Gülsen Meral
Prof. Dr. Gülsen Meral graduated from İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 1994. She became a Specialist in Paediatrics (Child Health and Diseases) in 2001; throughout her career she has worked at various hospitals as a specialist physician, deputy chief physician and chief physician.
Having completed her PhD in Medical Genetics at Biruni University, Prof. Dr. Meral also holds a master's degree in Hospital Management and a bachelor's degree in Turkish Language and Literature. Between 2019 and 2021 she served as Advisor to the Rector at İTÜ Northern Cyprus.
Throughout her academic career she has taught nutrigenetics courses at postgraduate level and has been involved in teaching child development in both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Also an acupuncture instructor, Prof. Dr. Meral took up the post of professor at the Department of Paediatrics of İstanbul Nişantaşı University in 2024 and continues her academic work in this role.
As the founder and director of Epigenetic Coaching UK, Prof. Dr. Meral carries out research, education and consultancy activities in nutrigenetics, epigenetics, personalised health, longevity and preventive medicine. She is the founder of the Nutrigenetics and Epigenetics Association in Türkiye and the United Kingdom, and provides Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training for healthcare professionals.
With numerous national and international scientific publications, Prof. Dr. Meral has served as an editorial board member and reviewer for various academic journals. She chaired the First, Second and Third International Epigenetics Congresses, and has taken part as an invited speaker and session chair at many scientific congresses abroad. She continues her leadership and educational activities within the Epigenetic Coaching Programme.
Alongside her scientific work, Prof. Dr. Meral is also interested in literature and has published 7 books. In her books Genlerle Dans (Dancing with Genes) and Longevity Çocuklukta Başlar (Longevity Begins in Childhood), she discusses in a scientific yet accessible language the effects of genetic heritage, epigenetic mechanisms, lifestyle choices and personalised approaches on healthy lifespan.
Prof. Dr. Gülsen Meral is a member of Yeşilay, the Rumeli Association, the İstanbul Acupuncture Association, the International Society of Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics, the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine, The College of Medicine and Integrated Health and The Royal Society of Medicine.
In her work, with a broad perspective extending from child health to healthy ageing, she focuses on personalised medicine, nutrigenetics-based epigenetic approaches, longevity, preventive health and multidisciplinary healthcare models.