Prof. Dr. Canan Altay
Prof. Dr. Canan Altay is a prominent figure in the field of modern radiology, with a career spanning over two decades dedicated to advancing medical imaging and diagnostic precision. Currently a Professor of Radiology at Dokuz Eylül University in İzmir, Turkiye, her work is defined by academic excellence, innovative research, and a steadfast commitment to integrating cutting-edge imaging technologies into clinical practice.
Her medical journey began at Ege University Faculty of Medicine, where she earned her degree in 2000, followed by a residency in radiology at
Dokuz Eylül University completed in 2006. Prof. Dr. Altay has held several pivotal positions, including serving as Chief Assistant at the Health Ministry Izmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital (2010–2013). Her clinical expertise is primarily concentrated in radiodiagnostic imaging, with a specialized focus on abdominal imaging, oncology, and
rare metabolic disorders—most notably lipodystrophies.
Internationally recognized for her adherence to the highest standards of practice, Prof. Dr. Altay holds diplomas from the European Board of Radiology (EDIR) and the Turkish Radiology Board (TRD). Beyond clinical work, she is a leader in academic governance, having served on the Faculty Board and currently holding a seat on the Management Board for the University Center for Abdominal Cancers and Research.
Prof. Dr. Altay’s research portfolio is both extensive and impactful, with nearly 400 publications in high-impact peer-reviewed journals such as Abdominal Radiology and Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism. Her work investigates critical diagnostic challenges, including the differentiation of benign and malignant lesions and the management of rare conditions
through advanced MRI, CT, and ultrasound techniques. With an h-index of 20 and over 1,200 citations, her contributions have earned significant international resonance.
Currently, as a member of AortasensePro, Prof. Dr. Altay is at the forefront of bridging the gap between advanced technology and clinical care by integrating Artificial Intelligence into radiological practice. She exemplifies a rare combination of clinical mastery, research innovation, and academic leadership, actively shaping the future of radiology both in Turkey and on the global stage.
Prof. Dr. Serhat Tozburun
Prof. Dr. Serhat Tozburun is a distinguished academic and researcher specializing in biophotonics, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and laser-based biomedical applications. Currently serving as a faculty member at the İzmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute of Dokuz Eylül University in Turkey, he also acts as the Principal Investigator for the Biophotonics and Optical Imaging Laboratory at the İzmir Biomedicine and Genome Center. His work operates at the vital intersection of physics, engineering, and medicine, focusing on the development of advanced optical technologies for non-invasive diagnosis and therapy.
Prof. Dr. Tozburun’s academic foundation was established with a B.S. in Physics from Middle East Technical University (2005) and an M.S. in Physics from Koç University (2007), where he investigated near-infrared pulsed solid-state lasers. He earned his Ph.D. in Optical Science and Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2012, completing a dissertation on the optical stimulation of prostate nerves. Following his doctorate, he conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School and the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (2012–2015), where he deepened his expertise in laser-tissue interactions and advanced optical imaging.
Prof. Dr. Tozburun’s research is characterized by the rigorous development of high-speed optical systems and their clinical translation. He has pioneered ultra-high-speed wavelength-swept lasers for OCT, reaching A-scan rates of 20 MHz to enable real-time, high-resolution 3D imaging of biological tissues. A significant portion of his research also investigates Optical Nerve Stimulation (ONS)—a technique using infrared lasers as a non-invasive alternative to traditional electrical stimulation. His studies have demonstrated the feasibility of this method for stimulating the vagus and prostate cavernous nerves in animal models, offering potential applications in treating conditions such as erectile dysfunction. Furthermore, he leads projects on precision photothermal ablation for treating Barrett’s esophagus and other mucosal conditions, utilizing endoscopic capsules designed for precise depth control to protect surrounding healthy tissue. Most recently, his lab has integrated artificial intelligence to enhance OCT scans by reconstructing sparse data and improving tissue classification through deep learning.
An active contributor to the global scientific community, Prof. Dr. Tozburun has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals and secured numerous competitive research grants from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) and the European Commission, including a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship. His contributions have been recognized with several prestigious honors, including the SPIE Optics and Photonics Scholarship (2012), the Eser Tumen Outstanding Achievement Award (2016), and Young Scientist Awards from both the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA, 2018) and the Science Academy (2020).
Beyond his academic roles, Prof. Dr. Tozburun is the founder of Healysense, a company dedicated to translating his laboratory research into tangible medical technologies, and he holds multiple patents related to optical pulse generation and nerve stimulation. As a department head and mentor, he supervises a new generation of scientists while maintaining active collaborations with clinicians. His vision ensures that these optical technologies address real-world medical challenges—from improving cancer surgery margins to developing diagnostic tools for neurological disorders. Through this interdisciplinary approach, Prof. Dr. Serhat Tozburun continues to push the boundaries of what is possible with light in medicine, bridging the gap between complex optical physics and life-saving clinical applications.”
Assoc. Prof. Ömer Akgüller
Ömer Akgüller is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University (MSKU), where he serves as Head of the Geometry Division in the Department of Mathematics. His interdisciplinary research bridges advanced geometric and topological methods with machine learning and computational frameworks, addressing complex problems across biomedical science, and financial systems.
Assoc. Prof. Akgüller’s educational background includes research residencies at Paderborn University (2008–2009) and Freie Universität Berlin (2011–2012), both within Geometry Processing Research Groups, which established an internationally grounded scholarly perspective early in his career. Reflecting his commitment to continuous intellectual development, he is currently pursuing a second doctoral degree in Translational Oncology at Dokuz Eylül University (2025–present), deepening his focus on the application of network-based and geometric approaches to critical biomedical challenges.
His core research areas encompass discrete Ricci curvature, geodesic distribution, hypergraph methods in complex network analysis, manifold learning, and network medicine. His researches have yielded significant contributions across two primary domains: in biomedical research, his work spans Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease diagnostics, network-medicine-guided drug repurposing, and colorectal cancer target identification; in financial network analysis, he has applied curvature-based and fractional-order methods to model market structure, systemic risk, and economic contagion, with particular focus on Borsa Istanbul.
As Principal Investigator, he currently leads two active TÜBİTAK-funded projects — VETİGENX PLUS, a generative AI system for veterinary imaging, and BIOGEOMNET, a protein–ligand interaction modeling project — alongside participation in an EU-funded digital finance initiative and the COST Action IMMUPARKNET project on Parkinson’s disease. He is also a co-inventor on a registered national patent (2024) for a textile surface analysis method. His extensive publication record spans peer-reviewed journals including International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Fractal and Fractional, Entropy, and Applied Soft Computing, and he serves as Associate Editor of Soft Computing (2025–present).
Assoc. Prof. Akgüller additionally supervises graduate research, leads institutional initiatives as Department Erasmus Coordinator (2020–2023), and contributes to national science evaluation as a TÜBİTAK panel reviewer, demonstrating a scholarly profile of exceptional depth, versatility, and sustained interdisciplinary impact.
Assoc. Prof. Hikmet Gümüş
Associate Professor Hikmet Gümüş is a distinguished academician and researcher specializing in Sport Physiology, currently serving at Dokuz Eylül University’s Necat Hepkon Faculty of Sport Sciences. With a foundational background in medicine and advanced expertise in exercise physiology, Assoc. Prof. Gümüş has dedicated his career to bridging the gap between clinical health and athletic performance.
His doctoral work was characterized by a drive for innovation, specifically focusing on the development of a new measurement system for assessing jump height. This blend of clinical medical knowledge and physiological research has defined his long-standing tenure at Dokuz Eylül University, where he has held academic positions since 2011. Assoc. Prof. Gümüş is a prolific contributor to the global scientific community, with a portfolio of over 60 publications and a recognized impact reflected in his h-index of 5 (Scopus/Web of Science) across major research databases. His research is remarkably diverse, covering the handball physiology, the impact of circadian rhythms on NBA team performances, and the biochemical relationships between exercise and cognitive health, such as the role of irisin and VEGF in brain function.
Beyond his teaching and research, Assoc. Prof. Gümüş has established himself as a prominent leader within the university’s administrative framework. He currently serves as the Director of the Fevziye Hepkon Sport Sciences and Athlete Health Application and Research Center, a role he is appointed to through 2026. His leadership extends to presiding as the Chairman of both the Center’s Executive and Advisory Boards. Additionally, his commitment to institutional development is evidenced by his service as a member of the Faculty Board and his previous role as Deputy Director of the Research Center. These positions highlight his influence in shaping the strategic direction of sports science research and athlete health initiatives
Presently, he is an innovator in sports technology, holding patents for a noise-canceling EEG headset and the synchronization of wireless receiver networks. His current work includes high-level projects funded by TUBITAK, focusing on entrepreneurial ventures like PHYSIOTRAX and the exploration of new exercise intensity markers. Through this multifaceted career, Assoc. Prof. Gümüş continues to advance the frontiers of sport physiology and technological integration in athlete performance.
Batu Durgundeğil
Batu Durgundeğil stands as an accomplished Turkish business professional whose distinguished career, spanning more than fifteen years, has been defined by a sophisticated mastery of international trade, import operations, and strategic business development. Throughout this tenure, he has carved out a reputation as a trusted authority in cross-border commerce, characterized by a disciplined and results-driven methodology that consistently delivers tangible value.
Central to his professional success is an extensive, meticulously fostered network of manufacturers, suppliers, and trade partners reaching across diverse global markets. This robust infrastructure of connections supports his core competencies, which include high-level strategic sourcing,
rigorous market analysis, and the implementation of competitive business models that prioritize long-term performance over short-term gains.
Mr. Durgundeğil’s professional philosophy is rooted in a pragmatic and entrepreneurial spirit, centered on the belief that enduring commercial success is only possible through the foundational pillars of reliability, execution excellence, and mutual value creation. This principled approach has not only guided his expansion into sustainable international landscapes but has also earned him significant institutional recognition. Specifically, his contributions to the trade ecosystem have been honored with multiple awards from the Izmir Chamber of Commerce, cementing his status as a respected leader within both regional and national business communities.
Currently, he remains a dynamic force in the global arena, actively exploring innovative investment opportunities and projects designed
to bridge disparate markets and foster economic collaboration. By maintaining an unwavering commitment to building scalable partnerships, Mr. Durgundeğil continues to drive projects that yield sustainable commercial outcomes. He remains open to engaging with like-minded professionals and organizations, welcoming dialogue that aligns with his rigorous standards for excellence in international trade and global business development.
Barış Demiriz
Central to his professional success