Berna S. Sayan

Dr. Berna S. Sayan is a Lecturer in Biomedicine at the University of Salford's School of Science, Engineering & Environment. With a PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Bilkent University, Turkey, she has held academic positions at the University of Manchester, University of Southampton, and the MRC Toxicology Unit before joining Salford.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Bilkent University, Turkey

Dr. Sayan's research program spans three interconnected domains: molecular mechanisms of therapy resistance in cancer, drug repurposing for pediatric cancers, and biomarkers of prenatal alcohol exposure. Her cancer stem cell research investigates metabolic reprogramming and tumor microenvironment dynamics that drive therapy resistance. In pediatric oncology, she focuses on repurposing approved drugs for aggressive medulloblastoma subtypes. Her FASD work examines molecular consequences of alcohol exposure during pregnancy to identify diagnostic biomarkers for early intervention.

Analysis of her 34 publications reveals consistent focus on p53 family proteins (particularly p73 and p63), microRNA regulation in cancer progression, and cellular stress responses. Her recent scholarly output shows expansion into educational research examining how assessment language clarity affects student attainment, especially for those from diverse educational backgrounds.

Dr. Sayan actively supervises PhD students with research topics including natural products as apoptosis modulators, therapy resistance mechanisms, tumor microenvironment changes, drug repurposing for pediatric brain tumors, and molecular markers of prenatal alcohol exposure. She has successfully secured research funding for biomarker discovery, therapeutic interventions, and STEM education scholarship.

Her professional service includes peer review, PhD examination, and committee work, notably her involvement in the Athena Swan initiative promoting gender equality in academia. She contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health, quality education, and gender equality.