ESR introduction and

outline ESR Project 15

Born in Ioannina, Greece, after high school she moved to Patras, Greece, to study Biology at the University of Patras, Greece. There, she developed a particular interest for human diseases and translational medicine. Her bachelor thesis concerned the existence and role of specific cell receptors and their ligands in human breast carcinomas, as possible ways of therapeutical approach. Furthermore, she investigated the role of tumor immunity microenvironment in breast carcinoma, under Dr H. Kourea’s supervision, in the Pathological Anatomy Laboratory of the University Hospital of Patras, Greece.

She undertook a master program in biomedical sciences, with specialization in applied genetic engineering, gene therapy and stem cells, at the Department of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Greece. For her master’s Thesis, she entered Prof. P. Kouklis’ laboratory of stem cells, were she worked on the targeted differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into cardiomyocytes, with the use of nanomaterials, for the treatment of myocardial infarction.

Studying about cardiomyocytes and heart disease led her to apply for a TRAIN-HEART position. Since January of 2020, she is carrying out her PHD research studies in the Cardiovascular Research Unit (UniC) of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Porto, Portugal, in the context of the H2020 TRAIN-HEART project. She will perform gain-of- function studies with non-coding microRNA, encapsulated in nanoparticles, in large animal models of ischemic heart failure. Optimized dose of this nanoformulated microRNA, with proven therapeutic efficacy, will be delivered in diseased hearts, with minimally invasive techniques, in order to treat myocardial infarction. The main purposes of this research are to identify the molecular mechanisms, to enhance myocardial regeneration and to improve cardiac function without side effects.


Collaborators:

- Technical University Munich (group of Prof Engelhardt, Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology)

- Accelero Bioanalytics GmbH (Dr Lange, business development)

Host Institution

University of Porto

ESR: Evangelia Beslika


Supervisors:

Main supervisor: Prof. Adelino Leite Moreira

Co-supervisor: Dr André Lourenço