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USD 120 /hr

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Hire Ismail C.

United States

USD 120 /hr

Senior RNA Therapeutics Scientist | 13 Yrs Cardiovascular Research | Ex-Altos Labs | Postdoc LMU-IPEK | Biotech Founder

Profile Summary

I am a PhD-level scientist and biotech founder with 13 years of specialized experience in cardiovascular research and RNA therapeutics. I hold a PhD in Cancer Biology from Middle East Technical University (METU), completed my postdoctoral research at LMU-IPEK (Ludwig Maximilian University — Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Munich), and served as Principal Scientist at Altos Labs — one of the world's leading longevity and cellular rejuvenation research organizations. My postdoctoral research in RNA therapeutics forms the scientific foundation of Cardivia Labs, my RNA drug discovery startup targeting vascular aging and cardiovascular disease using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and target-site blockers (TSBs). I bring rare combined expertise across cardiovascular biology, RNA drug discovery, and biotech entrepreneurship — with hands-on experience from academia, industry, and company building. Services I offer: RNA therapeutic design and target validation (ASO, TSB, siRNA) MicroRNA biology and target-site blocker strategy Cardiovascular and vascular biology consulting Longevity and vascular aging research advisory Drug discovery strategy and IND-enabling study planning Scientific literature review and competitive landscape analysis Grant writing (SBIR/STTR, NIH, EU Horizon) Investor pitch preparation and scientific due diligence Biotech startup advisory (pipeline strategy, accelerator applications, lab setup) I have collaborated with world-class researchers in RNA delivery and biology and bring rigorous bench science, industry experience, and entrepreneurial perspective to every engagement. Available for hourly consulting, short-term projects, and ongoing advisory roles.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ★ Cell Aging
• ★ Drug Discovery
• ★ Cardiovascular Disease
• ☆ Molecular Biology
• ☆ Epigenetics
• ☆ Cell Biology
• ☆ Cell-Based Assays
• ☆ Cell Signaling Pathways
• ☆ Cell Culture
• ☆ Primary Cells

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting
• Data & AI

Writing Medical Writing, Non-Medical Regulatory Writing, Technical Writing, Creative Writing

Research Market Research, User Research, Gray Literature Search, Scientific and Technical Research, Systematic Literature Review

Consulting Legal Consulting, Operations Consulting, Scientific and Technical Consulting

Data & AI Statistical Analysis, Image Analysis

Work Experience

Company Founder

Cardivia Labs

January 2026 - Present

Scientist

University of Rochester Medical Center

May 2024 - Present

Principal Scientist

Altos Labs, Bay Area Institute

March 2022 - November 2023

Research Associate

Klinikum der Universität München Institut für Prophylaxe und Epidemiologie der Kreislaufkrankheiten - August-Lenz-Stiftung

October 2016 - February 2022

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow (Deparment of Molecular Biology and Genetics)

Bilkent Üniversitesi

August 2013 - September 2016

PhD (Department of Biological Sciences)

Middle East Technical University

September 2007 - December 2012

Certifications

• Certification details not provided.

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Ismail Cimen, Lucia Natarelli, Zahra Abedi Kichi, James M. Henderson, Floriana M. Farina, Eva Briem, Maria Aslani, Remco T.A. Megens, Yvonne Jansen, Elizabeth Mann-Fallenbuchel, et al. (2023). Targeting a cell-specific microRNA repressor of CXCR4 ameliorates atherosclerosis in mice . Science Translational Medicine.

Ismail Cimen, Ozlem Tufanli, Mevlut Citir, Changjun Yin, Emiel P. C. Van der Vorst(2023). Editorial: The connections of immune metabolic mechanisms with aging-related diseases . Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. 11. Frontiers Media {SA}

S. Gencer, Y. Jansen, S. Bayasgalan, Y. Yan, M. Bianchini, I. Cimen, M. Müller, L. Peters, R. Megens, J. Duchene, et al.(2022). Endothelial ACKR3 drives atherosclerosis by promoting immune cell adhesion to vascular endothelium . Atherosclerosis. 355. Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 21--22. Elsevier {BV}

ISMAIL CIMEN, E Van Der Vorst, S Gencer, Y Jansen, S Bayasgalan, Y Yan, M Bianchini, I Cimen, M Mueller, L Peters, et al.(2022). Endothelial ACKR3 drives atherosclerosis by promoting immune cell adhesion to vascular endothelium . Cardiovascular Research. 118. (Supplement{\_}1). Oxford University Press ({OUP})

Gencer S, Döring Y, Jansen Y, Bayasgalan S, Yan Y, Bianchini M, Cimen I, Müller M, Peters LJF, Megens RTA, et al.(2022). Endothelial ACKR3 drives atherosclerosis by promoting immune cell adhesion to vascular endothelium . Basic research in cardiology.

Ismail Cimen, Syed Muhammad Hamid, Mevlut Citir, Erdem Murat Terzi, Zehra Yildirim, Asli Ekin Dogan, Begum Kocaturk, Umut Inci Onat, Moshe Arditi, Christian Weber, et al. (2020). Inositol‐requiring enzyme‐1 regulates phosphoinositide signaling lipids and macrophage growth . EMBO reports.

(2020). B-Cell Specific CXCR4 Protects Against Atherosclerosis Development and Increases Plasma IgM Levels . Circulation Research.

(2019). Double bond configuration of palmitoleate is critical for atheroprotection . Molecular Metabolism.

Onat, U.I., Yildirim, A.D., Tufanli, Ö., Çimen, I., Kocatürk, B., Veli, Z., Hamid, S.M., Shimada, K., Chen, S., Sin, J., et al.(2019). Intercepting the Lipid-Induced Integrated Stress Response Reduces Atherosclerosis . Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 73. (10). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 1149-1169.

Tufanli O, Telkoparan Akillilar P, Acosta-Alvear D, Kocaturk B, Onat UI, Hamid SM, Çimen I, Walter P, Weber C, Erbay E, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2017, vol. 114, no. 8, pp. E1395-E1404, 2017 .

Tunçer, S., Keşküş, A.G., Çolakoğlu, M., Çimen, I., Yener, C., Konu, Ö., Banerjee, S.(2017). 15-Lipoxygenase-1 re-expression in colorectal cancer alters endothelial cell features through enhanced expression of TSP-1 and ICAM-1 . Cellular Signalling. 39. Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 44-54.

Tufanli, O., Akillilar, P.T., Acosta-Alvear, D., Kocaturk, B., Onat, U.I., Hamid, S.M., Çimen, I., Walter, P., Weber, C., Erbay, E.(2017). Targeting IRE1 with small molecules counteracts progression of atherosclerosis . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 114. (8). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString E1395-E1404.

Çimen, I., Kocatürk, B., Koyuncu, S., Tufanl, Ö., Onat, U.I., Yildirim, A.D., Apaydin, O., Demirsoy, Ş., Aykut, Z.G., Nguyen, U.T., et al.(2016). Prevention of atherosclerosis by bioactive palmitoleate through suppression of organelle stress and inflammasome activation . Science Translational Medicine. 8. (358).

Tuncay Cagatay, S., Cimen, I., Savas, B., Banerjee, S.(2013). MTA-1 expression is associated with metastasis and epithelial to mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer cells . Tumor Biology. 34. (2). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 1189-1204.

Sade, A., Tunçay, S., Çimen, I., Severcan, F., Banerjee, S.(2012). Celecoxib reduces fluidity and decreases metastatic potential of colon cancer cell lines irrespective of COX-2 expression . Bioscience Reports. 32. (1). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 35-44.

Astarci, E., Sade, A., Çimen, I., Savaş, B., Banerjee, S.(2012). The NF-κB target genes ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 are differentially regulated during spontaneous differentiation of Caco-2 cells . FEBS Journal. 279. (16). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 2966-2986.

Cimen, I., Astarci, E., Banerjee, S.(2011). 15-lipoxygenase-1 exerts its tumor suppressive role by inhibiting nuclear factor-kappa B via activation of PPAR gamma . Journal of Cellular Biochemistry. 112. (9). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 2490-2501.

Çimen, I., Tunçay, S., Banerjee, S.(2009). 15-Lipoxygenase-1 expression suppresses the invasive properties of colorectal carcinoma cell lines HCT-116 and HT-29 . Cancer Science. 100. (12). Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc.Localization.LocalizedHtmlString 2283-2291.