The GPD Innovation Award goes to Lale Oğuzhan from Üsküdar University

The “GPD Innovation Awards,” organized by the Food Retailers Association (GPD) to make innovative initiatives that make a difference in the food ecosystem visible, have found their recipients. Within this scope, Lale Oğuzhan, a master’s student in Biotechnology at the Graduate School of Natural Sciences of Üsküdar University, was deemed worthy of the “Innovation Award” for her study titled “Design of an AuNPs Based Lateral Flow Biosensor for the Detection of Pesticide Residues.” The awards were held within the scope of the “Feed the Future” program of the Reliable Product Platform, where projects developed across a broad spectrum ranging from producers to technology startups were evaluated.

The GPD Innovation Awards, organized to highlight innovative practices that make a difference in the food ecosystem and to support the contributions of all stakeholders from producers to technology startups, were presented once again this year.

The award-winning projects were shared with the public on the stage of the Joint Development Congress.

An achievement that inspires young researchers

Lale Oğuzhan, who completed her undergraduate education in Molecular Biology and Genetics at Erzurum Technical University and continues her master’s education in the Biotechnology Department at Üsküdar University, achieved a success that inspires young researchers in both food safety and biotechnology by receiving the GPD Innovation Award.

Fast and easy use in the field is the goal

Stating that her project is based on gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) based rapid diagnostic kits, Lale Oğuzhan emphasized that the most important feature of these kits is that they can be easily used by anyone in the field. Oğuzhan said, “This project actually works as a ‘presence or absence’ test. It can be determined in a very short time whether there is a pesticide residue using the extract of the fruit. It is a system that can be used by everyone, from exporters to producers, without the need for a laboratory environment.” While contributing to ensuring food safety, the project aims to pave the way for more accurate decision making processes through the rapid detection of pesticide residues.

The method is the same, the application area is different

Conducting her master’s thesis on diagnostic methods for Behçet’s disease, Oğuzhan developed an innovative approach to pesticide detection by adapting the same biosensor technology to the field of food safety. Stating that both genetic and chemical molecules can be detected using gold nanoparticles, Oğuzhan noted that the project offers an original and applicable solution in this respect. She said, “There is still no modern and rapid diagnostic method for Behçet’s disease in the world. I developed a method with which we can detect the target gene using gold nanoparticles, and with this project I became a finalist at TEKNOFEST. I realized that I could adapt the same method, by simplifying it further, to the detection of pesticide residues.” She also emphasized that blood samples are used for Behçet’s disease, while food extracts are used for pesticide detection, stating that the basis of the method is the same, but the application areas are different.

An entrepreneurship focused education process continues

Stating that she has applied for patents for both projects, Oğuzhan shared that her studies were accepted at Marmara Technokent and that the entrepreneurship focused education process is ongoing. Planning to apply for other support programs in the coming period, Oğuzhan aims to establish her own biotechnology startup in the long term.

“I want to be in the field rather than in academia”

Emphasizing that she is considering pursuing a doctorate but that her main goal is entrepreneurship, Lale Oğuzhan said, “I want to be more in the field. Academia is very valuable, but my goal is to bring the diagnostic and treatment methods I develop to the world. I want to participate in international fairs, establish my own biotechnology company, and carry innovative solutions emerging from Türkiye to the global market.”

“I want young people to see this and gain courage”

Stating that she is currently working as a teacher and preparing her students for competitions such as TEKNOFEST, Oğuzhan drew attention to the importance of young people gaining project writing and idea development skills at an early age. She said, “Turning an idea into a project is not as difficult as it seems. My projects are also highly feasible and applicable. I want young people to see this and be encouraged.”