Deniz Baybağ, MSc, PhD Cand.
Co-Founder & Scientific Strategy & Bioprocess Development Lead
Leads bioprocess development and translational research strategy across recombinant platforms, cellular systems, biological product development and scalable experimental workflows.
Current Roles
- European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) — Ambassador
- Istanbul Kent University — R&D Specialist, CellKent Director (2026)
- Imperion Research and Biotechnology — Co-founder & Research Lead (2025 – present)
- Bilim İlaç — R&D Advisor
- Hekim İlaç — Scientific Board Member
- Memorial Hospital — HCC, Colorectal, PDAC; Scientific Board Member
- Bloocell — R&D Advisor
- Acıbadem Tekmer — R&D Advisor
- Atabay — NDA Signed
Previous Roles
- Acıbadem Pancreatic Cancer Research — Researcher (2021–2025)
- Biota — R&D Advisor (2021–2023)
- Molecular Diagnostics Lab — Junior Researcher (2017–2021)
Key Achievements
- Secured 3 TÜBİTAK grants and 2 European grants
- Developed 2 monoclonal antibodies (anti-CX3CR1, anti-NPY)
- Co-founded PANKAM; managing 5 translational pancreatic projects
- 4 peer-reviewed manuscripts in pipeline; 24-month collaboration at TU Munich
Education
- PhD Bioengineering, Yıldız Technical Univ., 2026–
- MSc Medical Biotechnology, Acıbadem Univ., 2024
- BSc Genetics & Bioengineering, Yeditepe Univ., 2021
Core Skills
Cell & Gene Tech
Primary/3-D cultures, neuronal-cancer cell culture handling, DRG & stellate isolation, bone marrow derived hematopoietic stem cell isolation-differentiation to M0/M1/M2 macrophages, CRISPR/siRNA/shRNA, ICC, 3D ECM embedded migration (live cell microscopy), colony forming, scratch assay, monoclonal antibody production via hybridoma, insert based co-culture assay, annexin V, Comet, CCK8 toxicity assay.
In-Vivo Models
Animal handling, transgenic & caerulein induced acute & chronic pancreatitis models, transgenic & orthotopic tumors, monoclonal antibody production via hybridoma technique with mice, pain assays (Von-Frey), cognitive assays, microsurgery (Open-Field, Morris-Maze), genotyping.
Analytics
WB, ELISA, PCR (common, gradient, inverted, touch-down), qPCR, gel electrophoresis, FACS, tissue preservation, microtome, H&E, IHC, IF, digital histopathology (QuPath, ImageJ, GraphPad Prism, BioRender, MATLAB, C++, AutoCAD, Mathematica).
Therapeutic Pipeline
- Development of anti-CX3CR1 mAb for Pancreatitis & Pancreatic Cancer
- Development of anti-NPY mAb for Pancreatic Cancer Therapy
- Unraveling the IL-8–Mediated Neurotropic Migration in Pancreatic Cancer
- mPGES-1 Inhibitors from Ibuprofen Derivatives (Synthesis & Antiproliferative Evaluation)
Awards & Presentations
- 2023 EPC Meeting — Poster Presentation
- 2024 HPB Congress — Poster Presentation & Travel Grant
- 2024 EPC Meeting — Poster Presentation & Travel Grant
- 2024 IHPBA Congress — Poster Presentation & Travel Grant
- 2025 EPC Meeting — Oral Lecture
- 2025 EACR Conference Cancer Neuroscience — Poster Presentation & Travel Grant
- 2025 Izmir Institute of Technology — Invited Speaker
- 2025 Istanbul Kent University — Invited Speaker
- 2026 GeneXplore ITU — Invited Speaker
- 2026 Istanbul Atlas University — Invited Speaker
- 2026 International IV. GENESIS Symposium, Haliç University — Workshop