Gagik Melikyan is on a mission to find a breast cancer cure

Chemistry professor Gagik Melikyan's life changed in the middle of a scientific conference, and in the middle of an illustrious two-decade career in organic and organometallic chemistry.

The conference was on breast cancer. As he listened and learned, Melikyan realized that his expertise could be applied to the detection and possible cure of the disease. Having spent time with breast cancer survivors and devastated victims, the chemist decided to give up pure academics and enter the field of medicinal chemistry.

"When you meet these people, you understand it is better to publish one or two papers less in order to save human lives," he said.

With the support of CSUN's Office of Research and Sponsored Projects and the American Chemical Society, Melikyan set his sights on creation of an original early detection method for breast cancer that will not require expensive medical equipment. His other goal is to develop a new generation of organic compounds able to slow down tumor growth and kill cancer cells "without significant damage to a human body." Some synthetic compounds have already demonstrated a remarkable ability to inhibit a growth of breast cancer cell lines.

"A lack of funds-federal and private-is the only reason we cannot create these life-saving formulations fast enough," he said.