Biomedical Ίδρυμα Ιατροβιολογικών Ερευνών, Ακαδημίας ΑθηνώνΑκαδημία Αθηνών
Νέα :Special Issue - Modern Approaches in Cardiovascular Disease Therapeutics: From Molecular Genetics to Tissue Engineering

BRFAA’s Panagiotis Mallis (Associate Scientist) and Efstathios Michalopoulos (Staff Research Scientist - Associate Professor Level), were invited editors of a Special Issue of the Bioengineering (Basel) entitled” Modern Approaches in Cardiovascular Disease Therapeutics: From Molecular Genetics to Tissue Engineering”.  This Special Issue has been published online and is freely accessible on the MDPI Books platform (http://www.mdpi.com/books/pdfview/book/4573).

Panagiotis Mallis and Efstathios Michalopoulos, received the invitation from the journal, to propose, prepare, and edit the current special issue. The editors’ expertise is focused on the production of small-diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs) utilizing the human umbilical arteries, that can potentially be used as alternative transplants in patients suffering from Cardiovascular Disease.  Both editors have achieved great breakthroughs regarding the SDVGs development, using the state-of-the-art tissue-engineering approaches and also by accomplishing key collaborations, mostly within the European Union.

As a result of this effort, and in collaboration with Dr. Antonia Vlachou (BRFAA Staff Research Scientist - Professor Level in the field of Biotechnology), the full proteomic analysis of the human umbilical arteries in the ProteomeXchange Consortium via the PRIDE partner repository (database identifier (PXD020187) was conducted in 2020.

Both editors, have more than 25 articles published that are focused mainly on the development of SDVGs, and also utilize the unique properties of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs).  It is also important to highlight that their research has expanded to the in vitro development of more organized tissue structures derived from decellularized esophagus, kidneys, trachea, pancreas, and liver, therefore fulfilling the ultimate goal of personalized medicine.                                

The topic of the current special issue is focused on the modern approaches in Cardiovascular Disease Therapeutics. Cardiovascular disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death, globally, of all non-communicable diseases. CAD is a group of complex disorders which includes peripheral arterial disease, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and rheumatic heart disease. Each year, more than 800,000 bypass surgeries are performed. Additionally, it is speculated that more than 17 million people have died of CAD, representing approximately 31% of all deaths worldwide. Modern approaches for CAD will take into account individuals’ characteristics, in this way promoting advanced personalized therapeutic strategies in accordance with the conditions of good manufacturing practices (GMP).
The current Special Issue includes three original articles, two review articles, and one editorial article related to the topic of Cardiovascular Disease Therapeutics.

The editors would like to express their gratitude to all contributors for their unique and outstanding articles.