Snapshot Highlights
- Professor of General Surgery with extensive international experience.
- PhD in Pancreatic Cancer Research, awarded Summa cum laude.
- Expertise in Pancreas, Liver, and Biliary Tract Diseases.
- Extensive publication record in high-impact medical journals.
- Long-standing memberships in prestigious international surgical societies.
Dr. MERT ERKAN
Specialization and Focus
Dr. Mert Erkan is a distinguished Professor of General Surgery, recognized for his profound expertise in the complex field of treating Pancreas, Liver, and Biliary Tract Diseases. His career is dedicated to advancing surgical techniques and patient outcomes in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery.
Education and Academic Achievements
Dr. Erkan’s robust academic foundation includes a PhD from the University of Heidelberg, awarded Summa cum laude, where his research focused on the influence of tumor-modulated microenvironment on pancreatic cancer behavior. He holds a Professor title in General Surgery from Koç University, building upon his Associate Professorship equivalency and his prior Associate Professor role at the Technical University of Munich. His specialization in Digestive System Surgery was obtained from the Technical University of Munich, Klinikum rechts der Isar, following his foundational general surgery training at Istanbul University’s Istanbul Faculty of Medicine.
Professional Experience and Research
With over two decades of dedicated experience in general surgery and specialized HPB surgery, Dr. Erkan has held prominent positions at leading institutions. His extensive clinical and research tenure includes significant contributions at the Technical University of Munich, Isar Clinic, and the Pancreas Research Center there. He has also been instrumental at Koç University, contributing to its Faculty of Medicine, Translational Medicine Research Center, and Health Sciences Institute. His work extends to the Pancreatic Cancer Research Center at Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University. Throughout his career, he has been deeply involved in research, particularly in pancreatic cancer, as evidenced by his significant contributions to understanding tumor microenvironment, stroma, and potential therapeutic targets.
Professional Affiliations and Memberships
Dr. Erkan is an active and respected member of numerous prestigious international medical societies. His affiliations include long-standing memberships in the European Digestive Surgery (EDS), the European Consortium on Minimally Invasive Pancreatic Surgery, the European Pancreatic-Club (EPC), and the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA). He has also served on committees for the Europan/African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, including the Scientific and Research Committee and the Program Committee, and is a founding member of its Pancreatic terminology committee. Additionally, he maintains memberships with the International Association of Pancreatology (IAP) and the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV).
Key Publications
Dr. Erkan has authored and co-authored numerous impactful publications in leading medical journals, significantly contributing to the advancement of knowledge in pancreatic cancer research and surgery. His published works explore critical areas such as the role of stroma in pancreatic cancer, potential epigenetics-based therapies, novel biomarkers for cancer stem cells, and the impact of specific cellular pathways and proteins on cancer progression and chemoresistance. His research has been featured in high-impact journals including Nature Medicine, Nature Methods, Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Gut, Gastroenterology, Annals of Surgery, and Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.