Meet the CERI Team
Aygün Şahin, M.Sc., Ph.D. Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and President - Cancer Lead
Dr. Şahin is the Founder Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Education and Research Institute (CERI), formerly Cancer Research Simplified. She holds a doctorate degree in genetics, cell biology as second major, and Masters degree in Applied Biology. She has cancer research experience for 7 years. Dr. Şahin is a cancer immunotherapy specialist, which experience gained at Massachusetts General Hospital-Harvard Medical School (MGH-HMS). She is one of the first handful of people worldwide who worked on the initial development of an unique adoptive immunotherapy strategy using *chimeric antigen receptors engineered T cells (CAR-T cells)*. She is a former faculty member of HMS-MGH. Dr. Şahin completed her doctorate degree at the University of Bonn, and completed part of her doctoral work at the Institute Pasteur in Lille, France. She worked at the Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, where she built and ran a Neuro-oncology laboratory, prior to moving to the US. Dr. Şahin served as key scientist in many national and international collaborations, and has been an invited speaker at several scientific and educational meetings. She mentored many undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and technicians. Dr. Sahin received a number of awards and honors during her academic career, as well as won several awards in public speaking and in leadership. Dr. Şahin is bilingual in German and Turkish.
Dr. Şahin is the Founder Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Education and Research Institute (CERI), formerly Cancer Research Simplified. She holds a doctorate degree in genetics, cell biology as second major, and Masters degree in Applied Biology. She has cancer research experience for 7 years. Dr. Şahin is a cancer immunotherapy specialist, which experience gained at Massachusetts General Hospital-Harvard Medical School (MGH-HMS). She is one of the first handful of people worldwide who worked on the initial development of an unique adoptive immunotherapy strategy using *chimeric antigen receptors engineered T cells (CAR-T cells)*. She is a former faculty member of HMS-MGH. Dr. Şahin completed her doctorate degree at the University of Bonn, and completed part of her doctoral work at the Institute Pasteur in Lille, France. She worked at the Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, where she built and ran a Neuro-oncology laboratory, prior to moving to the US. Dr. Şahin served as key scientist in many national and international collaborations, and has been an invited speaker at several scientific and educational meetings. She mentored many undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and technicians. Dr. Sahin received a number of awards and honors during her academic career, as well as won several awards in public speaking and in leadership. Dr. Şahin is bilingual in German and Turkish.
Adriana Zubieta, DDS, Ph.D., M.Sc. Research Team Member, Program Evaluator, and Spanish Translator
Dr. Adriana Zubieta graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, UNAM, with a Doctorate of Science in Health Policy and Management. She has been working in health systems in academia as well as pharmceutical industry for over 10 years. Her research focus has been towards social development, not only as a researcher but also as a faculty. Her positions include 1) professor of health promotion in the Faculty of Mmedicine at UNAM, 2) ; professor of clinical research at School of Medicine at naval Naval Aacademy of Mexico, 3) ; professor of health systems assessment at Autonomous University of Oaxaca, and 4) and; professor of project management in pharmacology research in the Faculty of Chemistry at La Salle University.
Dr. Zubieta has been involved in numerous volunteering positions, including education, In addition with her work as a volunteer which involves education as well, leadership and service. Her volunteering efforts Since she started, her goal has been torevolved aroundimprove improving the healthcare conditions for disadvantaged people and to seekdevelopingchangeadvancements in the health system in Mexico. She has been involved in a variety of leadership positions from the pharmaceutical industry to the academic field. Given her passion and enthusiasm for teaching and helping her community, now shenow has joined our team to make cancer understandable for everyyone worldwide.
“I like to help people. I think that educating patients who are suffering this bad news of being diagnosed with cancer, which is shocking for them, is a great mission of Cancer Education of Research Institute (CERI). The mission is to empower cancer patients, making medical information understandable for patients and bridging the gap between scientists and patients, all of which are unique mission of CERI and what made me drawn to the mission. I like very much being a part of this unique organization.”
Dr. Adriana Zubieta graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, UNAM, with a Doctorate of Science in Health Policy and Management. She has been working in health systems in academia as well as pharmceutical industry for over 10 years. Her research focus has been towards social development, not only as a researcher but also as a faculty. Her positions include 1) professor of health promotion in the Faculty of Mmedicine at UNAM, 2) ; professor of clinical research at School of Medicine at naval Naval Aacademy of Mexico, 3) ; professor of health systems assessment at Autonomous University of Oaxaca, and 4) and; professor of project management in pharmacology research in the Faculty of Chemistry at La Salle University.
Dr. Zubieta has been involved in numerous volunteering positions, including education, In addition with her work as a volunteer which involves education as well, leadership and service. Her volunteering efforts Since she started, her goal has been torevolved aroundimprove improving the healthcare conditions for disadvantaged people and to seekdevelopingchangeadvancements in the health system in Mexico. She has been involved in a variety of leadership positions from the pharmaceutical industry to the academic field. Given her passion and enthusiasm for teaching and helping her community, now shenow has joined our team to make cancer understandable for everyyone worldwide.
“I like to help people. I think that educating patients who are suffering this bad news of being diagnosed with cancer, which is shocking for them, is a great mission of Cancer Education of Research Institute (CERI). The mission is to empower cancer patients, making medical information understandable for patients and bridging the gap between scientists and patients, all of which are unique mission of CERI and what made me drawn to the mission. I like very much being a part of this unique organization.”
Gina Suliman, M.S. Outreach coordinator and Arabic Translator
Gihan S. Suliman is originally from Sudan. She is a wife and a mother to five children. Currently, she works as a Parent Screener at the Family Nurturing Center in Brighton, MA. She screens children age one-month to four-years for any developmental delays. She has completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Tufts University, 2003. She received her Master's in Biotechnology with Management Concentrations from the School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, 2012. Gihan has over ten-years' experience in medical research at Beth Israel and Deaconess Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Boston University Medical School. She worked with Principle Investigators from Harvard University and Boston University Medical Schools. She also worked as a middle school Math and Science teacher, and as a Program Director for a non-profit, Women Engorging Empowerment, to help and empower immigrant women. She is a recipient of the 2014 Allston-Brighton Community Scholarship. She also received the MIT Picower Institute of Technology Award for participating at the MIT Picower Institute Symposium on Early Life Stress and Mental Health 2018.
Gihan S. Suliman is originally from Sudan. She is a wife and a mother to five children. Currently, she works as a Parent Screener at the Family Nurturing Center in Brighton, MA. She screens children age one-month to four-years for any developmental delays. She has completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Tufts University, 2003. She received her Master's in Biotechnology with Management Concentrations from the School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, 2012. Gihan has over ten-years' experience in medical research at Beth Israel and Deaconess Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Boston University Medical School. She worked with Principle Investigators from Harvard University and Boston University Medical Schools. She also worked as a middle school Math and Science teacher, and as a Program Director for a non-profit, Women Engorging Empowerment, to help and empower immigrant women. She is a recipient of the 2014 Allston-Brighton Community Scholarship. She also received the MIT Picower Institute of Technology Award for participating at the MIT Picower Institute Symposium on Early Life Stress and Mental Health 2018.
Yasmin Ibrahim Team Member and Mentee
Yasein is 13 years old and is currently going to 8thgrade at the Meridian Academy in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. His school is a project-based school, providing hands on assignments-type learning. Yasein’s projects are majorly in science and engineering, but takes also humanities, world language, and art classes as well. Yasein enjoys his science and engineering classes, which is called MST (Math, Science, and technology) the most. Yasein’s hobbies include swimming, tennis, chess, soccer, reading, and theater.
“I was interested in joining CERI because its goal is to improve cancer education and help inform people of certain types of cancer and cancer in general. I thought that this very important and decided to help CERI accomplish this goal.”
Yasein is 13 years old and is currently going to 8thgrade at the Meridian Academy in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. His school is a project-based school, providing hands on assignments-type learning. Yasein’s projects are majorly in science and engineering, but takes also humanities, world language, and art classes as well. Yasein enjoys his science and engineering classes, which is called MST (Math, Science, and technology) the most. Yasein’s hobbies include swimming, tennis, chess, soccer, reading, and theater.
“I was interested in joining CERI because its goal is to improve cancer education and help inform people of certain types of cancer and cancer in general. I thought that this very important and decided to help CERI accomplish this goal.”
Frank Rosenbauer German Translation Manager
Mr. Rosenbauer has been a certified English-German translator and interpreter since 2012 and gained his bachelor's degree at SDI Munich, Germany in mid-2013. After graduation, he worked as a freelance translator for companies all around the world in many different fields. While doing an internship as a project manager at a translation agency in Boston, he came across CERI and now helps with the German language content.
Mr. Rosenbauer has been a certified English-German translator and interpreter since 2012 and gained his bachelor's degree at SDI Munich, Germany in mid-2013. After graduation, he worked as a freelance translator for companies all around the world in many different fields. While doing an internship as a project manager at a translation agency in Boston, he came across CERI and now helps with the German language content.
Emily U. Taskin BSN to MSN Research Team Member
Emily Taskin earned her BSN (2008) at Dokuz Eylul University’s Nursing Department, and MSN (2011) in the Institute of Health Science on Medical-Surgical Nursing in Turkey. In her senior year, she completed her internship in public health practice by developing projects to improve public and environment health. Emily believes in the importance of public education for disease prevention and promoting health. While gaining experience on field as a professional orthopedic nurse in a training and research hospital, she pursued her dissertation about the follow-up education for patients as a counselor nurse to enhance surgical outcomes as well as prevention of complications and accelerate healing. Emily also seeks further education with an MPH degree to achieve her potential. She is enthusiastic for healthy living, healthy communities, and ecological health. Building on this enthusiasm, Emily became a member of CERI family to build up, to seek ways to make cancer prevention research absorbing, revelatory, and practical for communities.
Emily Taskin earned her BSN (2008) at Dokuz Eylul University’s Nursing Department, and MSN (2011) in the Institute of Health Science on Medical-Surgical Nursing in Turkey. In her senior year, she completed her internship in public health practice by developing projects to improve public and environment health. Emily believes in the importance of public education for disease prevention and promoting health. While gaining experience on field as a professional orthopedic nurse in a training and research hospital, she pursued her dissertation about the follow-up education for patients as a counselor nurse to enhance surgical outcomes as well as prevention of complications and accelerate healing. Emily also seeks further education with an MPH degree to achieve her potential. She is enthusiastic for healthy living, healthy communities, and ecological health. Building on this enthusiasm, Emily became a member of CERI family to build up, to seek ways to make cancer prevention research absorbing, revelatory, and practical for communities.
Buse Önal Ambassador and Mentee
Buse Önal is from Istanbul, Turkey and she is the youngest volunteer of CERI, being 11 years old. She goes to 6th grade at a local elementary school and finished her 5th grade with high honors. Buse loves studying. Her hobbies include making art, listening to music, socializing with friends, and reading interesting books. She particularly values traveling and discovering new places. Buse believes strongly in helping out to cancer patients, being passionate about saving other lives, and working hard towards finding new and effective cures to cancer. Cancer is one of the most diagnosed diseases of today and has a high risk of survival, which makes it upsetting. Buse, therefore, joined CRS, showing her support to cancer patients worldwide. She will be a tremendous support for our team to let the communities and her peers know about the unique and effective CERI programs.
Buse Önal is from Istanbul, Turkey and she is the youngest volunteer of CERI, being 11 years old. She goes to 6th grade at a local elementary school and finished her 5th grade with high honors. Buse loves studying. Her hobbies include making art, listening to music, socializing with friends, and reading interesting books. She particularly values traveling and discovering new places. Buse believes strongly in helping out to cancer patients, being passionate about saving other lives, and working hard towards finding new and effective cures to cancer. Cancer is one of the most diagnosed diseases of today and has a high risk of survival, which makes it upsetting. Buse, therefore, joined CRS, showing her support to cancer patients worldwide. She will be a tremendous support for our team to let the communities and her peers know about the unique and effective CERI programs.
Our Advisors
Richard Klein†, MA, USA - Business Development Counselor
John Kogan, MA, USA - Business Development Counselor
Albert Gold, MA, USA - Business Development Counselor
Prof. Dr. Michael Overduin, University of Birmingham, UK - Scientific Advisor
John Kogan, MA, USA - Business Development Counselor
Albert Gold, MA, USA - Business Development Counselor
Prof. Dr. Michael Overduin, University of Birmingham, UK - Scientific Advisor
If you're interested in getting involved at any capacity, please contact us [info(at)canceredinstitute.org], we'd love to hear from you! You may also like to check our open positions here.
