Dr. Theodora Calogeropoulou

B1: National Hellenic Research Foundation​, Greece
Institute of Chemical Biology

Position
Research Director of the Institute of Chemical Biology, NHRF; Deputy Director IBMCB; Member of the Scientific Council IBMCB.

Background
Theodora Calogeropoulou, received her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Athens (1983), her Ph.D. degree from the Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, USA (1987) and served as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, USA and at the R&D of Viochrom SA and then joined NHRF.  She  participates in the management committees of a number of COST Actions both of Chemistry and Medicine Domains, focusing on drug development for parasitic diseases. Her research interests involve the development of novel bioactive compounds against a variety of diseases and more specifically she has been actively involved a) in steroid research (neurotrophin mimetics, anticancer b) in  the design and synthesis of antiprotozoal constrained ether phospholipid derivatives and c) of heterocyclic compounds with multifunctional pharmacological profile (neuroprotective, proteasome activators, tyrosinase inhibitors).  An integral part of her research is the development of synthetic methodology.  She has trained a number of junior scientists, she has participated as an expert evaluator for EC projects, for the GSRT and for European Ph.D. degrees.  She has organized and chaired several international and national meetings.  

Role in EuroNeurotrophin
Coordinator, Main Supervisor ESR 1 and ESR 2.

Key Publications

• Pediaditakis, I., Efstathopoulos, P., Prousis, K.C., Zervou, M., Arevalo, J-C., Karagianni, E., Potamitis, C., Tavernarakis, N., Chavakis, T., Margioris, A.N.,  Venihaki, M., Calogeropoulou, T., Charalampopoulos, I., Gravanis, A. “Selective and differential interactions of BNN27, a novel C17-spiroepoxy steroid derivative, with TrkA receptors, regulating neuronal survival and differentiation” Neuropharmacology. 2016, 111, 266-282.
• Pediaditakis, I., Kourgiantaki, A.,  Prousis, K.C., Potamitis, C., Xanthopoulos, K.P.,  Zervou, M., Calogeropoulou, T., Charalampopoulos, I., Gravanis, A. "BNN27, a 17-spiroepoxy steroid derivative, interacts with and activates p75 neurotrophin receptor, rescuing Cerebellar Granule Neurons from apoptosis." Front Pharmacol. 2016,  DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00512.
• Prousis, K. C.,  Avlonitis, N., Heropoulos, G.A.; Calogeropoulou, T., “FeCl3-catalysed ultrasonic-assisted, solvent-free synthesis of 4-substituted coumarins. A useful complement to the Pechmann reaction”. Ultrason. Sonochem.  2014, 21, 937-942.
• Gravanis,  A.,    Calogeropoulou,  T.,Panoutsakopoulou,  V.,  Thermos,  K., Neophytou,  C.,    Charalampopoulos,  I.  "Microneurotrophins:  Neurosteroids  bind  to NGF receptors, inducing pro-survival signaling in neuronal cells," Science Signalling.  2012, 5 (246), art. no. pt8.
• Koini,  E. N., Avlonitis, N., Martins-Duarte, E. S.,  de Souza, W.,  Vommaro, R. C.,  Calogeropoulou,  T.  “Divergent synthesis   of   2,6-diaryl-substituted   5,7,8-trimethyl-1,4-benzoxazines   via   microwave-promoted   palladium-catalysed   Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling and biological evaluation” Tetrahedron.  2012, 68, 10302-10309.
• Calogeropoulou T.,  Avlonitis N., Minas V., Alexi X., Pantzou A., Charalampopoulos I.,  Zervou M., Vergou V., Katsanou E. S., Lazaridis I., Alexis M., Gravanis A. “Novel DHEA Derivatives with Anti-Apoptotic Neuroprotective activity.” J. Med. Chem. 2009  52  (21), 6569–6587.
• Full list of publications and patents available here