Achilleas Gravanis
Professor of Pharmacology Collaborative Researcher
Faculty of Medicine IMBB-FORTH
University of Crete
Dept of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, 71110, Greece
PHONES : +30 2810 394521 (Lab), +30 2810 392590 (Hospital)
FAX : +30 2810 394530, E-mail: gravania@uoc.gr
EDUCATION-ACADEMIC POSITIONS
1975-1980 Diploma of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Greece
1980-1983 PhD in Pharmacology, University Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
1983-1986 Research Associate, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, U.S.A
1987-1991 Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, Medical School University of Crete
1991-2001 Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Crete
2000-2001 Chairman, Dept. of Basic Sciences, Medical School, University of Crete
2001 Professor of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Crete
2002-2008 Director, Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital of Heraklion
2010 Researcher, IESL-Foundation of Research & Technology-Hellas (FORTH)
2014 Researcher, Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (IMBB), FORTH
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Molecular interactions of synthetic Microneurotrophins with Neural cells and neural ganglia cultured in 3D silicon scaffolds
TrkA receptor of Nerve Growth Factor (Simitzi et el, Biomaterials 2015)
(Pediaditakis et al Neuropharmacology 2016)
Brain hormonal micro-environment and neurotrophins during development and aging. Molecular mechanisms in neurodegeneration and neurogenesis: development of synthetic small molecules with neuroprotective and neurogenic properties. Bioengineering of 3D scaffolds for neuronal cell cultures: development of neuroimplants and neurobiosensors.
Blood-brain-barrier permeable 17-spiro-steroid derivatives bind to and activate neurotrophin receptors,
protecting various neurons against apoptosis, in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. These synthetic Microneurotrophins offer a new pharmacological tool to develop non-toxic, blood-brain-barrier permeable neurotrophin receptor agonists and antagonists, potentially effective in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, brain trauma and neuropathic pain (Gravanis et al, Oncotarget 2016).
MEMBERSHIPS IN SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEES
1995 Member of the Project Review Board of BIOMED 2 program, European Union (EU).
1996 Member of the 5-year Assessment Committee of BIOMED 1 program, (EU)
1996 Member of the 1996 Monitoring Committee of BIOMED 2 program (EU)
1998 Member of the BIOMED 2 Assessment Committee (EU)
2001 Co-Chairman of the BIOMED 2 Assessment Committee (EU), Brussels
2000-2003 Greek National Delegate Program Committee Life Sciences-Genomics Research FP6, (EU),
2003 Member of the Genomics Assessment Committee of FP5, (EU),
2005: Member of the Steering Committee, Population Genomics-Pharmacogenomics, Welcome Trust-EU
2006-2010 Member of the Fellowships Committee της Federation European Biochemical Societies (FEBS)
2007 External Reviewer Panel LS5, European Research Council (ERC)
2009-2010 Greek National Expert Program Committee, FP7-Heath-Cooperation (EU)
2008-2011 Member of the Council, Hellenic Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (HQAA).
2003 Co-founder, member of the BoD, Bionature EA Ltd, biotech spinoff/University of Crete (www.bionature.net)
2011 Chairman, Research Committee of Biosciences, Hellenic National Council of Research & Technology
2011 Member of the Hellenic National Council of Public Health
2016 Affilated Research Professor, Center of Drug Discovery Northeastern University (www.cddneu.org)
2016 Visiting Professor, Medical School European University of Cyprus (www.euc.ac.cy/easyconsole.cfm/id/2199)
2016 Scientific Collaborator-Advisor, Emulate SA, WYSS/Harvard spinoff (www.emulatebio.com)
2017 Member of the Scientific Board, Hellenic Foundation of Research & Innovation (ELIDEK)
