Dimitris P.
Private tutor in Athens, Greece
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (University of London), 2003 PhD THESIS: ‘Structure/Function Analysis of Type I Interferons’ under the supervision of Dr Graham Foster. M.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Pathology of Viruses, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (University of London), 1998 (distinction-over 70th percentile) MSc THESIS: ‘Sequence heterogeneity of NS5A2209-2248 of the hepatitis C virus before and during IFNα treatment’ under the supervision of Dr Graham Foster (distinction-ranked 1st). B.Sc. Biology, University of Athens, 1996 UNDERGRADUATE THESIS: ‘Hematological, Morphological and Biochemical Study of Hereditary Elliptocytosis in the Greek Population’ under the supervision of Dr Sophia Stamoulakatou. RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE CONSULTANT Biovista, 2012 Biovista's repositioning programs leverage the company's technology platform to identify suitable drugs and reposition them in isolation or in combination with other drugs to therapeutic areas that are currently not covered by existing products. By selecting drugs that already satisfy basic toxicity, ADME and related criteria, Biovista is able to deliver significant value at reduced cost and in dramatically shorter time frames than is normally the case. BIOCHEMIST Institute of Child Health, Laboratory of Biochemistry, 2012-present The Laboratory of Biochemistry is responsible for the National Neonatal Screening Program for the metabolic disease, Congenital Hypothyroidism. At the Department of Biochemistry, I am mostly involved in the screening, detection and confirmation by various analytical chemistry techniques of neonates potentially suffering from congenital hypothyroidism. BIOCHEMIST Institute of Child Health, Laboratory of Endogenous Metabolic Diseases, 2008-2012 The Laboratory of Endogenous Metabolic Diseases is responsible for the National Neonatal Screening Program for the metabolic diseases, Phenylketonuria, Galactosemia and G6PD deficiency, as well as, for various other Inborn Errors of Metabolism. Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEM) include a broad category of genetic diseases. The majority are due primarily to the dysfunction of a particular gene that encodes a specific enzyme activity, resulting in the disruption of biochemical reactions in human cells and organs. By measuring specific chemicals in a few drops of blood taken from the heel of the newborn, prophylactic neonatal screening can detect congenital disorders in the metabolism of the baby leading to toxic levels of chemicals in the brain and other vital organs. The goal is to diagnose any problems to immediately begin treatment before symptoms appear. If not detected early, some of these disorders can cause mental retardation, cerebral palsy or even sudden death. At the Department of Endogenous Metabolic Diseases I utilized my expertise in Enzymology and Chromatography in a multi-faceted clinical environment. Specifically, I was involved in the investigation of certain neurological or metabolic conditions by measuring specific metabolites in biological fluids, such as: i) Neurotransmitters (3-hydroxy tryptamine, 3-hydroxytryptophan), ii) Biogenic amines (Serotonin, Catecholamines), iii) Aminoacids (Phenylalanine), iv) Organic acids (lactic, methylmalonic, succinic etc.) v) Pterins (Biopterin, Neopterin, Isoxanthopterin, Monapterin), vi) Enzymes (Dihydropteridine Reductase, Biotinidase, Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase, Galactose-1-Phosphate Uridyltransferase, Galactokinase, UDP-Galactose-4 Epimerase), by using analytical methodology, such as, thin layer chromatography (TLC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and enzyme kinetic analysis. In addition, I have been given the opportunity to improve on the present panel of detectable disorders by developing additional in-house or improving already applied high-throughput enzymatic methodologies for Neonatal Screening from blood spots, such as Biotinidase deficiency and Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD). POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER, Agricultural University of Greece (Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Laboratory of Enzyme Technology), 2004-2008 Principal Postdoctoral Researcher for the European Research Program Pharma-Planta (http://www.pharma-planta.org/) in Greece [RECOMBINANT PHARMACEUTICALS FROM PLANTS FOR HUMAN HEALTH. 2004-2009, FP6, EUROPEAN COMMISSION]. The main experimental work involved the design of a downstream processing strategy for the purification of monoclonal anti-HIV antibodies 2G12, 4E10 and 2F5 from transgenic tobacco and maize. Specifically, I was scientifically active in the following subjects: a) Directed protein/enzyme engineering and evolution [Development of heterologous recombinant protein expression systems for analytical and diagnostic enzymes aiming at the targeted modification of their intrinsic catalytic properties, Enzymatic analysis and characterization, Protein structure analysis and prediction by utilizing molecular modelling] b) Downstream processing [Development of protein purification methods in an analytical and industrial scale utilizing chromatographic analysis (Anion/Cation Exchange, Gel filtration, IMAC, Affinity)] c) Design and application of biomimetic ligands [Design and chemical synthesis of biomimetic affinity ligands by molecular modelling and bioinformatics methods and application on the purification of various targets from various tissues such as: i) Monoclonal antibodies ii) Enzymes (Formate Dehydrogenase, Neuraminidase, Chymotrypsin, Catalase) d) Immobilized enzymes and biosensors [Synthesis and study of immobilized enzyme systems and application to the construction of biosensors for the detection of various metabolites] e) Development of high-throughput screening methods of protein/enzyme libraries I have also been involved in the development of various rapid screening methods mainly utilizing heterologous expression of recombinant proteins in microplate format as well as subsequent visual/photometric/fluorometric detection in a microplate format [(Formate dehydrogenase evolution-alteration of coenzyme specificity), (Glutathione Transferase-detection of dehalogenation activity), (Haloalkane dehydrogenase-detection of dehalogenation activity]. In addition, many of the enzymes that we were involved at the time also are of substantial biomedical/therapeutic interest (eg Glutathione Tranferase-cellular detoxification, L-Asparaginase-treatment of haematopoetic diseases) and have actively pursued through various related projects to further explore the biomedical significance and future applications of these enzymes as well as the potential for improvements on their enzymatic activity through Protein Engineering. RESEARCH TECHNICIAN, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (University of London), 2002 Studied the antiviral and immuno-modulatory effects of different Type I interferon subtypes in cell culture and their induction by different viruses and bacteria and analysing the effects of an HCV-replicon system on the Type I interferon signalling system (funded by Roche Pharmaceuticals and Schering-Plough).
Experience
I have been tutoring for over 2 years now. TEACHING/SUPERVISION/MISCELLANEOUS EXPERIENCE • CURRICULUM, TEACHING MATERIAL ORGANIZATION AND PREPARATION Over 8 years teaching experience during which time I have developed solid learning and teaching skills through my interactions with undergraduate and postgraduate students employing the latest multimedia teaching technology. I have mainly be successfully involved in the organization of curriculum and teaching materials in the subject matter of Biology and Biochemistry/Enzymology for undergraduate students as well as students studying for the Hellenic National University Entrance Qualifying Exams. • COLLABORATOR, Scientific American (Greek edition), 2008 • LECTURER, Sivitanidios Public School of Arts and Trades, 2008 Teaching Biostatistics 101
Availability
Any day at any time
Can Meet
Up to 1 hour away for no additional charge
Hobbies
Photography, Astrophotography, Music
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