The Hugo Bellen and Catherine Tasnier Drosophila Neurogenetics Lecture recognizes early career scientists and faculty in a key space of Drosophila research—those studying genetics as applied to neuroscience in Drosophila. Their work helps improve our understanding of how neurons develop, function, connect, and respond to stimuli to control behavior. 

How does the brain wire itself with extraordinary precision, without relying on experience? This fundamental question has guided M. Neşet Özel’s research for nearly 15 years and continues to shape the work of his laboratory at the Stowers Institute.

In its broadest sense, Özel’s research seeks to understand how genetically hardwired neural circuits are formed during development.

As a graduate student, he approached this problem from a cell biological perspective. Using long-term live imaging of developing fly brains, he investigated how filopodial dynamics guide axons and mediate synapse formation. During this period, rapid advances in connectomics highlighted the remarkable complexity of the Drosophila visual system—hundreds of neuronal types connected with striking precision through an entirely experience-independent process.

This precision pointed to a powerful genetic program. Each neuron’s shape, connectivity, and function are encoded by specific combinations of genes that define its identity. Özel recognized that to understand the molecular logic of brain wiring, it is first necessary to understand how distinct neuronal cell fates are determined.

Decoding neuronal identity

As a postdoctoral researcher, Özel shifted his focus toward defining the gene expression programs that specify neuronal identity. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, he characterized more than 200 neuronal types in the developing Drosophila optic lobes.

This large-scale atlas yielded several broadly applicable insights into brain development. Nearly all neuronal types in the optic lobe can be molecularly identified within hours of their terminal division and directly linked to their adult counterparts. His work also defined the combinations of terminal selector transcription factors—genes that instruct neuronal identity through sustained expression in specific subsets of neurons—across the system.

Özel demonstrated that predictive and complete transformations of one neuronal type into another can be engineered by genetically manipulating this selector code. In effect, altering the gene regulatory program can convert one neuronal identity into another.

A predictive future for neurodevelopment

Looking ahead, Özel aims to integrate genomic technologies with computational modeling and machine learning approaches to generate experimentally testable hypotheses about neural development. These predictions are evaluated directly at the bench using advanced genetics, imaging, and behavioral assays.

His long-term goal is to predictably rewire neural circuits by rewiring their gene regulatory networks.

Why Drosophila?

Özel knew he wanted to become a neuroscientist as early as high school. His first experience with Drosophila genetics, however, came during a summer internship after his second year of university. In graduate school, after rotating in both mouse and fly neurobiology laboratories, he joined Robin Hiesinger’s lab to study development of the fly visual system.

He was ultimately drawn to Drosophila because of the depth of questions that can be addressed in this highly tractable model system. The fly brain contains more than 5,000 distinct neuronal types, approaching mammalian diversity at a smaller scale. Combined with an extensive genetic toolkit that enables precise manipulation of specific neurons and circuits during development and function, Drosophila provides unique experimental power for dissecting neural development.

Advice for future nominees

For scientists considering nominating themselves or colleagues for future awards, Özel’s advice is straightforward: apply.

After nearly 15 years in Drosophila neurobiology, he has seen the breadth of innovative research emerging from the field. Many outstanding scientists are advancing fly genetics and neurobiology in important ways. He encourages persistence; those who are not selected in one round should consider applying again in the future.

Don’t miss M. Neşet Özel’s lecture on March 8, 2026, during the upcoming 67th Annual Drosophila Research Conference in Chicago. Learn more at https://genetics-gsa.org/drosophila-2026/.

To learn more about Özel’s work, visit his lab’s website. 

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