Meet the CERI Team
Aygün Şahin, M.Sc., Ph.D. Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Cancer Lead
Dr. Şahin is the Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and the Cancer Lead (Research and Education) of Cancer Education and Research Institute (CERI). She holds a doctorate degree with Magna Cum Laude in genetics, and cell biology as second major, and Masters degree (3.86/4.00) in Applied Biology. She has cancer research experience for more than 10 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 a powerful adoptive immunotherapy strategy using *chimeric antigen receptors engineered T cells (CAR-T cells)*. She is a former faculty member of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Şahin completed her doctorate degree at the University of Bonn and part of her doctoral work at the Institute Pasteur in Lille, France. She worked at the Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, where she built from the ground up and ran the Neuro-oncology laboratory at the Center for Clinical Research (ZKF), prior to moving to the U.S. She further built from the ground up and ran the CAR-T cell immunotherapy program at a startup biopharma company in Boston. Her genetic and cellular therapy for cancer includes brain cancer (glioblastoma, GBM) and hematological cancers.
Dr. Şahin served as key scientist in many national and international collaborations, and has been an invited speaker at several scientific and educational conferences. She mentored many undergraduate and graduate students, medical students, postdoctoral fellows, and technicians.
Dr. Şahin 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 speaks four languages while understanding multiple, and is bilingual in German and Turkish.
Dr. Şahin is the Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and the Cancer Lead (Research and Education) of Cancer Education and Research Institute (CERI). She holds a doctorate degree with Magna Cum Laude in genetics, and cell biology as second major, and Masters degree (3.86/4.00) in Applied Biology. She has cancer research experience for more than 10 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 a powerful adoptive immunotherapy strategy using *chimeric antigen receptors engineered T cells (CAR-T cells)*. She is a former faculty member of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Şahin completed her doctorate degree at the University of Bonn and part of her doctoral work at the Institute Pasteur in Lille, France. She worked at the Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum, where she built from the ground up and ran the Neuro-oncology laboratory at the Center for Clinical Research (ZKF), prior to moving to the U.S. She further built from the ground up and ran the CAR-T cell immunotherapy program at a startup biopharma company in Boston. Her genetic and cellular therapy for cancer includes brain cancer (glioblastoma, GBM) and hematological cancers.
Dr. Şahin served as key scientist in many national and international collaborations, and has been an invited speaker at several scientific and educational conferences. She mentored many undergraduate and graduate students, medical students, postdoctoral fellows, and technicians.
Dr. Şahin 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 speaks four languages while understanding multiple, and is bilingual in German and Turkish.
Gloria Spence Board Member - Finance and Marketing Committees
Gloria Spence is retired from Hearst Television (WCVB TV) where she worked for 38 years. As the Director of Finance-Northeast Region she was responsible for all aspects of the financials for six television stations including strategic planning with individual TV stations. Gloria was responsible for designing and implementing the consolidation of individual local TV station financials to the Northeast regional finance office. This model was used to establish 4 other regional finance offices. Her areas of expertise are budgeting and forecasting; expense and operational efficiencies; financial analysis; accounting systems and process improvements; and union labor relations. She has also taught a labor relations course at the community college level.
Gloria is a board member and Treasurer for Partakers, a nonprofit agency working with colleges in Boston to provide inmates the opportunity to receive a college degree while incarcerated. She has been a SCORE counselor since 2017, mentoring new and small businesses, presenting workshops primarily focused on finance and is a member of the executive committee. In addition, she is a volunteer at Massachusetts Correctional Institute (MCI) since June 2015 where she teaches inmates financial literacy prior to their release.
From 2011-2018, Gloria was on the board of Junior Achievement of Northern New England (JANNE) and on the finance and executive committees. She served as Interium President for 3 months in 2016. She was also an active volunteer in their JA Academy Program which mentors high school students through the process of creating a business from start to finish.
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA where she received her BS and MBA from Robert Morris University, Gloria has lived in Boston since 2002.
Gloria Spence is retired from Hearst Television (WCVB TV) where she worked for 38 years. As the Director of Finance-Northeast Region she was responsible for all aspects of the financials for six television stations including strategic planning with individual TV stations. Gloria was responsible for designing and implementing the consolidation of individual local TV station financials to the Northeast regional finance office. This model was used to establish 4 other regional finance offices. Her areas of expertise are budgeting and forecasting; expense and operational efficiencies; financial analysis; accounting systems and process improvements; and union labor relations. She has also taught a labor relations course at the community college level.
Gloria is a board member and Treasurer for Partakers, a nonprofit agency working with colleges in Boston to provide inmates the opportunity to receive a college degree while incarcerated. She has been a SCORE counselor since 2017, mentoring new and small businesses, presenting workshops primarily focused on finance and is a member of the executive committee. In addition, she is a volunteer at Massachusetts Correctional Institute (MCI) since June 2015 where she teaches inmates financial literacy prior to their release.
From 2011-2018, Gloria was on the board of Junior Achievement of Northern New England (JANNE) and on the finance and executive committees. She served as Interium President for 3 months in 2016. She was also an active volunteer in their JA Academy Program which mentors high school students through the process of creating a business from start to finish.
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA where she received her BS and MBA from Robert Morris University, Gloria has lived in Boston since 2002.
Amanda Smart, MS Board Member - Communications Committee
Amanda has a MS from UMass Boston in Human Services. When she was 17, she was involved in a She motor vehicle accident. The accident caused a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), yet it also made her discover so many wonderful people, and to truly know how good other people can be. She has won many Human Service awards in college, and has made a movie on the Ivy Street School, that assisted in her rehabilitation. She has written two children's books ("Grit" + "Planet Earth Needs our Help"). She has written a legislative bill on Aqua Therapy, and is currently running for Boston City Council.
Amanda has a MS from UMass Boston in Human Services. When she was 17, she was involved in a She motor vehicle accident. The accident caused a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), yet it also made her discover so many wonderful people, and to truly know how good other people can be. She has won many Human Service awards in college, and has made a movie on the Ivy Street School, that assisted in her rehabilitation. She has written two children's books ("Grit" + "Planet Earth Needs our Help"). She has written a legislative bill on Aqua Therapy, and is currently running for Boston City Council.
Neha Sharma, MS Volunteer Coordinator and Events Manger
Neha Sharma earned her first state examination (equal to a Master degree) in teaching high school biology and chemistry from the Goethe University Frankfurt. She started her career as a volunteer recruiter and coordinator at a non-profit organization in Germany during her freshman year.
When her best friend, who is like a sister to her, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 26, a world collapsed for her. Her best friend fought the cancer bravely- fortunately, but the process to this point was characterized by little understanding, clarity and courage. It is so important to have someone professional with you for those who suffer, but also for family members, who suffer equally.
Since Neha don't want anyone to experience this dreadful experience and, on the contrary, find professional help necessary, she joined the non-profit organization, Cancer Education Research Institute (CERI). CERI explains all topics around cancer in a very understandable way for all people, regardless of their level of education and language. They also create a bridge between the cancer patients and the professionals, so that an understandable cooperation is possible. Not only that, CERI is a continuous contact point for the cancer patients and that over years.
Neha Sharma earned her first state examination (equal to a Master degree) in teaching high school biology and chemistry from the Goethe University Frankfurt. She started her career as a volunteer recruiter and coordinator at a non-profit organization in Germany during her freshman year.
When her best friend, who is like a sister to her, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 26, a world collapsed for her. Her best friend fought the cancer bravely- fortunately, but the process to this point was characterized by little understanding, clarity and courage. It is so important to have someone professional with you for those who suffer, but also for family members, who suffer equally.
Since Neha don't want anyone to experience this dreadful experience and, on the contrary, find professional help necessary, she joined the non-profit organization, Cancer Education Research Institute (CERI). CERI explains all topics around cancer in a very understandable way for all people, regardless of their level of education and language. They also create a bridge between the cancer patients and the professionals, so that an understandable cooperation is possible. Not only that, CERI is a continuous contact point for the cancer patients and that over years.
Aysen Kilitcioglu English Editor and Turkish Translator
Gokce Aysen Kilitcioglu is a CELTA (Certificate for English Teaching for Adults) certified English teacher wıth a deep passion for education. She has an English Language and Literature degree from Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey. While she was studying, she did tutoring jobs for financial support, which is when she discovered her love of teaching. After getting her CELTA, she got her first full-time job in Istanbul, where she worked for a year. Upon moving to Boston, she discovered CERI and the important work that they do, and wanted to be a part of it.
Gokce Aysen Kilitcioglu is a CELTA (Certificate for English Teaching for Adults) certified English teacher wıth a deep passion for education. She has an English Language and Literature degree from Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey. While she was studying, she did tutoring jobs for financial support, which is when she discovered her love of teaching. After getting her CELTA, she got her first full-time job in Istanbul, where she worked for a year. Upon moving to Boston, she discovered CERI and the important work that they do, and wanted to be a part of it.
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 Counselor
John Kogan, MA, USA - Business Counselor
John Kogan, MA, USA - Business Counselor
We are proud of our diverse past and current team of very talented volunteers and board members from around the globe!
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If you're interested in getting involved at any capacity, please check our open volunteering positions here.
For a complete list of volunteers and board members visit our annual reports.
Please donate to support our cause - help us continue with our free educational programs.
Cancer Education and Research Institute® (CERI), is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Your donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Cancer Education and Research Institute® (CERI), is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Your donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Cancer Education and Research Institute® (CERI), is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Your donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Your donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
