507. DOI: 10.7150/ijms.99159. https://www.medsci.org/v22p0482.htm 3. Abdullayeva G., Liu H., Liu T.C., Simmons A., Novelli M., Huseynova I., Lastun V.L., Bodmer W. (2024). Goblet cell differentiation subgroups in colorectal cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (PNAS) 121 (43) e2414213121. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2414213121 4. Abdullayeva G., Huseynova I., Bodmer W. (2024). New insights on goblet cell differentiation in colorectal cancer. The III international bilateral online seminar of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and Dokuz Eylul University, p. 5. 5. Michl J., Monterisi S., White B., Blaszczak W., Hulikova A., Abdullayeva G., ... & Swietach P. (2023). Acid-adapted cancer cells alkalinize their cytoplasm by degrading the acid-loading membrane transporter anion exchanger 2, SLC4A2. Cell Reports, 42(6). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112601 6. Rustamova S., Abdullayeva G., Shahmuradov I., Huseynova I. (2023). AP2 domain structure and protein motif features in Azerbaijan local durum and bread wheat genotypes. Journal of Life Sciences & Biomedicine, 5(78) No2, p. 5-15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.59849/2710-4915.2023.2.5 7. Abdullayeva G.R., Liebe V., Bodmer W. (2023). Goblet cell differentiation in colorectal cancer-derived cell lines. International conference on the "Conceptual Power of Single-Cell Biology" P2.013, USA, p.123 8. Monterisi S., Michl J., Hulikova A., Koth J., Bridges E. M., Hill A. E., Abdullayeva G.R., ... & Swietach P. (2022). Solute exchange through gap junctions lessens the adverse effects of inactivating mutations in metabolite-handling genes. Elife, 11, e78425. DOI: 10.7554/eLife.78425 9. Abdullayeva G.R., Liebe V., Bodmer W. (2022). Goblet cell differentiation in colorectal cancer. Annals of Oncology; Molecular Analysis for Precision Oncology Congress 2022 (MAP 2022) 33(8), Netherlands. DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2022.09.097 10. Rustamova S.M., Abdullayeva G.R., Huseynova I.M. (2022). Isolation and characterization of DREB gene in ancestral diploid wheat species from a wheat domestication center. Genet. Mol. Res. 21(3): GMR19035. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/gmr19035 11. Abdullayeva G.R., Alibeyova G.R., Rustamova S.M. (2019). The insertion/deletion polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on "One Health: Problems & Solutions", Baku, p.96. 12. Abdullayeva G.R., Sadigov Sh.F. (2019). Identification of wheat stem rust resistance Sr11 gene effective to Puccinia Graminis f. sp. tritici Race TKTTF by SNP markers. 9th International scientific conference on "Innovative approaches in Modern Biology", Baku State University, p.5. 13. Alibeyova G.R., Abdullayeva G.R. (2019). Investigation of insertion/deletion polymorphism of ACE gene. 9th International scientific conference on "Innovative approaches in Modern Biology", Baku State University, p.18-19. 14. Abdullayeva G.R., Rustamova S.M., Huseynova I.M. (2019). Sequence analysis of Dreb gene from wheat genotype 'Barakatli 95'. Proceedings of Abstracts and Papers (e-Proceedings) of the 1st International Conference on Air – Land – Sea Interaction, Baku, p.21. 15. Abdullayeva G.R., Rustamova S.R. (2018). Genetic and structural effects of cancer-associated mutations in human DNA polymerases delta and epsilon (review). Transactions of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku, vol. 2, p.55-60. 16. Huseynova I.M., Rustamova S.M., Abdullayeva G.R. (2018). Application of PCR-based functional molecular markers to identify Dreb1 genes in Triticum aestivum L. SF Biotechnol Bioeng J 1:1. 17. Abdullayeva G.R., Rustamova S.R., Huseynova I.M. (2018). Screening of Dreb1 gene for D genome of bread wheat genotypes by functional markers. "7th National Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Congress", Nevsehir, Turkey, p.40. 18. Abdullayeva G.R., Rustamova S.M., Huseynova I.M. (2018). Isolation and molecular characterization of Dreb gene from local Azerbaijan wheat genotype. Proceedings of the Central Botanical Garden of the ANAS, Baku, vol. XVI, p.35-40. 19. Rustamova S.R., Sadigov Sh.F., Abdullayeva G.R. (2018). Molecular Identification of Lr, Yr, and Sr resistance genes in Azerbaijan wheat germplasm. Conference of young scientists and students on "Innovations in Biology and Agriculture to solve Global Challenges" dedicated to the 90th anniversary of academician Jalal Aliyev. Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku, p.36. 20. Abdullayeva G.R., Rustamova S.R., Huseynova I.M. (2018). Detection of stem rust resistance gene Sr31 in wheat genotypes using Iag95 primer. The scientific conference titled "New Challenges in Botanical Studies". ANAS and Azerbaijan Botanists Society, Baku, p.280. 21. Abdullayeva G.R. (2018). Isolation of DREB transcription factor gene from wheat genotypes in Azerbaijan. VIII International Scientific Conference on "Innovative approaches in modern biology". Baku State University, p.5. 22. Abdullayeva G.R., Niyazova N.N., Rustamova S.M. Investigating DREB transcription factor gene that regulates drought resistance on wheat A and D genomes. VII International Scientific Conference on "Innovative Problems of Modern Biology" for Young Scientists and Researchers. Baku State University, 2017, p.5-8. 23. Abdullayeva G.R., Rustamova S.R. Identification of TaDREB1 genes in wheat using functional markers. "XVIII Winter School of PNPI on Biophysics and Molecular Biology". St. Petersburg, Russia, 2017, p.63-64. 24. Rustamova S.M., Abdullayeva G.R., Huseynova I.M. Validation of wheat Dreb1 genes involved in drought tolerance using D genome-specific primer. The International Scientific Conference "The impact of climate change on the plant biodiversity". Institute of Dendrology of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. Baku, 2017, p.168. |
| Membership in national, international, and foreign scientific organizations | Genetic Society (2022 – present) American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (2022 – present) Azerbaijani Women's Association in the United Kingdom (AWAUK) (2021 – present) European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) (2022 – 2025) British Association for Cancer Research (BACR) (2022 – 2024) American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (2022 – 2024) European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (2022 – 2024) |
| Pedagogical activity | · Lecturer in Genetics & Biotechnology | Oxbridge Academic Programs, Oxford (June–July 2022) · Lecturer in Genetics | Oxbridge Academic Programs, Cambridge (July-August 2021) · Lecturer in Molecular Biology | Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Azerbaijan (September 2018 – June 2019) |
| Other activities | - |
| Awards and prizes | “Non-stipendiary Junior Research Fellowship”, University of Oxford, United Kingdom (2025) "Presidential Award for Youth" conferred by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, in recognition of excellence in the field of science (2024) "Young Scientist of the Year" by the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku, Azerbaijan "Winner of the Hello Bio Science Snapshots Competition" (2023) “Associate Fellow” – Advance HE (2022) Vice-President of a Student Representative Committee, St Cross College, University of Oxford (2021-2022) "Oxford Region Finalist", FameLab international, science communication competition, Oxford (2021) "Winner of Winter School of Young Biologists", Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies of ANAS, Baku, Azerbaijan (2019) "PhD Scholarship Awardee 2018-2019", Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) (2018) "Honorary Diploma", Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku, Azerbaijan (2017) "Distinction Award", Baku State University, the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan (2016) "Best student of the Year", Baku State University, the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan (2013-2015) |
| Place of work and its address 1 | Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Baku, Azerbaijan |
| Position | Junior Research Scientist |
| Place of work and its address 2 | University of Oxford, United Kingdom |
| Position | Postdoctoral Research Scientist |
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| | abdullayevagulnar95@gmail.com |
