Head:  Prof. Christos Zerefos, Academician

The Atmospheric Environment Division of the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens focuses on continuous monitoring of the dangerous solar ultraviolet radiation, daily total ozone and sulphur dioxide columns as well as of gaseous species and meteorological parameters, all of which are related to environment and health.

Lab within the Division of Atmospheric Environment: 
Zerefos Lab

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Head: Dimitra Mangoura, MD, PhD

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Head of Cardiovascular Research Division (CRD): Professor Dennis Cokkinos

The Cardiovascular Research Division (CRD) is a significant part of the Clinical Research Center, where sophisticated research can be performed with state of the art equipment. The CRD's research is focused in cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology in both human and animal models (i.e. mice, rats, swine). Heart failure, congenital heart disease, atherosclerosis, vascular function and autonomic nervous system function are the areas of major research interest. Translational research is emphasized. The CRD has close collaborations with other centers within the Foundation, including Molecular and Cellular Biology, Pharmacology and Immunobiology. The CRD also collaborates with institutions outside the Foundation, such as the National Technical University of Athens and the University of Ioannina, particularly with the Department of Engineering the Department of Computer Science. Further, close collaborations exist between CRD and major hospitals in Greece and UK (Royal Brompton Hospital).

Clinical and translational research interests:

• Heart failure (pathophysiology, genetic/molecular mechanisms)
• Congenital heart disease (autonomic nervous system dysfunction, immune activation, genetic mechanism)
• Vascular function, physiology properties of the aorta

Biomedical engineering research interests:

• Heart rate variability
• Baroreflex sensitivity
• Heart rate turbulence
• Medical image processing

Patient facilities

Our laboratory has two patient rooms with a total of four beds. Each one has 24-h monitoring capabilities (Dash 4000, GE Medical Systems) of blood pressure, ECG, SPO2, etc. Modern cardiovascular resuscitation equipment is also available.

Clinical Equipment

• Echocardiography (Vivid 7, GE Medical Systems): M-mode, 2D, PWD, CWD, Color Doppler, Tissue Velocity and Tissue Doppler Imaging, Tissue Tracking, Strain Rate and Automated Function Imaging, Contrast echo, Stress echo and Transesophageal echo facilities, coronary flow reserve measurements, carotid imaging and carotid doppler analysis. Image analysis and measurements are performed by using the EchoPac Dimension06 workstation (GE, Medical Systems). Echo probes are available for adult/paediatric heart and vessel imaging.
• Exercise Stress Test (Series 2000 Treadmill, CardioSoft Stress System 5.0, GE Medical Systems)
• 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (Tonoport V, GE Medical Systems)
• 24h ambulatory ECG-Holter system with heart rate variability, heart rate turbulence and T-wave alternance analysis (MARS Ambulatory ECG, GE Medical Systems)
• Cardiopulmonary exercise stress test (Ultima CardioO2, Medgraphics Cardiorespiratory Diagnostics)
• Stain Gauge Plethysmography & Photoplethysmography (EC6 Plethysmograph, Hokanson)
• Pulse-wave velocity monitoring (Sphygmocor, AtCore Medical)
• Hemodynamic analysis (Prucka MacLab 4000, GE Medical Systems)
• Continuous non invasive ECG and blood pressure monitoring for evaluation of autonomic cardiovascular control i.e.heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity analysis (Task Force Monitor, CNSystems)

Animal Equipment

• Small animal echocardiography (Vivid 7, GE Medical Systems)
• Pressure-Volume catheters for mice and rats with equivalent digital analysis system (Millar instruments)
• Small animals ECG telemetry system with equivalent digital analysis software (Data Sciences International)
• Cardiac cell electrophysiology facilities (under construction)

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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.
 

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Head: Catherine Stavropoulou Giokas

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Head: Katia Catherine Karalis, MD, PhD

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Head: Prof. George P. Chrousos, MD, MACP, MACE

The Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism studies the physiology and pathophysiology of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and gonadal (HPG) axes and the autonomic nervous system, as they relate to each other, and as they influence growth, development, metabolic and immune functions. Both the developmental and static functions of these neurohormonal systems are studied at the integrated level in health and disease. Also, the cellular/subcellular and genomic actions of the key effector molecules of these systems, including corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), arginine-vasopressin (AVP), corticotropin (ACTH), glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, gonadotropins, estrogens, progestins, androgens and catecholamines, are studied as they relate to normal physiology and disease-related pathophysiology.

Research projects of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism focus on the delineation of the molecular mechanisms of glucocorticoid signaling in health and disease.

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Head: Prof. Dimitrios Loukopoulos

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Head: Aristidis S. Charonis, MD, PhD

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Head: Paschalis Sideras, PhD

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Head: Evangelos Andreakos, PhD

The Division of Immunogenetics is investigating immune-mediated causes of disease using state-of-the-art technologies, murine models and human specimens. The long-term goal is the development of novel prognostic, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.

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The Laboratory Animal Facilities of the Center for Experimental Surgery of IIBEAA are located in the basement of one of the buildings of the BRFAA campus and has an area of 1.800 m2.

The main tasks of the Facilities are:

1. Breeding and housing of transgenic animals
2. Breeding and housing of convention animals
3. Preparation of animals for experimentation
4. Pre- and Post- surgical veterinary care of the animals
5. Continuous monitoring, and improvement of animals in micro- and macro – environment
6. Technical advise and veterinary support to scientists during the design of experiments
7. Education and training of scientists and technical staff on the correct use of laboratory animals
    

The Housing capacity of the facilities is:

• 20.000 transgenic mice
• 1.000 conventional mice or equal number of rats
• 70 rabbits
• 20 pigs

All animals are housed in accordance to the European Legal framework that exists for the Protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes (European Convention 123/Council of Europe and Directive 86/609/EEC) as well as the current Guidelines of International Organizations such as the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International-AAALAC Int., and the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations-FELASA).

Transgenic mice are housed under SPF conditions, in Individual Ventilated Cages.
All the electromechanical equipment of the facility is monitored by a Building Managing System (BMS) 24 hours per day.

The Animal Facilities implement a complete veterinary medical care programme which includes preventive medicine, surveillance, diagnosis, treatment and control of diseases as well as veterinary care of the animals used in experimental protocols. A health monitoring program is also in force, in accordance to the Guidelines issued by the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations.

The facilities are registered by the Official Veterinary Service of the Prefecture of Athens as Breeding, Supplying and Experimental Establishment in accordance to the National Legislation (Presidential Decree 160/91 in harmonization to the European Directive 86/609/EEC), under the Code Numbers EL 25 BIO 001, EL 25 BIO 002, EL 25 BIO 003, respectively.

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Head: Dimitrios Thanos, PhD

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Surgical procedures and surgical approaches are performed under strict aseptic and antiseptic conditions, using the proper anesthetic and analgesic approaches. The surgical suites are fully equipped with the instrumentation for hemodynamic and orthopedic studies as well as to allow all different kinds of surgical operations to be performed. Necessary post-surgical care is provided to animals undergoing surgical procedures. Monitoring and support of their vital functions is available under continuous veterinary supervision.

Surgical Operating Suites are supplied with the following equipment:

1. An X-Ray mobile radiography system (Practix 300 PHILLIPS)
2. A C-Arm diagnostic x-ray image acquisition system (BV libra PHILIPS)
3. The Sonometrics system. Small piezo-electric transducers can be implanted or attached to soft tissue structures (cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle, arteries, veins, heart valves, etc.) and the distances between the transducers can continuously be measured. This information can be used to quantify the active and passive functional properties of moving organs, arteries, etc. The Sonometrics unit is also an acquisition system; it can store data from 6 invasive pressures (fluid filled transducers or Millar) and up to a total of 16 analogue signals (ecg, flow etc). (SONOMETRICS Corporation, Canada)
4. MILLAR tip manometer pressure transducer catheters
   SPC-721 Dual sensor, non lumen, 2.5F
   SPC-450 Single sensor, lumen, sampling/slow speed injection, 5F
   SPC-760 Dual sensor, lumen, sampling/slow speed injection, 6F
   SPR-249A Single sensor, no lumen, 3F
   MPC-500 Single sensor, no lumen, 5F
5. A Millar Pressure-Volume conductance system for measurement of left ventricular volume and pressure in rats (Aria-1, MILLAR INSTRUMENTS)
6. Perivascular Flowmeter TRANSONIC SYSTEMS T403, 4 channels
   Probes available:
   MC2PRB, MC3PRB, MC4PRB, MA2PSS, MA2PSB, MA2.5PSS, MA2.5PSB, MA4PSB, MA10PSB, MA12PSS, MA12PSB, MA12PAX, MA14PAX, MA16PAX, MA20PAX, MA24PAX, MA28PAX, MA1PRB, MA1.5PRB (the number indicates the diameter (in mm) of the vessel the probe can be used with)
7. A WITT BIOMEDICAL Physiomonitoring unit for hemodynamic studies and measurements of 4 Invasive Pressures, 12 lead ECG, Cardiac Output, SpO2, NIBP and Temperature
8. A Sarns 5000 Extracorporeal machine with 5 pumps, 5 Sarns individual portable pumps, A Sarns heater-cooler machine
9. Blood Gas analyser (Irma, DIAMETRICS MEDICAL) measures or calculates, from 1ml of blood: pH, pCO2, pO2, Hct, Na+, HCO3, TCO2, BEb, BEecf, O2Sat, tHb, iCa(N)
10. Vital signs monitors (ECG, Temp, SpO2, NIBP), 2 Passport 2, DATASCOPE, 2 Dash 2000 pro, GE
11. Defibrillator (Responder 3000, GE)
12. Stereo and Diagnosis Microscope, 5 step (4x-30x) magnification changer and 3 objectives (f=200mm, f=300mm, f=400mm) (OP 5F, SFBN)
13. Ventilators: 4 Ventilators suitable for rabbits and pigs (EMC2000, Hallowell), 1 portable Ventilator for rabbits and pigs (Transpoc 2, Simspneu pac), 2 Ventilators suitable for mice, rats and rabbits (Inspira AH55-7058, Harvard Apparatus)
14. Anesthetic machines: 2 for Isoflurane induced anaesthesia (MDS Matrix), 1 for Sevoflurane induced anaesthesia (MDS Matrix)
15. Dual-channel syringe pump (Twinfuse, GRASBY)
16. Intensive Care Units: 2 ICUs for large animals (Regal ICU, SUBURBAN), 12 ICUs for small animals (Regal TU, SUBURBAN)

The unit is equipped with state-of-the-art imaging facilities (Ultrasound, Χ-rays for standard radiographs and angiograms, PET-Scan) to support experimental protocols using animal models.

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