Fields of Research

Head:  Prof. Yassemi Capetanaki, MSc, PhD

The Cell Biology Division is one of the five Divisions of the Center of Basic Research I of the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens. The research activities of the six different groups of the Cell Biology Division focus on the understanding of the intrinsic molecular and cellular mechanisms as well as the extrinsic pathologic immune/inflammatory responses, responsible for the development of tissue degeneration and disease progression respectively. Emphasis is given to the understanding of the role of cytoskeleton in proper mitochondrial behavior and function, cardiomyocyte survival and myocardial regeneration (Capetanaki) and the contribution of inflammation (Mavroidis) in the progress of cardiomyopathy and heart failure; the role of cholesterol related genes in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (Georgopoulos ) and the role of nuclear factors in neuroprotection and Parkinson’s disease (Vassilatis). These investigations are complemented by a major effort to elucidate the mechanisms that regulate immune T helper cell (Panoutsakopoulou) and regulatory T cell (Xanthou) generation and function in the development of protective immunity as well as pathologic immune responses in the context of Autoimmunity and Allergy based diseases. Most investigations are accompanied by the development of therapeutic strategies for these degenerative diseases.