WANA Scientific Network

Dr. Najimi represents a critical bridge between high-level academic research in hepatology and the practical, clinical application of cell therapy. His work, particularly in identifying mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells from human liver tissue, has been pivotal in advancing treatments for liver disease. His dual role—as a Senior Research Associate at the Université catholique de Louvain and as a key figure in the success of Promethera Biosciences—highlights his ability to translate laboratory “bench” discoveries into tangible pharmaceutical and clinical outcomes. Key Takeaways from Dr. Najimi’s Perspective: Translational Excellence: His career trajectory—from his PhD in 1999 to his current role supervising hepatic stem cell banks—is a masterclass in long-term commitment to a specific medical field. His involvement in the GMP-compliant isolation of liver cells underscores the importance of regulatory standards in regenerative medicine. The Power of Collaboration: His comments at the 4th International WANA Congress reflect a pragmatic and strategic approach to international scientific cooperation. He emphasizes: Strategic Incrementalism: The advice to “get the tree first… and then we can branch” is a vital lesson in institutional capacity building. He advocates for establishing solid local foundations within each country before attempting large-scale international expansion. Value-Add Partnerships: He correctly identifies that for a scientific network to be sustainable, it must be based on mutual value and the sharing of positive, validated results. Collaborative Philosophy: His closing sentiment— “alone, you will go fast, and together, you will go far”—encapsulates the necessity of global scientific solidarity, especially within the context of the Islamic world, to elevate the impact of regional research on the global stage. Dr. Najimi is clearly positioning himself not just as a researcher but as a mentor and institutional architect for the next generation of WANA scientists. By advocating for a structured, results-oriented network, he is aiming to ensure that the region’s scientific output is recognized for its quality and clinical utility rather than just its volume.

Sukru Tuzmen, Ph.D.. 1. Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), Famagusta, T.R.N.C., Mersin 10 – Turkey. 2. Adjunct Professor, Arizona State University (ASU), Phoenix, AZ, U.S.A. 3. Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Maryland University College (UMUC), College Park, MD, U.S.A. 4. Adjunct Investigator, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, Sukru Tuzmen is a molecular biologist, graduated from the Ph.D. program of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bosphorus University, Istanbul in 1995. He has more than thirty years of multi-disciplinary research experience integrating studies of the molecular basis of human diseases, including cancer genetics. Prof. Tuzmen has a passion for advancing the molecular genetics of diseases by studying the associations between drugs, genes, pathways, and diseases. His mission is to discover and validate links between gene states and disease phenotypes, and further use these links to identify druggable targets to be utilized as biomarkers in the early diagnosis stages of genetic diseases such as cancer.Prof. Tuzmen has focused his career to develop and apply cutting-edge methods and technologies to ensure excellence in the translation of his basic scientific research including cancer genetics, from bench to bedside. He has been involved with the development of new high-throughput biochip technologies. Specifically, screening of druggable compound libraries and siRNA libraries, and validation of gene expression levels via quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) technology. Previously, as a Ph.D. scholar, Prof. Tuzmen was involved with nationwide screening and prenatal diagnosis of beta-thalassemia in the Turkish population and has participated in the development of a Nationwide Molecular Diagnostic Reference Laboratory at Bosphorus University. Prof. Tuzmen has received many National and International Scholarships/Awards including a five-year NIH Fogarty Fellowship, as the first Turkish Cypriot Scientist, at the Laboratory of Chemical Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD U.S.A. to work on globin gene regulation. Prof. Tuzmen has been invited to deliver talks in many National and International settings, and he has served on many expert panels including The Research Grant Council, Hong Kong, China.