Mehmet Gökkaya 2

Group Leader Immune Biomarker | Scientific Leader of Flow Cytometry Core Facility

Dr. Mehmet Gökkaya

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Research Areas

After graduating from the University of Tübingen in Biochemistry, Mehmet Gökkaya started his PhD thesis at the Department of Environmental Medicine. There, he studied the relationship between natural pollen exposure and the local expression of inflammatory parameters. As a scientific game changer, he focused to the local immune responses in allergic patients and looked for a nasal biomarker combination for the prediction of allergic symptoms. In addition to a patent pending, Mehmet receives an advancement award “Allergen Immunotherapy” of the German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology (DGAKI). During his Ph.D. thesis, he was able to publish six peer-reviewed articles and two additional articles in German. After his thesis submission, he already got his first PI-Grant from the “Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst” for his current research interest in COVID-19. He is looking for early immune biomarkers for optimization of COVID-19 management.

Mehmet Gökkaya is part of the High Potentials Program at Helmholtz.

Professional Career

01/2021 - Now

Junior Group Leader Immune Biomarker Group
Scientific Leader Core Facility Flow Cytometry

09/2016 - 12/2021

PhD submitted: Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine, Technische Universität München und Helmholtz Zentrum München/Augsburg Thesis: “From Exposure to Reaction: Expression of immune parameters under natural pollen exposure and their effect on al

09/2008 - 01/2015

Studies and Degree of Biochemistry (Dipl. Biochem.) at Eberhard Karl Universtity of Tübingen Thesis: “ Expression of the cysteine protease cathepsin W during differentiation of human hematopoietic stem cells.”

Awards

  • 2022 Poster Prize - Dr. Wolfbauer-Stiftung, Scienceday Augsburg
  • 2022 Best Abstract Price - Flash Talk - The European Academy fo Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI)
  • 2020 Advancement Award "Specific Immunotherapy", Deutsche Gesellschaft für Allergologie und klinische Immunologie (DGAKI)
  • 2019 Poster Prize - Dr. Wolfbauer-Stiftung, Scienceday Augsburg
  • 1219 Poster Prize - 2nd Augsburg Neurodermitis-Symposium
  • 2017 Poster Prize - German Allergy Congress (DAK)
  • 2017 Junior Members Poster Prize - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Allergologie und klinische Immunologie (DGAKI)

Publications

Dorgham K, Quentric P, Gökkaya M, Marot S, Parizot C, Sauce D, Guihot A, Luyt C-E, Schmidt M, Mayaux J, Beurton A, Le Guennec L, Demeret S, Ben Salah E, Mathian A, Yssel H, Combadiere B, Combadiere C, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Burrel S, Marcelin AG, Amoura Z, Voiriot G, Neumann AU# and Gorochov G

Distinct cytokine profiles associated with COVID-19 severity and mortality

Gökkaya M, Damialis A, Nussbaumer T, Beck I, Bounas-Pyrros N, Bezold S, Amisi MM, Kolek F, Todorova A, Chaker A, Aglas L, Ferreira F, Redegeld FA, Brunner JO, Neumann AU, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Gilles S

Defining biomarkers to predict symptoms in subjects with and without allergy under natural pollen exposure

Gökkaya M, Schwierzeck V, Thölken K, Knoch S, Gerstlauer M, Hammel G, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Gilles S

Nasal specific IgE correlates to serum specific IgE: First steps toward nasal molecular allergy diagnostic

Gilles S, Blume C, Wimmer M, Damialis A, Meulenbroek L, Gökkaya M, Bergougnan C, Eisenbart S, Sundell N, Lindh M, Andersson LM, Dahl Å, Chaker A, Kolek F, Wagner S, Neumann AU, Akdis CA, Garssen J, Westin J, Van't Land B, Davies DE, Traidl-Hoffmann C

Pollen exposure weakens innate defense against respiratory viruses

Prelog M, Jeske SD, Asam C, Fuchs A, Wieser A, Gall C, Wytopil M, Mueller-Schmucker SM, Beileke S, Goekkaya M, Kling E, Geldmacher C, Rubio-Acero R, Plank M, Christa C, Willmann A, Vu M, Einhauser S, Weps M, Lampl BMJ, Almanzar G, Kousha K, Schwägerl V, Liebl B, Weber B, Drescher J, Scheidt J, Gefeller O, Messmann H, Protzer U, Liese J, Hoelscher M, Wagner R, Überla K, Steininger P; CoVaKo Study Group

Clinical and immunological benefits of full primary COVID-19 vaccination in individuals with SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections: A prospective cohort study in non-hospitalized adults