Biomedical Research Foundation Academy Of AthensAcademy Of Athens
Scientific Personnel

George George Vassilopoulos, MD, PhD
University Faculty, Affiliated Investigator

Telephone : +30 210 6597 0346
Fax : +30 210 6597 545
e-mail : gvasilop@bioacademy.gr


Center :

Clinical, Experimental Surgery & Translational Research

Lab Site :

Vassilopoulos Lab


Brief Bio

Education & Titles
-  MD, Degree, University of Athens
-  PhD Degree, University of Athens
-  Diploma in Hematology, University of London
-  Hematology Boards

PostDoctoral Positions
-  Karolinska Hospital, Hematologlab, Sweden,
-  Division of Medical Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle WA, USA.

Faculty Positions
-  Instructor, Division of Haematology, University of Washington, Seattle WA, USA.
-  Investigator C, BRFAA, Laboratory of Genetics and Gene Therapy.
-  Assistant Professor, Hematology – Internal Medicine, University of Thessaly,  Larisa Medical School.

Expertise
-  Hematology (clinical and experimental), stem cell biology, gene therapy vectors.

Research Activities
-  Gene therapy vectors based on Foamy viruses for the correction of b-thalassemia and chronic granulomatous disease.
-  FV vectors for targeted RNAi action using shRNA technology
-  Vectors with coordinated transgene expression
-  Leukemia stem cell biology focusing on the role of b-catenin in AML and MDS development.
-  Genetic association studies using SNPs for TLR9 and MyD88 in granulomatous disorders (Hodgkin’s, sarcoidosis & tuberculosis)

Selected Publications

Comparative analysis of FV vectors with human α- or β-globin gene regulatory elements for the correction of β-thalassemia. Morianos I, Siapati EK, Pongas G, Vassilopoulos G. Gene Ther. 2012 Mar;19(3):303-11.

A foamy virus vector system for stable and efficient RNAi expression in mammalian cells. Papadaki M, Siapati EK, Vassilopoulos G. Hum Gene Ther. 2011 Oct;22(10):1293-303.

Genetic correction of X-linked chronic granulomatous disease with novel foamy virus vectors. Chatziandreou I, Siapati EK, Vassilopoulos G. Exp Hematol. 2011 Jun;39(6):643-52.

Neuroblastoma cells negative for CD44 possess tumor-initiating properties. Siapati EK, Rouka E, Kyriakou D, Vassilopoulos G. Cell Oncol (Dordr). 2011 Jun;34(3):189-97.

Proliferation and bone marrow engraftment of AML blasts is dependent on β-catenin signalling. Siapati EK, Papadaki M, Kozaou Z, Rouka E, Michali E, Savvidou I, Gogos D, Kyriakou D, Anagnostopoulos NI, Vassilopoulos G. Br J Haematol. 2011 Jan;152(2):164-74.

Dual transgene expression by foamy virus vectors carrying an endogenous bidirectional promoter. Andrianaki A, Siapati EK, Hirata RK, Russell DW, Vassilopoulos G. Gene Ther. 2010 Mar;17(3):380-8.

Polymorphisms and haplotypes in TLR9 and MYD88 are associated with the development of Hodgkin's lymphoma: a candidate-gene association study. Mollaki V, Georgiadis T, Tassidou A, Ioannou M, Daniil Z, Koutsokera A, Papathanassiou AA, Zintzaras E, Vassilopoulos G. J Hum Genet. 2009 Sep 11.

Transplanted bone marrow regenerates liver by cell fusion. Vassilopoulos G, Wang PR, Russell DW. Nature. 2003 Apr 24;422(6934):901-4.

Improved foamy virus vectors with minimal viral sequences. Trobridge G, Josephson N, Vassilopoulos G, Mac J, Russell DW. Mol Ther. 2002 Sep;6(3):321-8.

Transduction of human NOD/SCID-repopulating cells with both lymphoid and myeloid potential by foamy virus vectors. Josephson NC, Vassilopoulos G, Trobridge GD, Priestley GV, Wood BL, Papayannopoulou T, Russell DW. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Jun 11;99(12):8295-300.

Gene transfer into murine hematopoietic stem cells with helper-free foamy virus vectors. Vassilopoulos G, Trobridge G, Josephson NC, Russell DW. Blood. 2001 Aug 1;98(3):604-9.

Correct function of the locus control region may require passage through a nonerythroid cellular environment. Vassilopoulos G, Navas PA, Skarpidi E, Peterson KR, Lowrey CH, Papayannopoulou T, Stamatoyannopoulos G. Blood. 1999 Jan 15;93(2):703-12

PubMed:

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