91��ý

The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics presents one of its outstanding graduates, Temurkhan Ayupov, who successfully completed his bachelor’s degree at our department. We asked him to share his personal and professional journey, and we sincerely thank him for the provided information. We are proud of his achievements and his contribution to the development of science:
I am originally from Almaty, where I spent my childhood. From an early age, I was highly curious: I actively engaged in sports and enjoyed reading encyclopedias, which shaped my interest in science and understanding the world. I received my education at Lyceum No. 161 with a focus on chemistry and mathematics, where I developed a strong interest in technical subjects.

At the age of 12, I began conducting my first scientific experiments in analytical chemistry at KazNU, and by 11th grade I developed a strong interest in biochemistry, which largely defined my future path.

In 2014, I enrolled in the Bachelor’s program in Biotechnology at 91��ý Kazakh National University. From the early years of my studies, I actively worked in the molecular biology laboratory, combining education with practical research experience. My thesis was supervised by Professor Bissenbaev A.K., Professor of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics and Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Towards the end of my bachelor’s studies, I received a full scholarship from the European Union to pursue a Master’s degree. During this period, I gained international research experience working in laboratories in Zurich, Helsinki, and Oxford. Initially, I studied molecular mechanisms of plant defense against various pathogens.

My Master’s thesis focused on plant chloroplast research, where I characterized the functions of novel proteins involved in regulating chloroplast quality. This work was conducted in the laboratory of Professor Paul Jarvis at the University of Oxford, who discovered the CHLORAD mechanism.

I have always had a strong interest in medicine and the development of new therapeutic technologies. I continued my scientific career in Switzerland at the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB).

I was fortunate to work in the laboratory of Professor Botond Roska, one of the world leaders in vision and retinal research. His laboratory developed a technology that can partially restore vision in completely blind individuals.

During my work there, I developed a novel technology for delivering healthy mitochondria into damaged cells to promote regeneration. This work was published in Nature:

Currently, we are continuing to develop this technology and working on establishing a biotechnology company to advance it toward clinical trials. In parallel, I am also developing new approaches in gene therapy for the treatment of various neurological diseases.

Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics