Meet the CERI Team
Aygün Şahin, M.Sc., Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer and President
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 10+ years. Dr. Şahin is an award-winning cancer immunologist, who has specialized in adoptive immunotherapy for brain cancer, with experience gained at Massachusetts General Hospital-Harvard Medical School (MGH-HMS). She is one of the few initial people in the world who has experience in an unique adoptive immunotherapy strategy using *chimeric antigen receptors (CARs)*. She is a former faculty member of HMS-MGH. Dr. Şahin completed her doctorate degree at the University of Bonn, and completed some 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 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.
For more detail about Dr. Şahin's background, visit: View Ayguen Sahin, MSc, PhD's profile on LinkedIn
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 10+ years. Dr. Şahin is an award-winning cancer immunologist, who has specialized in adoptive immunotherapy for brain cancer, with experience gained at Massachusetts General Hospital-Harvard Medical School (MGH-HMS). She is one of the few initial people in the world who has experience in an unique adoptive immunotherapy strategy using *chimeric antigen receptors (CARs)*. She is a former faculty member of HMS-MGH. Dr. Şahin completed her doctorate degree at the University of Bonn, and completed some 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 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.
For more detail about Dr. Şahin's background, visit: View Ayguen Sahin, MSc, PhD's profile on LinkedIn
Büşra Yilmaz Administrative Assistant
Büşra Yilmaz recently graduated from Bilgi University in Istanbul, Turkey with a Bachelor’s degree in physical therapy and rehabilitation. During her studies, she completed her internship in the fields of general physical therapy, cardio-pulmonar rehabilitation, and orthopedic rehabilitation at Memorial Sisli Hospital, pediatric rehabilitation at Terapedia Pediatric Rehabilitation and neurology at a public hospital in Istanbul. Also, Büşra is interested in autism and down syndrome, and muscular dystrophy diseases so she volunteered at various pediatric rehabilitation centers in Turkey, gaining extensive experience in the field of pediatric rehabilitation. Büşra wants to obtain a Master’s degree on physical therapy and rehabilitation. Furthermore, she wants to help increasing cancer awareness and help people to be more empowered against their disease by learning more about it. Therefore, she became a member of CERI and was already fascinated by its effective educational programs, such as the recent Public Prostate Cancer Lecture. She is truly glad having met this great organization, and is excited to be the administrative assistant to the CEO and to help the organization in every way possible.
Büşra Yilmaz recently graduated from Bilgi University in Istanbul, Turkey with a Bachelor’s degree in physical therapy and rehabilitation. During her studies, she completed her internship in the fields of general physical therapy, cardio-pulmonar rehabilitation, and orthopedic rehabilitation at Memorial Sisli Hospital, pediatric rehabilitation at Terapedia Pediatric Rehabilitation and neurology at a public hospital in Istanbul. Also, Büşra is interested in autism and down syndrome, and muscular dystrophy diseases so she volunteered at various pediatric rehabilitation centers in Turkey, gaining extensive experience in the field of pediatric rehabilitation. Büşra wants to obtain a Master’s degree on physical therapy and rehabilitation. Furthermore, she wants to help increasing cancer awareness and help people to be more empowered against their disease by learning more about it. Therefore, she became a member of CERI and was already fascinated by its effective educational programs, such as the recent Public Prostate Cancer Lecture. She is truly glad having met this great organization, and is excited to be the administrative assistant to the CEO and to help the organization in every way possible.
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.
Sarper Ege Güvenç Turkish Translator
Sarper Ege Güvenç is an engineering economics student at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. Sarper earned the honor to represent Turkey at the 2014 International Geography Olympiads and recently scored nation-wide the 61st place at the 2015 Turkish University Entrance Exam (LYS). He prepared for the International Biology Olympiads for (the last) two years and took part in social responsibility projects during his education at Kabataş Erkek Lisesi (Kabataş High School), one of the oldest and most prominent high schools in Turkey. These social projects were a key factor for raising awareness in him that even some amount of small help could bring great changes in people's lives. Although now in the field of making changes in the world from the perspective of economics, with enthusiasm, he wishes to maintain his passion and interest in biology and scientific research, and help people all around the world by working with CERI. Sarper currently translates CERI’s educational contents into Turkish.
Sarper Ege Güvenç is an engineering economics student at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. Sarper earned the honor to represent Turkey at the 2014 International Geography Olympiads and recently scored nation-wide the 61st place at the 2015 Turkish University Entrance Exam (LYS). He prepared for the International Biology Olympiads for (the last) two years and took part in social responsibility projects during his education at Kabataş Erkek Lisesi (Kabataş High School), one of the oldest and most prominent high schools in Turkey. These social projects were a key factor for raising awareness in him that even some amount of small help could bring great changes in people's lives. Although now in the field of making changes in the world from the perspective of economics, with enthusiasm, he wishes to maintain his passion and interest in biology and scientific research, and help people all around the world by working with CERI. Sarper currently translates CERI’s educational contents into Turkish.
Yılmaz Alp Özcan Turkish Translator
Y. Alp Özcan is a first-year medical student at Istanbul University, Cerrahpaşa Medical School English Program. He graduated from Kabataş Erkek Lisesi (Kabataş High School), one of the most prominent high schools in Turkey, as a valedictorian. He recently ranked 22nd in YGS, the university entrance examination in Turkey, among around 1.9 million candidates. Alp is a member of the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA). He is an English enthusiast and enjoys philosophical writing. He is interested in Latin and lexicography. Being a frequent traveler, he strives to become a globetrotter. He wants the world to be aware of cancer and its huge impact upon the masses, since cancer is a worldwide disease that affects millions. Thus, by joining CERI, his goal is to make a great impact in people’s lives worldwide by contributing in CERI’s educational programs as a Turkish translator.
Y. Alp Özcan is a first-year medical student at Istanbul University, Cerrahpaşa Medical School English Program. He graduated from Kabataş Erkek Lisesi (Kabataş High School), one of the most prominent high schools in Turkey, as a valedictorian. He recently ranked 22nd in YGS, the university entrance examination in Turkey, among around 1.9 million candidates. Alp is a member of the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (IFMSA). He is an English enthusiast and enjoys philosophical writing. He is interested in Latin and lexicography. Being a frequent traveler, he strives to become a globetrotter. He wants the world to be aware of cancer and its huge impact upon the masses, since cancer is a worldwide disease that affects millions. Thus, by joining CERI, his goal is to make a great impact in people’s lives worldwide by contributing in CERI’s educational programs as a Turkish translator.
Burak Berke Su Turkish Translator
Burak Berke Su is a first-year medical student at Acıbadem University, School of Medicine English Program in Istanbul, Turkey. He graduated from Kabataş Erkek Lisesi, one of the most prominent high schools in Turkey. Berke has participated in social awareness projects that impacted those with hearing or mental impairment. He is fluent in English and German, and learnt the Turkish Sign Language during his time at high school. Going forward, his goal is to help changing the current face of medicine, and is determined and ambitious to do so by contributing in CERI’s educational programs as a Turkish translator, for our programs to reach a wide range of people worldwide and empower cancer patients against their disease. Berke is excited starting off to work towards this goal thanks to CERI.
Burak Berke Su is a first-year medical student at Acıbadem University, School of Medicine English Program in Istanbul, Turkey. He graduated from Kabataş Erkek Lisesi, one of the most prominent high schools in Turkey. Berke has participated in social awareness projects that impacted those with hearing or mental impairment. He is fluent in English and German, and learnt the Turkish Sign Language during his time at high school. Going forward, his goal is to help changing the current face of medicine, and is determined and ambitious to do so by contributing in CERI’s educational programs as a Turkish translator, for our programs to reach a wide range of people worldwide and empower cancer patients against their disease. Berke is excited starting off to work towards this goal thanks to CERI.
Debora Petropolis, Ph.D. Portuguese Translator
Dr. Petropolis earned her PhD degree in Cell Biology from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), one of the top-ranked universities in Brazil and moved to France for her post-doctoral research at the Pasteur Institute in Paris. Scientific development to improve the health of people has always been her main carrier and personal driver. After nine years of biomedical research experience in three countries (Brazil, France, and the USA) the desire to help a broader society to better understand scientific advances became an urgent matter for her. Working with CERI is a great opportunity to make a difference in today’s society by helping to bridge the gap between scientific research developments and cancer patients. Having Portuguese as her mother language, her work at CERI also comprises the translation of cancer communication material to Portuguese. Through this work she wants to help to develop cancer education in Portuguese-speaking countries, especially in South America (Brazil) and Africa (Mozambique, Angola, Cape Verde and others). Her goal is to help promote better understanding of cancer disease and help cancer patients and families in Portuguese-speaking communities all over the world.
Dr. Petropolis earned her PhD degree in Cell Biology from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), one of the top-ranked universities in Brazil and moved to France for her post-doctoral research at the Pasteur Institute in Paris. Scientific development to improve the health of people has always been her main carrier and personal driver. After nine years of biomedical research experience in three countries (Brazil, France, and the USA) the desire to help a broader society to better understand scientific advances became an urgent matter for her. Working with CERI is a great opportunity to make a difference in today’s society by helping to bridge the gap between scientific research developments and cancer patients. Having Portuguese as her mother language, her work at CERI also comprises the translation of cancer communication material to Portuguese. Through this work she wants to help to develop cancer education in Portuguese-speaking countries, especially in South America (Brazil) and Africa (Mozambique, Angola, Cape Verde and others). Her goal is to help promote better understanding of cancer disease and help cancer patients and families in Portuguese-speaking communities all over the world.
Anna Faustova Research Team Member and Russian Translator
Anna Faustova is a PhD candidate in Psychology and a teacher at the Department of General Psychology at Ryazan State I.P. Pavlov Medical University. She graduated from Ryazan State I.P. Pavlov Medical University in 2011 and is now continuing her education at the Russian Academy of Sciences. Her PhD thesis will be about the dynamics of self-esteem in people with altered physical appearance. Ms. Faustova successfully combines her strong interest in psychological science and different social activities. Her first research project was about the directions of psychological support for people who suffered after experiencing burns. In 2013, Ms. Faustova finished her research grant project “Psychological resilience in cancer patients disfigured after surgical treatment” sponsored by Russian Foundation for Humanities. While the research project lasted, Anna worked as a volunteer at Ryazan Regional Oncology Clinic providing psychological help for cancer patients and their relatives. That practical experience has convinced her that psychological support is important for increasing the quality of life in cancer patients. Since 2014 Ms. Faustova has been a Fulbright Visiting Student Researcher at Brandeis University (Waltham, MA). Ms. Faustova will work as a Russian translator and prepare educational articles as a member of the Research Team. She is so excited to join CERI because it gives her the opportunity to apply her knowledge and experience in Psychology supporting and inspiring people who are fighting with cancer.
Anna Faustova is a PhD candidate in Psychology and a teacher at the Department of General Psychology at Ryazan State I.P. Pavlov Medical University. She graduated from Ryazan State I.P. Pavlov Medical University in 2011 and is now continuing her education at the Russian Academy of Sciences. Her PhD thesis will be about the dynamics of self-esteem in people with altered physical appearance. Ms. Faustova successfully combines her strong interest in psychological science and different social activities. Her first research project was about the directions of psychological support for people who suffered after experiencing burns. In 2013, Ms. Faustova finished her research grant project “Psychological resilience in cancer patients disfigured after surgical treatment” sponsored by Russian Foundation for Humanities. While the research project lasted, Anna worked as a volunteer at Ryazan Regional Oncology Clinic providing psychological help for cancer patients and their relatives. That practical experience has convinced her that psychological support is important for increasing the quality of life in cancer patients. Since 2014 Ms. Faustova has been a Fulbright Visiting Student Researcher at Brandeis University (Waltham, MA). Ms. Faustova will work as a Russian translator and prepare educational articles as a member of the Research Team. She is so excited to join CERI because it gives her the opportunity to apply her knowledge and experience in Psychology supporting and inspiring people who are fighting with cancer.
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
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
Sue Pekock, MA, USA - Fundraising Advisor
Prof. Dr. Michael Overduin, University of Birmingham, UK - Scientific Advisor
John Kogan, MA, USA - Business Development Counselor
Albert Gold, MA, USA - Business Development Counselor
Sue Pekock, MA, USA - Fundraising Advisor
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)CancerResearchSimplified.org], we'd love to hear from you! You may also like to check our open positions here.
