Professor Aziz Sancar, a world-renowned Turkish scientist and Nobel laureate, was born on September 8, 1946, in the Savur district of Mardin Province, Türkiye. After graduating from the Faculty of Medicine at Istanbul University, he pursued doctoral studies in molecular biology in the United States. He has devoted his scientific career primarily to the study of the mechanisms of DNA repair, the cell cycle, and the molecular foundations of the biological clock.

Professor Aziz Sancar’s fundamental contributions to the study of the mechanisms underlying the repair of damaged DNA at the molecular level have played an important role in the development of modern biology and medicine. For these significant scientific achievements, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2015, jointly with Tomas Lindahl and Paul Modrich.

Aziz Sancar has earned particular recognition for his close ties with Azerbaijani science, his attention to and support for Azerbaijani scientists, as well as his contributions to the development of scientific relations between Azerbaijan and Türkiye.

By Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, dated September 7, 2026, Professor Aziz Sancar was awarded the “Shohrat” Order for his special services in strengthening the international scientific and humanitarian cooperation of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

We sincerely congratulate Professor Aziz Sancar on his 80th anniversary and on being awarded the “Shohrat” Order, and wish him strong health, long life, new achievements in his scientific activities, and the continued successful development of his ties with Azerbaijani science.