Aziz Sancar: After the Nobel, “Alisher Navoi”...

As part of the informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States held in Budapest, Hungary, an award ceremony was held to present the international Alisher Navoi Prize “For Contributions to the Unity of the Turkic World.” This year, the award was granted to the renowned Turkish biochemist, Nobel Prize laureate, and honorary doctor of the National University of Uzbekistan, Aziz Sancar.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, sincerely congratulated Aziz Sancar and emphasized that presenting such a prestigious award to a distinguished scientist would inspire scholars across the Turkic world, especially the youth, to reach new heights.

The Alisher Navoi Prize of the Organization of Turkic States, named after the great thinker and statesman, was established in 2021 on the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan. It is awarded once every two years for outstanding contributions to the promotion of Turkic culture, the preservation of peace, the assurance of security, the strengthening of trust, and the expansion of cooperation in various fields among Turkic nations.

Who is Aziz Sancar?

Among representatives of Turkic peoples, only two individuals have received the prestigious Nobel Prize: Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk and Aziz Sancar.

Aziz Sancar was born on September 8, 1946, in the Savur district of Mardin Province, Turkey, into a poor family as the seventh of eight children. Although his parents were illiterate, they created conditions for all their children to receive an education. After graduating from high school, he completed his studies at the Faculty of Medicine of Istanbul University in 1969. In 1971, he moved to the United States, where he earned his master’s and PhD degrees in molecular biology at the University of Texas in Dallas. From 1977 to 1982, he pursued postdoctoral studies at Yale University. Since 1982, he has lived and worked in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, as a professor. His wife, biochemist Gwen Sancar (Esta Gwendolyn Boles Sancar), is a graduate of the University of Texas in Dallas and a professor at the University of North Carolina.

In 2015, Aziz Sancar was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, along with Tomas Lindahl and Paul Modrich, for their work on DNA repair mechanisms.

In January 2023, the Mardin Airport in Turkey was renamed in honor of Aziz Sancar. On January 19, 2025, during a ceremony held at the Sancar Cultural Center in North Carolina, USA, TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev presented him with the “Cultural Ambassador of the Turkic World” medal.

“My Love for Uzbekistan Is Unique”

Aziz Sancar has always acknowledged his deep respect for the history and culture of Uzbekistan.

On October 16, 2018, the National University of Uzbekistan hosted an international scientific conference titled “Aziz Sancar: A Life in the Realm of Boundless Knowledge”. At the conclusion of the conference, Aziz Sancar was awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of the university.

During his visit, the prominent scholar expressed his great satisfaction in coming to Uzbekistan, noting that this land holds special meaning for him.

“I came here to reunite with my brothers. The Nobel Prize awarded to me actually belongs to all Turkic peoples. There’s no need to hide it—after receiving this prestigious award, I received numerous invitations from different countries. Due to time constraints, I had to decline most of them. But I gladly accepted the invitation from my Turkic brothers,” said the scholar.

The Turkish professor also spoke about his personal journey in achieving great heights in science and emphasized that today, sparking young people’s interest in science is a top priority.

“It wasn’t any material benefit that brought me to Uzbekistan, but rather longing. This was my duty to my homeland! Most importantly, I came here to inspire young people to pursue science. Today, we must foster a passion for science among the youth of the Turkic world,” said Professor Aziz Sancar.

The distinguished scholar also stressed the importance of mastering modern knowledge and the achievements of Western science.

“Without science, it is impossible to earn respect and recognition in the world. This can only be achieved if the Turkic world stands united. There is much to be said about working together. We are bound by a common language, religion, and historical roots. Together, we are capable of great things, including reaching the highest peaks in science”, said the scholar.