Prof. Dr. Mustafa Djamgöz, PhD (Talk Topic: Neural Characteristics of Cancer: A New Concept and Potential in Oncology)
Professor Djamgöz graduated from the Physics Department at Imperial College London and went on to pursue a PhD in biophysics/electrophysiology. Even before completing his doctorate, he was appointed Assistant Professor in the Life Sciences Department at Imperial College in 1978. He spent the first half of his 50-year academic career in neuroscience and became a Professor of Neurobiology in 1995. Through his work on electrical signaling differences between aggressive and non-aggressive human tumor cells, he opened a new field in oncology. His main discovery is that aggressive cancer cells exhibit electrical excitability and hyperactivity, which enables cancer spread. For this work, he was awarded a second professorship at Imperial College in 2005, a very rare distinction.
Professor Djamgöz has more than 200 publications in international journals. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with many Turkish academics and continues to do so. His book “Beat Cancer” has been translated from English. Among his many awards are the Huxley Memorial Medal and Honorary Membership of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Medical Association.
His discoveries suggest that it may be possible to inhibit cancer progression using non-toxic drugs. Based on these findings, which include 7 patents, he founded a small biotechnology company. In addition to his drug development work, he continues his research as a lifetime Emeritus Professor at Imperial College.
