Speakers
Introductory Speakers
Prof. Georgios Kollias
-
Member of the Academy of Athens
-
Professor of Physiology, Medical School, University of Athens
-
Associate Researcher, BSRC “Alexander Fleming”
-
Director of the International MSc Molecular Biomedicine, University of Athens
-
Founder of Biomedcode Hellas SA
Prof. Kollias delves into the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases. His work has significantly advanced our understanding of diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis, IBD, and Multiple Sclerosis. By exploring cytokine signaling, particularly Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), he has pioneered developments in anti-TNF therapies, transforming treatment options for autoimmune disorders.
Dr. Maria Tsoumakidou
-
Associate Professor, School of Medicine, NKUA
-
Group Leader, Institute of Bioinnovation, BSRC “Alexander Fleming”
-
Incoming Director (effective 2026) of the International MSc in Molecular Biomedicine
Dr. Maria Tsoumakidou is an associate professor and group leader at BSRC “Alexander Fleming,” recognized for pioneering work in cancer immunology and antigen-presenting cell biology. A board-certified respiratory specialist, she discovered a novel subset of antigen-presenting lung fibroblasts that support anti-tumor immunity, reshaping current views on fibroblast function. Her research has revealed new mechanisms in dendritic cell biology, tumor immune evasion, and interferon-driven DC death, guiding the development of innovative immunotherapeutic strategies. With over 30 high-impact publications (>4,000 citations) and major awards—including an ERC Consolidator Grant—her lab integrates fundamental discovery with translational models to advance next-generation cancer immunotherapies. Beginning in 2026, she will serve as Director of the International MSc in Molecular Biomedicine, where she will guide scientific training and innovation for future leaders in the field.
Session I: "Beyond the pill: Advanced drug delivery and therapeutic design"
Prof. Maria Chatzinikolaidou
-
Professor of Biomaterials in Bioengineering - Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Crete
-
Principal Investigator - Laboratory of Biomaterials in Tissue Engineering, Univ. of Crete
-
Faculty member - FORTH-IESL
Dr. Chatzinikolaidou, FBSE, FTERM, FIAMBE, is a Professor of Biomaterials in Bioengineering at the University of Crete and affiliated faculty member at the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH). As head of the Laboratory of Biomaterials in Tissue Engineering, she focuses on the development of advanced biomaterials and scaffolds for tissue engineering, evaluating their biocompatibility and functionality both in vitro and in vivo. Her work leads to the creation of tunable biomaterial platforms and medical devices that guide regeneration and support tissue repair.
Topic Title: “Multifunctional biomaterials and biofabrication technologies for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine”
Dr. Constantin Tamvakopoulos
• Research Director of Pharmacology - Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRAA)
Dr. Constantin Tamvakopoulos is a leading Research Director at the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), with over 25 years of experience in drug discovery and development, especially in oncology. His lab pioneers innovative cancer therapies, including integrin-targeted drug conjugates designed to improve drug delivery by minimizing side effects. He also works on challenging "undruggable" targets, such as c-MYC protein, using PROTAC technologies to trigger targeted protein degradation.
Topic Title: “Evaluation of protein degrades; Emphasis on myc-driven cancer”
Dr. Eleni Efthimiadou
-
Professor of Bioinorganic and Materials Chemistry - Department of Chemistry, NKUA
Dr. Efthimiadou is a Professor of Bioinorganic and Materials Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry in NKUA, leading cutting-edge research on metallic and hybrid nanoparticles for biomedical applications. Her work exemplifies a synergy of nanomaterial design, materials chemistry, and nanomedicine, bridging innovative nanoparticle synthesis with comprehensive biological evaluation.
Topic Title: “Bioinspired Nanomaterials as Tools for Precision Therapy”
ROUND TABLE: Decoding Aging: Molecular insights on cellular senescence, rejuvenation strategies and ethical considerations
Dr. Dimitrios Kletsas
-
Director, Institute of Biosciences and Applications (IBA), NCSR “Demokritos”
-
Group Leader
-
Vice-President, NCSR “Demokritos”
Dr. Dimitris Kletsas is a leading expert in ageing, cellular senescence, and age-related pathologies. With a PhD in Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, he heads multiple research groups at the Institute of Biosciences and Applications (IBA), focusing on mechanisms of longevity, cancer biology, intervertebral disc degeneration, wound healing, and bioactive compounds. He has published over 190 scientific papers, received more than 11,000 citations, and holds two patents. Having coordinated over 30 research projects and supervised numerous doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, he plays an active role in national and international scientific communities. Dr. Kletsas also serves as President of the Hellenic Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and has previously held several high-level positions in European and national research committees.
Prof. Nektarios Tavernarakis
-
Professor, School of Medicine, University of Crete
-
Group Leader, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), FORTH
-
President, European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC)
Dr. Tavernarakis is Professor of Molecular Systems Biology at the Medical School of the University of Crete, Chairman of the Board at FORTH, and Research Director at IMBB-FORTH, where he leads the Neurogenetics and Ageing Laboratory. He founded and directed the Graduate Program in Bioinformatics at the University of Crete and serves as Chairman of the EIT Governing Board. He has also held leadership roles at the European Research Council (ERC) and IMBB.
Dr. Tavernarakis is a member of AAAS, EMBO, Leopoldina, EASA, Academia Europaea, EurASc, and the Academy of Athens. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Crete and trained at Rutgers University. His research focuses on necrotic cell death, neurodegeneration, ageing, sensory transduction, and the development of genetic tools for biomedical research.
He has published extensively in top international journals and received numerous awards, including three ERC grants (two Advanced Investigator and one Proof of Concept), the Bodossaki Foundation Distinguished Young Scientist and Excellence in Biomedical Sciences awards, the EMBO Young Investigator award, and multiple international research prizes.
Dr. Efstathios S. Gonos
-
Group Leader, Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF)
Dr. Efstathios Gonos is Director of Research at the National Hellenic Research Foundation, Institute of Chemical Biology. He earned his Pharmacy degree from the University of Athens, a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Glasgow, and a Docent in Biomedicine from Örebro University, Sweden. He has held positions at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research/University College London and served as General Director of the Hellenic Pasteur Institute.
His research focuses on genetic and environmental factors influencing human aging and longevity. He has published over 150 research articles, authored 14 monographs, and holds patents leading to novel anti-aging products. Dr. Gonos has served as a Senior Expert for the EU on human development and aging and as Deputy National Representative of Greece in EU genomics and biotechnology initiatives.
He has held leadership roles in IUBMB, FEBS, and the Society of Free Radical Research-Europe, and is currently on the Board of the European Society of Antiaging Medicine. He serves on the editorial boards of several leading journals, including Experimental Gerontology, Redox Biology, Ageing Research Reviews, and Antioxidants.
Session II: "Molecular Entrepreneurship: From Discovery to Biotech Innovation"
Dr. Georgios Skretas
-
Director, Institute of Bio-innovation - BSRC Alexander Fleming
-
Founder and CEO - ResQ Biotech
-
Associate Research Director – NHRF
Dr. Georgios Skretas is the CEO and CSO of ResQ Biotech and a Research Associate Professor at the Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming." He has a strong background in molecular biology and bioengineering, with expertise in protein folding, expression, and synthetic biotechnology. At ResQ Biotech, he leads efforts to develop innovative therapeutics for protein misfolding and aggregation diseases, leveraging cutting-edge synthetic biology and molecular engineering approaches.
Topic Title: “Engineering bugs for the discovery of new drugs against neurodegenerative diseases”
Dr. Andreas Androutsellis-Theotokis
-
Co-founder & CEO/CSO Biotech Company Innate Repair Ltd, London, UK
Dr. Andreas Androutsellis-Theotokis is a pioneer specializing in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. He discovered the STAT3-Ser/Hes3 axis, a pivotal pathway in tissue repair and cancer biology. Currently, as the CEO/CSO of Innate Repair, he aims to develop new and repurposed cancer therapeutics based on unique knowledge of stem cell biology.
Topic Title: “Targeting cancer stem cells via the Hes3 axis”
Dr. Georgia Melagraki
-
Associate Professor, Division of Physical Sciences and Applications, Hellenic Military Academy
Dr. Georgia Melagraki has a strong background in chemoinformatics and organic chemistry, focusing on drug discovery, material design, and property prediction. She has developed decision-making computational tools and in-silico models.Her work includes the development of several computer-aided drug design methodologies for a wide range of molecular targets. Her research bridges informatics and chemistry to promote safe-by-design, data-driven innovation.
Topic Title: Coming soon
Session III: Reprogramming Life — Gene Editing and CAR-T Cell Therapies at the Frontiers of Medicine
Prof. Alexandros Spyridonidis
-
Professor, School of Medicine, Univ. of Patras
-
Group Leader
-
Director, Institute of Cell Therapy
Prof. Spyridonidis Alexandros is Professor of Hematology at the University of Patras, Greece, directing the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Centre of Bone Marrow Donor Volunteers, Institute of Cellular Therapy, and the international MSc Program in Cell and Gene Therapies. He studied medicine at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, trained in Hematology at the University of Freiburg (Ph.D., Venia Legendi), and conducted research at the NIH, USA, on clinical cell therapies.
His work focuses on translational cellular therapies, including GMP manufacture of iG-Tregs, currently in a Phase I/II trial. He serves on national and European boards in hematology and cell therapy and has published extensively, receiving multiple awards and grants in leukemia and cellular therapy.
Topic Title: To be announced soon...
Dr.Uta Höpken
-
Group Leader, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Germany
-
CDO & Co-Founder, CARTemis Therapeutics
Dr. Uta E. Höpken is an immunologist and group leader at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in Berlin, heading the “Microenvironmental Regulation in Autoimmunity and Cancer” lab. She studied biology, earned her PhD in Immunology, and completed her habilitation at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
Her research focuses on how lymphoma and other cancers evade the immune system, particularly the interactions between tumor cells and their microenvironment. She and her team develop novel CAR‑T cell therapies for blood cancers, with several candidates advancing toward clinical trials. Dr. Höpken also co‑founded CARTemis Therapeutics to translate her lab’s CAR‑T innovations into clinical applications.
Topic Title: To be announced soon...
Dr.Panagiotis Antoniou
-
Postdoctoral fellow, School of Medicine, NKUA
Panagiotis Antoniou studied Biology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and earned a Master’s degree in Molecular Medicine, focusing on lentiviral‑vector gene therapy for β-thalassemia. Since 2018, he has been pursuing a PhD at the Imagine Institute in Paris as part of the Bio‑Sorbonne Paris Cité program.
His research focuses on applying base‑editing and genome‑editing approaches to treat genetic blood disorders, particularly β‑thalassemia and sickle cell disease. He has contributed to studies demonstrating that editing regulatory elements of the γ-globin gene or correcting disease‑causing mutations can reactivate fetal hemoglobin expression and ameliorate disease phenotypes in human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells.
In addition to his research, Antoniou actively engages with the international scientific community, presenting his work at conferences on gene therapy and regenerative medicine, particularly in the field of genome editing for hemoglobinopathies.
Topic Title: Therapeutic genome editing for hemoglobinopathies; the CRISPR 2.0 era