Emre Sayan

Dr. Emre Sayan is an Associate Professor in the Cancer Sciences Division at the University of Southampton. His research focuses on mechanisms of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in carcinoma development, particularly its role in therapy resistance and metastasis. He leads a patient-inspired lab identifying biomarkers and therapeutic options for metastatic cancers. Sayan holds a Molecular Biology and Genetics degree from Bogazici University, followed by MSc and PhD from Bilkent University. After postdoctoral training in France and the UK, he joined Southampton in 2010.

Research Interests:

• Link between EMT and apoptosis/therapy resistance
• Mechanobiology of EMT and tumor stiffness
• EMT's influence on tumor microenvironment interactions

Teaching: Lecturer in Molecular and Cellular Pathology, Integrated PhD Cancer Pathway, and BM4 graduate programs. Supervises research projects across multiple pathways including MMedSc and BMedSc.

Grants & Awards: Recipient of Faculty of Medicine Teaching Awards (2017). Active grants include projects on pancreatic cancer diagnosis, colorectal cancer recurrence, and miR-31’s role in EGFR inhibition.

External Roles: Reviewer for journals Cell Death and Disease, Cell Death and Discovery, and Frontiers in Pharmacology.