Anastasios Maniakas, M.D., PhD., is an Assistant Professor, Tenure Track, in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Maniakas received his undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees from McGill University, and his medical doctorate from the University of Montreal. He completed his residency at the University of Montreal followed by a fellowship in head and neck surgical oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. His clinical expertise is in head and neck cancers, with an emphasis on thyroid disease, oral cavity cancer, skin cancers, and salivary gland neoplasms. Dr. Maniakas’ research interests focus on translational research, developing unique patient-derived xenograft models utilized in understanding cancer pathogenesis and novel drug therapy development. Furthermore, Dr. Maniakas is investigating the effect of the microbiome in the development, progression, and recurrence of cancer in his patient population. Lastly, he is co-leading a global randomized trial evaluating the effect of photoimmunotherapy in locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

I was born in 1991 in Istanbul and completed my medical education at Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, English Program, graduating in 2015. After my internship, I began my residency in otorhinolaryngology at the same faculty, which I completed in 2021. My specialization thesis focused on the tumor immune microenvironment and the expression of regulatory T-cell markers (TIM-3 and LAG-3) in laryngeal cancer.

I served as an ENT specialist in Amasya and Tekirdağ, as well as at Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital. I currently work as an Assistant Professor at Istanbul University - Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology. I hold both the Turkish Board of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery certification (2021) and the European Board of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery certification (2022).

I have contributed to the scientific literature with publications in respected SCI/SCIE-indexed journals. These include original research articles on cochlear implantation, carotid paraganglioma, PFAPA syndrome, olfactory function in COVID-19 patients, and head and neck cancer management during the COVID-19 era, as well as studies derived from my specialty thesis. Beyond publications, I actively serve as a peer reviewer for several international journals. I have presented my work at national and international congresses and contributed as a chapter author to various Turkish otorhinolaryngology textbooks, covering topics from intraoperative cranial nerve monitoring to thyroid and parathyroid diseases.

Through diverse clinical, academic, and research activities, I am committed to advancing the field of otorhinolaryngology, with particular interests in oncologic head and neck surgery, surgical education, and innovation.