Levon Michael Khachigian (born 6 March 1964 in Beirut, Lebanon)[1] is an Australian medical research scientist notable for his work in vascular cell and molecular biology.
He is the inventor of the experimental drug Dz13, which may help treat a range of common diseases or complications including skin cancer, post-angioplasty restenosis, macular degeneration and asthma.
He and his collaborators have uncovered regulatory networks underpinning waves of transcriptional change in cellular activation in a range of single gene[7][8][9][10][11] and systems-based approaches.
[14] Khachigian invented Dz13, a molecule that targets the transcription factor c-Jun, implicated in a range of common proliferative, occlusive and inflammatory diseases.
On returning to Australia in 1996 he established the Transcription Laboratory within the Centre for Vascular Research, Faculty of Medicine at the University of New South Wales.
[3] The University of New South Wales investigated matters involving Khachigian in accordance with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.
[27] None of the independent external expert panels of inquiry or investigations conducted under the Australian Code made any finding of research misconduct on the part of Khachigian, and they concluded that breaches arose from genuine error or honest oversight.