Dr. Özlem Sarikaya-Bayram is an SFI-IRC Pathways Principal Investigator who leads the Food Safety Research Group at Maynooth University, in collaboration with the Biology Department and the Sports Science and Nutrition Department. Her research focuses on preventing diseases caused by contaminated foods and reducing food losses due to mycotoxin contamination, with a particular emphasis on the epigenetic regulation of mycotoxins—harmful contaminants in food that pose significant risks to human and animal health.
In recognition of her impactful research, Dr. Sarikaya-Bayram was awarded €425,000 under the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and Irish Research Council (IRC) Pathway Programme for her project titled ‘Dissection of the Epigenetically Controlled Gene Network in Aflatoxigenic Fungi to Improve Agricultural Productivity and Food Safety.’
This project, which commenced on 1st March 2022, will run until 28th February 2026, aims to address the challenges posed by fungal and mycotoxin contamination which contribute to significant crop losses globally.