Zafer Şahin

Expert in drug development, specializing in anticancer agents and antiviral research, with significant contributions to CXCR4 antagonist projects. Collaborated with NIH on published research and engaged in patent review for Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents Journal. Proven ability to excel in both independent and collaborative environments, dedicated to advancing pharmaceutical sciences.

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey TUBITAK for their financial support for the project SBAG-115S168., Anadolu University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit 1610S656., Anadolu University Scientific Research Projects Commission, Eskişehir, Turkey (project number: 1609S624)., Anadolu University Scientific Research Projects Commission (Project No: 1410S422)., NIH NIDDK Intramural Research Pro-gram (ZIADK031117) (A part of the PhD work was evaluated under this funding by Kenneth A Jacobson)., CXCR4 Antagonists (Dennis Liotta Research Group), SARS-Cov-2019-Main protease inhibitors (Dennis Liotta Research Group), Unannounced (confidentiality reasons) drug delivery project for (2025-)

Selected articles (Full list of 25 articles can be found in links) 

• Sahin, Z., Biltekin, S. N., Yurttaş, L., Berk, B., Özhan, Y., Sipahi, H., Gao, Z. G., Jacobson, K. A., & Demirayak, Ş. (2021). Novel cyanothiouracil and cyanothiocytosine derivatives as concentration-dependent selective inhibitors of U87MG glioblastomas: Adenosine receptor binding and potent PDE4 inhibition. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 212, 113125. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.113125. (PhD Paper)
• Sahin, Z., Ertas, M., Berk, B., Biltekin, S.N., Yurttaş, L., Demirayak S. (2018) Studies on Non-Steroidal Inhibitors of Aromatase Enzyme; 4-(aryl/heteroaryl)-2-(pyrimidin-2-yl)thiazole Derivatives, Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 26 (8), 1986-1995.
• Sahin, Z., Biltekin, S. N., Yurttaş, L., Berk, B., Küçükkılınç, T. T., & Demirayak, Ş. (2022). Novel benzofurane carbonyl analogs of donepezil as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Journal of Molecular Structure, 1264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2022.133193.
• Eric J. Miller, Petra Gregorova, Carrie Q. Sun, Leon Jacobs, Zafer Sahin, et al. Tetrahydroisoquinoline-Based Small Molecule Inhibitors of the Chemokine Receptor CXCR4. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, June 1, 2024, 389 (S3) 291; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.291.127096
• Eric J. Miller; Carrie Q. Sun; .......... , Zafer Sahin et al. Abstract 2649: Orally bioavailable small molecule CXCR4 antagonists with enhanced efficacy in mouse models of genitourinary cancers. Cancer Res (2022) 82 (12_Supplement): 2649. https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.AM2022-2649.
• Zafer Sahin, Yesim A. Tahirovic, Jiafeng Geng, Lawrence J. Wilson & Dennis C. Liotta (2025) Small molecule and peptide CXCR4 antagonists. A patent review from 2019 to 2024, Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents, 35:4, 357-369, DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2025.2462848.

3-4 more high-ranked papers are expected within 1-2 years

Selected oral presentations and posters

• Sahin Z, Jecs E, Tahirovic YA, Miller EJ, Sharma S, Burton S, D’Erasmo M, Bartsch P, Liu K, Vugman N, Wilson LJ, Liotta DC. Tetrahydroisoquinoline-based CXCR4 antagonists with alternative binding motifs Poster ID: 4086033. ACS Fall 2024, 18-22 August 2024, Denver, Colorado, United States.
• Ertas M., Sahin Z., Berk B., Yurttaş L., Ozdatli S. et al. : IXth Joint Meeting in Medicinal Chemistry, 7-10 June 2015, 23/P40, Athens, Greece, 2015.
• Sahin Z, Ertas M, Berk B, Yurttaş L, Demirayak S, 11th International Symposium on Pharmaceutical Sciences (ISOPS-11), 308/249, Ankara, Turkey, 2015
• Sahin Z, Ertas M, Biltekin SN, Berk B, Demirayak S. 53RD International Conference on Medicinal Chemistry, 209/119, Toulouse, France, 2017
• Zafer Sahin, Merve Ertas, Barkin Berk, Sevde Nur Biltekin, Leyla Yurttaş, Seref Demirayak, Studies on non-steroidal inhibitors of aromatase enzyme; 4-(aryl/heteroaryl)-2-(pyrimidin-2-yl)thiazole derivatives, 4th World Congress on Cancer Research & Therapy, Page: 59 Order: 33, 13-15 August, Rome, Italy, 2018
• Development of non-steroidal aminothiazole analogs active on MCF7 cell line and aromatase enzyme. ISOPS2021 International Symposium on Pharmaceutical Sciences 2021, Ankara, Turkiye, 2021 June.
• Eric J. Miller,.... , Zafer Sahin, et al. Orally bioavailable small molecule CXCR4 antagonists with enhanced efficacy in mouse models of genitourinary cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 2649. Online Issn: 1538-7445. Print Issn: 0008-5472. Doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.AM2022-2649.

2012-2013 (12 months, Lieutunant, Çanakkale Boğaz Komutanlığı, Türkiye, Health Administration Chief)

• Eskisehir Fatih Fen Lisesi (Eskisehir Fatih Science High School) 2004-2007
• Anadolu University Faculty of Pharmacy, BSC (2007-2012), MSc, PhD (2013-2019)
• Emory University (Visiting Scholar - 2019)
• Istanbul Medipol University (Assistant Professor 2020-2022)
• University of Health Sciences, Türkiye (Assistant Professor 2022)
• Emory University (Post-doctoral fellow- October 2022-Present)

• Associate Editor of ACTA Pharmaceutica Sciencia (Q3 Scopus Journal in Pharmaceutical Science) (2021 January -2022 April)
• Faculty delegate of strategy committee of Istanbul Medipol University (2021-2022)
• Committee jobs such as student transfer, schedule of exams, and more in both universities

• B.Sc. Graduation Thesis : Development of a validated chromatographic method for seperation of desloratadine
• M.Sc. Thesis: Synthesis and investigation of aromatase inhibition / anticancer effects of newly synthesized thiazoles.
• PhD Thesis: Synthesis and activity studies on novel cyanothiouracil and cyanothiocytidines.

Basketball, Swimming, Cycling, Nature trips, scuba diving

Istanbul/Turkey-06.28.1990

• Novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Zafer Sahin, Sevde Nur Biltekin Kaleli, Barkin Berk, Şeref Demirayak. WO Patent WO2023/234891 A2
• Synthesis and in vitro antitumor activities of novel thioamide substituted piperazinyl-1,2,4-triazines. Zafer Sahin, Sevde Nur Biltekin Kaleli, Barkin Berk, Şeref Demirayak. WO Patent WO2023063906A1
• Synthesis of pyrazolone derivative compounds and their effects on COX enzymes. Leyla Yurttaş, Zafer Sahin, Sevde Nur Biltekin Kaleli, Barkin Berk, Şeref Demirayak, Evren Önay Uçar 2023/6 WO2023/096623 A2

• Schrödinger Maestro software education
• Pharmacokinetic calculations education (Novartsi)
• Trainings related to teaching (Education training)
• EHSO Laboratory safety certificate
• Bridges: Building a Supportive Community (Emory) certificate
• Conference attendance certifications
• Language certificate from American Culture Association-Türkiye (C1)