Dilara Akbulut

Dilara Akbulut, MD

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Surgical pathology
Request an Appointment
Our Care Advisors can answer many of your questions. They will connect you with the best healthcare provider for your needs.

Get to Know Me

I’m a surgical pathologist who is an expert in genitourinary pathology, which relates to cancers of the urinary tract and male reproductive system. I also have a strong background in cancer research, which helps translate lab discoveries into better care for patients.

I have advanced training in pathology from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including advanced fellowship training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). My training has given me extensive experience in examining complex surgical tissue samples to look for cancer.

I focus on helping diagnose bladder and testicular cancers, prostate and kidney cancers, and other genitourinary tumors. These include rare and aggressive cancers such as neuroendocrine carcinomas.

To give you the most accurate diagnosis, I examine the tissue and its characteristics. I also use advanced molecular tests and special cell-staining techniques (immunohistochemistry). This detailed approach helps us understand the exact biology of each tumor.

My research focuses on understanding what makes each genitourinary cancer unique. I focus on how tumors grow, how different cancer subtypes behave, and what these biological clues mean for treatment options.

I have contributed to studies using the latest molecular testing and spatial profiling, an advanced technique that maps out cancer cells and their surrounding immune environment. Learning how tumors interact with nearby immune cells helps us identify newer, more effective treatment options.

High-quality pathology is important for delivering cancer care that is personal and tailored to each person’s diagnosis. Every tumor is different, and the right treatment plan starts with an exact diagnosis. I value a careful diagnostic approach that is based on research and actual data. I work closely with experts across teams to help guide treatment decisions and support the best possible results for patients.

What I Do at MSK

I'm a pathologist, which is a doctor who diagnoses and studies diseases by looking at body tissues, blood, and fluids.

  • Assistant Attending Physician
Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Surgical pathology
This list shows some key areas of focus, but it may not cover all expertise. When making an appointment, you will be matched with the best healthcare provider for your needs.
Education & Honors

Education

  • Doctor of Medicine, Gazi University, Turkey

Residencies

  • Anatomic Pathology, Ankara University, Turkey
  • Anatomic Pathology, National Cancer Institute

Fellowships

  • Genitourinary Pathology Fellowship, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Board Certifications

  • Anatomic Pathology

Awards and Honors

  • Stipend Award for Excellence in Genitourinary Pathology Research, International Society of Urological Pathology (2024)
  • Best Research Study, Genitourinary Pathology Society (GUPS) (2023)

Insurance Information

Understanding your insurance options is an important part of managing your cancer care. We have relationships with many common healthcare providers and plans.

Learn more about the insurance plans that participate with MSK.

If you don't have health insurance or are worried that your care may not be fully covered, our financial assistance programs may be able to help.

Health plans can change at any time. Call the number on the back of your insurance card to see what your plan covers. Make sure it covers the MSK location where you’ll get care.

If you have questions about insurance, call us at 646-497-9176.

Make an Appointment

Current Patients
Request an appointment by calling your Care Team or messaging them in MSK MyChart.

Contact and Location

Location
New York, NY
1275 York Avenue New York NY 10065

Looking to see a doctor at a different location? See all MSK locations.

Colleagues

Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering work as teams, with specialists from all different areas. This allows us to consider all your needs together, and to give you the best possible care.

See all Genitourinary Pathology doctors

Clinical Trials

Smiling doctors in the lab
Find a Clinical Trial for You

Memorial Sloan Kettering's doctors and scientists are constantly developing new treatments for cancer. MSK is typically running hundreds of clinical trials at a given time.

You may be able to participate in a clinical trial even if you are new to MSK. Search our online directory to find trial information and see more about who can participate.

Search clinical trials

Research and Publications

Akbulut D, Whiting K, Teo MY, et al. Differential NEUROD1, ASCL1, and POU2F3 expression defines molecular subsets of bladder small cell/neuroendocrine carcinoma with prognostic implications. Mod Pathol. 2024;37(10):100557. doi:10.1016/j.modpat.2024.100557

Chu CE, Chen Z, Whiting K, Ostrovnaya I, Lenis AT, Clinton TN, Rammal R, Ozcan GG, Akbulut D, et al. Clinical outcomes, genomic heterogeneity, and therapeutic considerations across histologic subtypes of urothelial carcinoma. Eur Urol. 2025;88(5):472-481. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2025.04.008

Akbulut D, Al-Ahmadie H. Neuroendocrine tumours of the urinary bladder: recent advances. Histopathology. 2026;88(1):108-121. doi:10.1111/his.70044

Publications on PubMed

Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Akbulut’s journal articles. Pubmed is an online index of research papers and other articles from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

See all on PubMed