Berna Sozen, PhD
Assistant Professor of GeneticsCards
Appointments
Additional Titles
Assistant Professor, Genetics
Assistant Professor, Reproductive Sciences
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Assistant Professor, Genetics
Assistant Professor, Reproductive Sciences
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Assistant Professor, Genetics
Assistant Professor, Reproductive Sciences
Contact Info
About
Titles
Assistant Professor of Genetics
Assistant Professor, Genetics; Assistant Professor, Reproductive Sciences
Biography
Dr. Berna Sozen is a developmental biologist whose research focuses on early mammalian embryogenesis and stem cell-based models of human development.
Berna earned her undergraduate degree in Biology at Akdeniz University, Turkey in 2009. She obtained a MSc in Reproductive Biology in 2013 and a PhD in Developmental Biology in 2018 at Akdeniz University School of Medicine. During her MSc she worked with Prof. Tom P. Fleming at the University of Southampton, UK (2012), and during her PhD she worked with Prof. Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz at the University of Cambridge, UK (2015-2018). She then undertook her post-doctoral research first at Cambridge (2018-2019), and later at California Institute of Technology (Caltech) (2019-2020) with Prof. Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz. In 2020, Berna joined the Yale faculty as an Assistant Professor to establish her independent research group at Yale Department of Genetics.
She is recognized for pioneering work that has advanced our understanding of lineage specification, tissue morphogenesis, and the self-organization of embryonic structures. Her lab's studies integrate cutting-edge stem cell technologies, multi-omics profiling, and imaging to uncover the mechanisms guiding early human development. Dr. Sozen's contributions have not only provided critical insights into human embryo biology but have also helped establish stem cell-derived embryo models as a powerful system for developmental and biomedical research.
Appointments
Genetics
Assistant ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral Associate
- California Institute of Technology (CalTech) (2020)
- Postdoctoral Associate
- University of Cambridge (2019)
- PhD
- Akdeniz University, Developmental Biology (2018)
- PhD Research Fellow
- University of Cambridge (2018)
- MSc
- Akdeniz University, Reproductive Biology (2013)
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
ORCID
0000-0001-5834-5819- View Lab Website
modelling development & disease
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Emre Seli, MD
Murat Basar, PhD
Murat Günel, MD, FACS, FAHA, FAANS
Publications
2021
Human embryo polarization requires PLC signaling to mediate trophectoderm specification
Zhu M, Shahbazi M, Martin A, Zhang C, Sozen B, Borsos M, Mandelbaum RS, Paulson RJ, Mole MA, Esbert M, Titus S, Scott RT, Campbell A, Fishel S, Gradinaru V, Zhao H, Wu K, Chen ZJ, Seli E, de los Santos MJ, Goetz M. Human embryo polarization requires PLC signaling to mediate trophectoderm specification. ELife 2021, 10: e65068. PMID: 34569938, PMCID: PMC8514238, DOI: 10.7554/elife.65068.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsMeSH KeywordsActinsAdultBody PatterningCell DifferentiationCell LineageCell PolarityEmbryo Culture TechniquesEmbryo, MammalianFemaleGATA3 Transcription FactorGene Expression Regulation, DevelopmentalGene Expression Regulation, EnzymologicHumansPhosphoinositide Phospholipase CPhospholipase C betaPregnancySignal TransductionTime FactorsYoung AdultConceptsApical domain formationInner cell massEmbryo polarizationPhospholipase CFirst lineage segregationApico-basal polarizationEight-cell stageLineage segregationMammalian developmentTrophectoderm specificationTE fateApical enrichmentApical accumulationDistinct lineagesApical domainApolar cellsPar complexPolarized cellsRNA interferenceMolecular mechanismsF-actinHuman embryosCell stageEmbryosDomain formation
2014
Unfolded protein response prevents blastocyst formation during preimplantation embryo development in vitro
Basar M, Bozkurt I, Guzeloglu-Kayisli O, Sozen B, Tekmen I, Schatz F, Arici A, Lockwood CJ, Kayisli UA. Unfolded protein response prevents blastocyst formation during preimplantation embryo development in vitro. Fertility And Sterility 2014, 102: 1777-1784. PMID: 25305729, DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.09.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsUnfolded protein responseProtein responseBlastocyst formationEmbryo developmentActivation of UPRPreimplantation embryo developmentTM treatmentBlastocyst developmentEffect of tunicamycinEndoplasmic reticulum stressEmbryonic developmentER stressCell embryosNuclear fragmentationMorphological differencesImmunoglobulin proteinBlastocyst stageReticulum stressTunicamycinDevelopment ratePregnant mare serum gonadotropinBlastocyst development rateProtein-1 mRNA expressionNongenomic mechanismsEmbryos
2012
Epab and Pabpc1 Are Differentially Expressed During Male Germ Cell Development
Ozturk S, Guzeloglu-Kayisli O, Demir N, Sozen B, Ilbay O, Lalioti MD, Seli E. Epab and Pabpc1 Are Differentially Expressed During Male Germ Cell Development. Reproductive Sciences 2012, 19: 911-922. PMID: 22814100, PMCID: PMC4046314, DOI: 10.1177/1933719112446086.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsRound spermatidsGene expressionMale germ cell developmentGerm cell developmentPABPC1 expressionTranslational regulationCytoplasmic polyadenylationPosttranscriptional mechanismsPABPC1Key proteinsCell developmentEPABSpatial expressionMature testesMouse testisMessenger RNASpermatogenic cellsTail lengthProteinSpermatocytesExpressionSpermatogoniaTestisEarly postnatal lifePolyadenylationUltrastructural analysis of vascular features in cerebral cavernous malformations
Tanriover G, Sozen B, Seker A, Kilic T, Gunel M, Demir N. Ultrastructural analysis of vascular features in cerebral cavernous malformations. Clinical Neurology And Neurosurgery 2012, 115: 438-444. PMID: 22776801, DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2012.06.023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsMeSH KeywordsApoptosis Regulatory ProteinsBlood VesselsBrainCarrier ProteinsCerebrovascular CirculationChromosome MappingEndothelium, VascularGene Expression RegulationHumansImmunohistochemistryIntracranial Arteriovenous MalformationsKRIT1 ProteinMembrane ProteinsMicroscopy, Electron, ScanningMicroscopy, Electron, TransmissionMicrotubule-Associated ProteinsNeurogliaPericytesPlatelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1Proto-Oncogene ProteinsStromal CellsConceptsCerebral cavernous malformationsVascular malformationsCavernous malformationsUltrastructural featuresBasal laminaIntact basal laminaHuman CCM lesionsConventional indicationsClinical behaviorThin vessel wallWeak immunostainingCCM lesionsVascular endotheliumPathogenic mechanismsLuminal endotheliumVascular featuresMalformationsEndothelial cellsEndotheliumVessel wallLesionsUltrastructural analysisIntercellular junctionsFirst studyRupture
2011
CCM2 expression during prenatal development and adult human neocortex
Tanriover G, Sozen B, Gunel M, Demir N. CCM2 expression during prenatal development and adult human neocortex. International Journal Of Developmental Neuroscience 2011, 29: 509-514. PMID: 21569831, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2011.04.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAdult human neocortexCerebral cavernous malformationsHuman neocortexNeuroglial precursor cellsPrenatal developmentMeans of immunohistochemistryCentral nervous systemWestern blot analysisHuman brain developmentVascular malformationsAdult neocortexGlial cellsCavernous malformationsCCM lesionsVascular endotheliumNervous systemVascular channelsBlood vessel formationArterial endotheliumBrain developmentNeocortexExpression patternsEndotheliumPrecursor cellsCCM loci
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
Honors
honor American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Discovery & Innovation Grant Awardee
06/01/2024National Awardhonor The Blavatnik Accelarator Award for Innovation at Yale
05/15/2024Yale University Awardhonor ReproGrant for Female Reproductive Science
02/01/2023Other AwardReproGrantDetailsUnited Stateshonor NIH Director's New Innovator Award
10/10/2022National AwardOffice of the Director, National Institutes of Health/NIH/DHHSDetailsUnited Stateshonor Smith Family Awards Program for Excellence in Biomedical Research
03/01/2022Regional AwardSmith Family FoundationDetailsUnited States
News & Links
Media
- Mouse blastocysts 4 days after fertilisation showing trophectoderm in cyan, that will give rise to the placenta; embryonic inner cell mass in yellow, that generates the embryo proper. F-Actin marks the cell membrane in magenta.
News
- December 12, 2024Source: Yale Ventures
Yale Life Science PitchFest 2024 Showcases Groundbreaking Research and Innovation
- October 18, 2024
Glucose Metabolism Acts as a Compass to Guide Embryonic Development
- November 01, 2023
From the journals
- June 27, 2023
New Model Provides Unprecedented Window Into Human Embryonic Development
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Yale Only Jianping Fu