Prof. Sinan Özkavukcu M.D.

Education

• 2002-2005 -Specialization Training, Ankara University Medical College, Department of Histology and Embryology branch • 1993-2000 Ankara University Faculty of Medicine

Work Experience

• 2005-2006 Researcher – Yale University College of Medicine, Sperm Physiology Laboratory 2009-2010 Researcher – New York Medical College, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics

• 2008-2021 Laboratory Manager – Ankara University Faculty of Medicine ART Center

• 2015-2021 Associate Professor – Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology-Embryology

• 2021-2023 Lecturer – University of Dundee School of Medicine Reproductive Medicine Unit and Ninewells Hospital ART Center 2023- halen Bahçeci Sağlık Grubu

 

Certificates and Competencies

• T.R. Ministry of Health Reproductive Treatment Centers Laboratory Supervisor Certificat.

• United Kingdom-The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Clinical Embryologist Certificate.

• European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Senior Clinical Embryologist Certificate.

 

Scientific Publications

• Sönmezer M, Şükür YE, Saçinti KG, Özkavukçu S, Kankaya D, Atabekoğlu CS, Cengiz Seval G, Oktay KH. Safety of ovarian cryopreservation and transplantation in patients with acute leukemia: A case series. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023 Sep 2:S0002-9378(23)00602-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.08.032. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37666382.

• Tas DO, Ozkavukcu S, Inanc I, Kose SK, Erdemli E. The effects of coenzyme Q10 and curcumin supplementation in freezing medium for human sperm cryopreservation. Eur J Obstet

Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2023 Aug;287:36-45. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2023.05.040. Epub 2023 Jun 2. PMID: 37276727.

• Celik S, Ozkavukcu S, Celik-Ozenci C. Recombinant anti-Mullerian hormone treatment attenuates primordial follicle loss after ovarian cryopreservation and transplantation. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2023 May;40(5):1117-1134. doi: 10.1007/s10815-023-02754-7. Epub 2023 Mar 1. PMID: 36856968; PMCID: PMC10239422.

• Aydos OS, Yukselten Y, Ozkan T, Ozkavukcu S, Tuten Erdogan M, Sunguroglu A, Aydos K. Co-Culture of Cryopreserved Healthy Sertoli Cells with Testicular Tissue of Non-Obstructive Azoospermia (NOA) Patients in Culture Media Containing Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)/Testosterone Has No Advantage in Germ Cell Maturation. J Clin Med. 2023 Jan 30;12(3):1073. doi: 10.3390/jcm12031073. PMID: 36769720; PMCID: PMC9917953.

• Sönmezer M, Saçıntı KG, Gülümser Ç, Özkavukçu S, Atabekoğlu C, Şükür YE, Sönmezer M. Transabdominal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval for oocyte cryopreservation using a vaginal probe: a comparison of applicability, effectiveness, and safety with conventional transvaginal approach. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2023 Feb;40(2):399-405. doi: 10.1007/s10815-022-02705-8. Epub 2023 Jan 3. PMID: 36595090; PMCID: PMC9935757.

• Aras-Tosun D, Cakar Z, Can A, Ozkavukcu S, Kaplanoglu I, Cinar O. Phospholipase C-zeta levels are not correlated with fertilisation rates in infertile couples. Andrologia. 2022 Feb;54(1):e14269. doi: 10.1111/and.14269. Epub 2021 Oct 15. PMID: 34651330.

• Lee S, Ozkavukcu S, Ku SY. Current and Future Perspectives for Improving Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation and Transplantation Outcomes for Cancer Patients. Reprod Sci. 2021 Jun;28(6):1746-1758. doi: 10.1007/s43032-021-00517-2. Epub 2021 Mar 31. PMID: 33791995; PMCID: PMC8144135.

• Ibis E, Hayme S, Baysal E, Gul N, Ozkavukcu S. Efficacy and safety of papaverine as an in vitro motility enhancer on human spermatozoa. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2021 Jun;38(6):1523-1537. doi: 10.1007/s10815-021-02160-x. Epub 2021 Mar 26. PMID: 33772411; PMCID: PMC8266967.

• Ozkavukcu S, Kuscu N, Adiguzel D, Cengiz-Seval G, Celik-Ozenci C. Deleterious reproductive effects of nilotinib in mouse model. Reproduction. 2021 Mar;161(3):295-306. doi: 10.1530/REP-20-0548. PMID: 33428589.

• İsrafilova G, Şükür YE, Özkavukcu S, Sönmezer MA, Atabekoğlu CS, Özmen B, Berker B, Aytaç R, Koç A, Sönmezer M. Comparison of Oocyte and Embryo Quality Between Random Start and Controlled Ovarian Stimulation Cycles in Cancer Patients Undergoing Fertility Preservation. Reprod Sci. 2021 Aug;28(8):2200-2207. doi: 10.1007/s43032-020-00412-2. Epub 2021 Jan 6. PMID: 33409878.

• Yersal N, Köse S, Horzum U, Özkavukcu S, Orwig KE, Korkusuz P. Leptin promotes proliferation of neonatal mouse stem/progenitor spermatogonia. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2020 Nov;37(11):2825-2838. doi: 10.1007/s10815-020-01929-w. Epub 2020 Aug 25. PMID: 32840762; PMCID: PMC7642194.

• Celik S, Ozkavukcu S, Celik-Ozenci C. Altered expression of activator proteins that control follicle reserve after ovarian tissue cryopreservation/transplantation and primordial follicle

loss prevention by rapamycin. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2020 Sep;37(9):2119-2136. doi: 10.1007/s10815-020-01875-7. Epub 2020 Jul 10. PMID: 32651677; PMCID: PMC7492284.

• Sonmezer M, Ozkavukcu S, Sukur YE, Kankaya D, Arslan O. First pregnancy and live birth in Turkey following frozen-thawed ovarian tissue transplantation in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who underwent cord blood transplantation. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2020 Aug;37(8):2033-2043. doi: 10.1007/s10815-020-01850-2. Epub 2020 Jun 16. PMID: 32556882; PMCID: PMC7468030.

• Aydin S, Billur D, Kizil S, Ozkavukcu S, Topal Celikkan F, Aydos K, Erdemli E. Evaluation of blood-testis barrier integrity in terms of adhesion molecules in nonobstructive azoospermia. Andrologia. 2020 Aug;52(7):e13636. doi: 10.1111/and.13636. Epub 2020 May 26. PMID: 32453883.

• Celikkan FT, Mungan C, Sucu M, Uysal F, Kahveci Hayme S, Hayme S, Kuscu N, Ozkavukcu S, Celik-Ozenci C, Can A. PFA is superior to glyoxal in preserving oocyte, embryo, and stem cell proteins evidenced by super-resolution microscopical surveys of epitopes. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2020 Feb;37(2):369-384. doi: 10.1007/s10815-019-01666-9. Epub 2020 Jan 13. PMID: 31930433; PMCID: PMC7056772.

• Adiguzel D, Sahin P, Kuscu N, Ozkavukcu S, Bektas NI, Celik-Ozenci C. Spatiotemporal expression and regulation of FoxO1 in mouse uterus during peri- implantation period. PLoS One. 2019 May 23;14(5):e0216814. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216814. PMID: 31120913; PMCID: PMC6532854.

• Şükür YE, Özkavukçu S, İlhan FC, Şimşir C, Sönmezer M. Random start controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for fertility preservation during incidental pregnancy: a case report of blastocyst vitrification from in vitro matured oocytes. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2019 Jul;35(7):564-566. doi: 10.1080/09513590.2019.1576608. Epub 2019 Feb 23. PMID: 30798632.

• Aydos OS, Yukselten Y, Ozkavukcu S, Sunguroglu A, Aydos K. ADAMTS1 and ADAMTS5 metalloproteases produced by Sertoli cells: a potential diagnostic marker in azoospermia. Syst Biol Reprod Med. 2019 Feb;65(1):29-38. doi: 10.1080/19396368.2018.1467512. Epub 2018 May 8. PMID: 29737873.

• Celik S, Celikkan FT, Ozkavukcu S, Can A, Celik-Ozenci C. Expression of inhibitor proteins that control primordial follicle reserve decreases in cryopreserved ovaries after autotransplantation. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2018 Apr;35(4):615-626. doi: 10.1007/s10815-018-1140-6. Epub 2018 Mar 1. PMID: 29497951; PMCID: PMC5949118.

• Ozkavukcu S, Celik-Ozenci C, Konuk E, Atabekoglu C. Live birth after Laser Assisted Viability Assessment (LAVA) to detect pentoxifylline resistant ejaculated immotile spermatozoa during ICSI in a couple with male Kartagener’s syndrome. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2018 Feb 5;16(1):10. doi: 10.1186/s12958-018-0321-6. PMID: 29402277; PMCID: PMC5800064.

• Kiratli S, Yuncu M, Kose K, Ozkavukcu S. A comparative evaluation of migration sedimentation method for sperm preparation. Syst Biol Reprod Med. 2018 Apr;64(2):122-129. doi: 10.1080/19396368.2017.1402100. Epub 2017 Nov 20. PMID: 29157008.

• Demirel MA, Acar DB, Ekim B, Çelikkan FT, Alkan KK, Salar S, Erdemli EA, Özkavukçu S, Yar SS, Kanca H, Baştan A. The evaluation of xenotransplantation of feline ovarian tissue vitrified by needle immersed vitrification technique into male immunodeficient mice. Cell Tissue Bank. 2018 Mar;19(1):133-147. doi: 10.1007/s10561-017-9663-0. Epub 2017 Oct 16. PMID: 29039070.

• Aras D, Cakar Z, Ozkavukcu S, Can A, Cinar O. In Vivo acrylamide exposure may cause severe toxicity to mouse oocytes through its metabolite glycidamide. PLoS One. 2017 Feb 9;12(2):e0172026. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172026. PMID: 28182799; PMCID: PMC5300229.

• Cengiz Seval G, Özkavukçu S, Seval M, Aylı M. Gonadotoxic Effects of Nilotinib in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Treatment Dose in a Mouse Model. Turk J Haematol. 2017 Jun 5;34(2):137-142. doi: 10.4274/tjh.2016.0092. Epub 2016 Jul 28. PMID: 27466938; PMCID: PMC5440865.

• Heidargholizadeh S, Aydos SE, Yukselten Y, Ozkavukcu S, Sunguroglu A, Aydos K. A differential cytokine expression profile before and after rFSH treatment in Sertoli cell cultures of men with nonobstructive azoospermia. Andrologia. 2017 May;49(4). doi: 10.1111/and.12647. Epub 2016 Jul 21. PMID: 27444581.

• Cakar Z, Cetinkaya B, Aras D, Koca B, Ozkavukcu S, Kaplanoglu İ, Can A, Cinar O. Does combining magnetic-activated cell sorting with density gradient or swim-up improve sperm selection? J Assist Reprod Genet. 2016 Aug;33(8):1059-65. doi: 10.1007/s10815-016-0742-0. Epub 2016 May 28. PMID: 27233651; PMCID: PMC4974232.

• Tolunay HE, Şükür YE, Ozkavukcu S, Seval MM, Ateş C, Türksoy VA, Ecemiş T, Atabekoğlu CS, Özmen B, Berker B, Sönmezer M. Heavy metal and trace element concentrations in blood and follicular fluid affect ART outcome. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2016 Mar;198:73-77. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2016.01.001. Epub 2016 Jan 11. PMID: 26802253.

• Aras D, Cinar O, Cakar Z, Ozkavukcu S, Can A. Can dicoumarol be used as a gonad-safe anticancer agent: an in vitro and in vivo experimental study. Mol Hum Reprod. 2016 Jan;22(1):57-67. doi: 10.1093/molehr/gav065. Epub 2015 Nov 26. PMID: 26612783.

• Ozkavukcu S, Ibis E, Kizil S, Isbacar S, Aydos K. A laboratory modification to testicular sperm preparation technique improves spermatogenic cell yield. Asian J Androl. 2014 Nov-Dec;16(6):852-7. doi: 10.4103/1008-682X.132468. PMID: 25038178; PMCID: PMC4236328.

• Topal-Celikkan F, Ozkavukcu S, Balci D, Serin-Kilicoglu S, Atabenli-Erdemli E. Mouse ovarian tissue vitrification on copper electron microscope grids versus slow freezing: a comparative ultrastructural study. Reprod Fertil Dev. 2015 Sep;27(7):1020-8. doi: 10.1071/RD13262. PMID: 24647037.

• Sönmezer M, Özmen B, Atabekoglu CS, Papuccu EG, Ozkavukcu S, Berker B, Pabuccu R. Serum anti-Mullerian hormone levels correlate with ovarian response in idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2012 Jul;29(7):597-602. doi: 10.1007/s10815-012-9759-1. Epub 2012 May 1. PMID: 22547042; PMCID: PMC3401247.

• Lee S, Ozkavukcu S, Heytens E, Moy F, Alappat RM, Oktay K. Anti-Mullerian hormone and antral follicle count as predictors for embryo/oocyte cryopreservation cycle outcomes in

breast cancer patients stimulated with letrozole and follicle stimulating hormone. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2011 Jul;28(7):651-6. doi: 10.1007/s10815-011-9567-z. Epub 2011 May 4. PMID: 21573682; PMCID: PMC3162058.

• Lee S, Heytens E, Moy F, Ozkavukcu S, Oktay K. Determinants of access to fertility preservation in women with breast cancer. Fertil Steril. 2011 May;95(6):1932-6. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.01.169. Epub 2011 Mar 3. PMID: 21371704; PMCID: PMC3383791.

• Lee S, Ozkavukcu S, Heytens E, Moy F, Oktay K. Value of early referral to fertility preservation in young women with breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2010 Nov 1;28(31):4683-6. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2010.30.5748. Epub 2010 Sep 27. PMID: 20876425; PMCID: PMC3039918.

• Sönmezer M, Iltemir Duvan C, Ozmen B, Taşçi T, Ozkavukçu S, Atabekoğlu CS. Outcomes after early or midfollicular phase LH supplementation in previous inadequate responders. Reprod Biomed Online. 2010 Mar;20(3):350-7. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2009.11.022. Epub 2009 Dec 11. PMID: 20093082.

• Sönmezer M, Ozmen B, Cil AP, Ozkavukçu S, Taşçi T, Olmuş H, Atabekoğlu CS. Dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation improves ovarian response and cycle outcome in poor responders. Reprod Biomed Online. 2009 Oct;19(4):508-13. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2009.06.006. PMID: 19909591.

• Atabekoğlu CS, Gözükuçük M, Ozkavukçu S, Sönmezer M. Rare presentation of ectopic pregnancy following IVF-ET: live twin gestation in the same fallopian tube. Hum Fertil (Camb). 2009 Jun;12(2):122-4. doi: 10.1080/14647270902852812. PMID: 19802963.

• Sönmezer M, Özkavukçu S. Fertility preservation in females with malignant disease-1: causes, clinical needs and indications. Turk J Haematol. 2009 Sep 5;26(3):106-13. English. PMID: 27265492.

• Sönmezer M, Pelin Cil A, Atabekoğlu C, Ozkavukçu S, Ozmen B. Does premature luteinization or early surge of LH impair cycle outcome? Report of two successful outcomes. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2009 Mar;26(2-3):159-63. doi: 10.1007/s10815-009-9299-5. Epub 2009 Feb 18. PMID: 19224360; PMCID: PMC2654938.

• Prinosilova P, Kruger T, Sati L, Ozkavukcu S, Vigue L, Kovanci E, Huszar G. Selectivity of hyaluronic acid binding for spermatozoa with normal Tygerberg strict morphology. Reprod Biomed Online. 2009 Feb;18(2):177-83. doi: 10.1016/s1472-6483(10)60253-2. PMID: 19192336.

• Ozkavukcu S, Erdemli E, Isik A, Oztuna D, Karahuseyinoglu S. Effects of cryopreservation on sperm parameters and ultrastructural morphology of human spermatozoa. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2008 Aug;25(8):403-11. doi: 10.1007/s10815-008-9232-3. Epub 2008 Aug 13. PMID: 18704674; PMCID: PMC2582121.

• Atabekoglu C, Sonmezer M, Ozkavukcu S, Isbacar S. Unexpected pregnancy despite extremely decreased estradiol levels during ovarian stimulation. Fertil Steril. 2008 Nov;90(5):2003.e5-9. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.04.059. Epub 2008 Aug 6. PMID: 18687425.

• Huszar G, Jakab A, Sakkas D, Ozenci CC, Cayli S, Delpiano E, Ozkavukcu S. Fertility testing and ICSI sperm selection by hyaluronic acid binding: clinical and genetic aspects. Reprod Biomed Online. 2007 May;14(5):650-63. doi: 10.1016/s1472-6483(10)61060-7. PMID: 17509211.

• Huszar G, Ozkavukcu S, Jakab A, Celik-Ozenci C, Sati GL, Cayli S. Hyaluronic acid binding ability of human sperm reflects cellular maturity and fertilizing potential: selection of sperm for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Jun;18(3):260-7. doi: 10.1097/01.gco.0000193018.98061.2f. PMID: 16735824.