Entry Year of 2025

Dimitra Andrikopoulou was born in Athens in 2000. She graduated from the Department of Biotechnology of the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) in 2024, obtaining an Integrated Master’s degree in Biotechnology. As an undergraduate student, she completed a three-month Erasmus+ internship at the Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga y Plataforma en Nanomedicina (IBIMA Plataforma BIONAND) in Málaga, Spain, where she joined a research group working on cardiovascular diseases and gained experience in various molecular biology laboratory techniques. She conducted her dissertation thesis at the Biomedical Sciences Research Center (BSRC) “Alexander Fleming” under the supervision of Prof. Eleni Douni, entitled “Study of the transcriptome in the TgRANKL transgenic model of osteoporosis.” Her research interests focus on bioinformatics and the molecular basis of human diseases. With the goal of further exploring molecular mechanisms and developing advanced research skills she has enrolled in the International MSc program in Molecular Biomedicine of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in collaboration with the BSRC “Alexander Fleming”.
● First Rotation Supervisor: Prof. Maria Roubelakis, Medical School - National & Kapodistrian University of Athens

Effie Demos was born in Athens, Greece in 2002. She graduated from the Department of Biology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in 2024. She conducted her Bachelor’s Thesis, titled “Genetic approaches for isolating mutations that affect the Golgi bypass pathway during transporter trafficking to the cellular membrane in Aspergillus nidulans” under the supervision of Prof. George Diallinas. She designed and performed multiple genetic screens for the isolation of defective trafficking mutants, in an attempt to identify proteins involved in this newly-characterized unconventional secretion pathway. Following her graduation, she worked as a research associate at Dr. Skretas’s lab at the Institute for Bioinnovation of the Biomedical Sciences Research Center (BSRC) “Alexander Fleming”, where she contributed to the development of a unified drug discovery platform for protein misfolding diseases. Effie is currently attending the International MSc program in Molecular Biomedicine, organized by the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in collaboration with the BSRC "Alexander Fleming".
● First Rotation Supervisor: Dr. Themis Alissafi, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens

Eirini Dima was born in Athens, Greece in 2002. She graduated from the Department of Biology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in 2025. She conducted her Bachelor’s thesis, titled “Investigation of the Role of Astrocytes in Parkinson’s Disease” at the Hellenic Pasteur Institute, under the supervision of Dr. Florentia Papastefanaki and in collaboration with Dr. Panagiota Papazafiri (NKUA). Her thesis focused on the p.A53T mutation, which causes a familial form of Parkinson’s Disease, and employed induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC)-derived models to investigate the paracrine effects of astrocytes on neurons and their contribution to disease progression. During this project, Eirini acquired hands-on experience in the differentiation of neural progenitors, cell culture techniques, application of viral vectors, confocal microscopy and molecular methodologies. Through this work, she developed a strong passion for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases, as well as for exploring the therapeutic potential of iPSC-based models in the fields of precision and regenerative medicine, which motivated her to attend several scientific conferences and workshops. Furthermore, she is eager to expand her knowledge in interdisciplinary areas of biomedicine, and to broaden her scientific horizons. Eirini is currently attending the International MSc program in Molecular Biomedicine at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and the BSRC "Alexander Fleming."
● First Rotation Supervisor: Dr. Panagiotis Politis, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens

Colby Fair is an American, born in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania in 1998. He obtained his bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from the University of Maryland (UMD) in 2020. After graduating from UMD, Colby transitioned into the biotechnology industry where he worked at several start-up companies including TeraImmune Inc., Angiocrine Bioscience, and Belharra Therapeutics. During his time in the industry, Colby gained valuable knowledge in immunological dysregulation, inflammatory responses, and drug development. His work included performing various functional assays on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), where he assessed the potency and efficacy of small-molecule inhibitors on allergic inflammation pathways. With the desire to expand his understanding of disease mechanisms and therapeutic strategies, Colby is currently attending the International MSc program in Molecular Biomedicine of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and the BSRC "Alexander Fleming".
● First Rotation Supervisor: Prof. Aristides Eliopoulos, Medical School - National & Kapodistrian University of Athens

Kyriaki-Aikaterini (Katerina) Gavrielatou was born in Athens, Greece in 2001. She graduated from the Department of Biotechnology of the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) in 2024. Her thesis, entitled "Effect of peripheral expression of SR-BI cholesterol receptor in amyloid plaque formation in a transgenic model of Alzheimer’s Disease", was conducted at the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), under the supervision of Dr. Spiros Georgopoulos (BRFAA) and in collaboration with Prof. Eleni Douni (AUA). As an undergraduate student, she attended an intensive summer course on Genetic Engineering using the CRISPR/Cas system at Aarhus University in Denmark and completed two research internships at BRFAA: in the Department of Neurobiology under the supervision of Dr. Laskaro Zagoraiou and later in Dr. Georgopoulos’ Lab, where she also carried out her thesis project. During her time at BRFAA, she also completed certified training in Laboratory Animal Science. Katerina is currently attending the International MSc program in Molecular Biomedicine of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and the BSRC "Alexander Fleming".
● First Rotation Supervisor: Dr. Christoforos Nikolaou, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming"

Giannis Kafetzis was born in Athens, Greece in 1999. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in 2023. He completed his BSc thesis, entitled “Myasthenia Gravis, therapeutical approaches” under the supervision of Professor Thomas Mauromoustakos in the section of Organic Chemistry at the NKUA. His work involved conducting in silico research to investigate the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of three major drugs used in the treatment of Myasthenia Gravis. Giannis is particularly interested in protein misfolding and, more broadly, in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Giannis is currently attending the International MSc program in Molecular Biomedicine, organized by the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in collaboration with the BSRC "Alexander Fleming".
● First Rotation Supervisor: Dr. Spiros Georgopoulos, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens

Andreas Kallinikos was born in Athens, Greece in 2002. He graduated from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the Democritus University of Thrace (DUTh) in 2024. He conducted both his internship and his diploma thesis, entitled “The role of epigenetics in cancer”, at the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), in Cancer Biology Lab, under the supervision of Dr. Apostolos Klinakis. His research focused on Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) using patient-derived xenograft models. Tumor samples from patients were engrafted into immunocompromised mice and studied in parallel with in vitro lung cancer cell cultures. His project assessed the efficacy of a PARP inhibitor as an anticancer agent, aiming to evaluate its impact on tumor growth suppression. Currently, Andreas is attending the International MSc Program in Molecular Biomedicine at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in collaboration with the BSRC "Alexander Fleming".
● First Rotation Supervisor: Dr. Maria Tsoumakidou, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming"

Anastasia Kallinikou was born in Athens in 2002. She graduated from the Department of Biology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in 2025. During her third year of undergraduate studies, she carried out a two- month internship at the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), under the supervision of Dr. Dimitrios Thanos. She later conducted her Bachelor’s Thesis, entitled “Gene Regulatory Networks in Neural Development and Cancer: Discovering New Therapeutic Targets” at the Basic Research Center of BRFAA, under the supervision of Dr. Panagiotis Politis and in collaboration with Prof. Spiros Efthimiopoulos. Her research focused on the role of the nuclear receptor NR5A2 and its agonist in the metabolism of glioblastoma cells, where she gained hands-on experience in cell culture, protein expression analysis and a range of molecular biology techniques. She is currently attending the International MSc program in Molecular Biomedicine, organized by the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in collaboration with the BSRC "Alexander Fleming".
● First Rotation Supervisor: Dr. Apostolos Klinakis, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens

Evangelia Katsoti, born in Athens in 2003, graduated from the Department of Chemistry of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in 2025. As an undergraduate student, she completed her thesis titled "Synthesis, structural characterization and biological evaluation of IONPs, Fe@TeNPs and Fe@SmNPs." in the laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry in collaboration with N.C.S.R. Democritos, under the guidance of Professor Eleni Eftimiadou. In the 3rd year of her studies, Evangelia undertook a three-month internship at the Institute of Chemical Biology of the National Hellenic Research Foundation (N.H.R.F.), under the supervision of Dr. Ioannis Kostas, where she engaged in the synthesis and evaluation of organic compounds. She actively participated in departmental, national, and international conferences on contemporary topics in Chemistry and Biology, either as an attendee or as a presenter (oral presentation or poster). In 2025, she also attended the summer school organized by the Onassis Foundation and the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), in Heraklion, Crete, titled "Re-engineering Biology: Directed Evolution of Enzymes and Cellular Pathways”. Her areas of interest include cancer biology, with emphasis on molecular mechanisms and novel therapeutic approaches. Evangelia is currently enrolled in the International MSc program in Molecular Biomedicine, organized by the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in collaboration with the BSRC "Alexander Fleming".
● First Rotation Supervisor: Dr. George Panayotou / Dr. Martina Samiotaki, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming"

Beyzanur Kaya was born in Bursa, Türkiye in 1999. She graduated from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Yildiz Technical University in Istanbul in 2023. She conducted her TUBITAK-funded undergraduate thesis entitled "Characterization, Cytotoxicity, and Apoptotic Analysis of Thymoquinone-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticulate System in U87MG Glioblastoma Cancer Cells" under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Banu Mansuroglu. During her senior year, she joined Geen Biotechnology Inc., where she gained experience in various research and managerial roles over three years. Her passion for new biotechnological approaches to human diseases led her to enroll in the International MSc Program in Molecular Biomedicine of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in collaboration with the BSRC "Alexander Fleming".
● First Rotation Supervisor: Dr. Vassiliki Kostourou, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming"

Nikoleta-Ioana (Nikol) Kiose was born in Athens, Greece, in 2001. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in biology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in 2025. During her undergraduate studies, she conducted a two-year dissertation titled “Modeling Human Pathology in the Organ Systems of the Insect Drosophila” under the supervision of Assistant Professor Dimitrios J. Stravopodis. Her research focused on the genetic modeling of rare Lysosomal Storage Disorders using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. This project allowed her to explore disease mechanisms at a functional level while developing key skills in genetics, confocal imaging, and fly handling. It also sparked her long-term interest in rare disease research and emphasized the translational potential of bridging fundamental biological research with clinical applications. Driven by her passion for molecular research, clinical integration, and the development of advanced therapeutic approaches, Nikol joined the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in collaboration with the BSRC "Alexander Fleming".
● First Rotation Supervisor: Dr. Katerina Papanikolopoulou, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming"

Christina Louka was born in Athens, Greece, in 2000. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Crete in March 2025. During the final semester of her studies, she participated in the Erasmus+ program at the Università degli Studi di Perugia in Italy. In her final year in Crete, she conducted her undergraduate thesis in the “Genetics of Insects” laboratory of Professor Christos Delidakis at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB) of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH). Her research focused on investigating the effects of specific secreted cancer molecules on Notch-induced neural tumors that cause cachexia in the host, using a Drosophila model. She is currently enrolled in the International MSc program in Molecular Biomedicine offered by the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in collaboration with the BSRC "Alexander Fleming".
● First Rotation Supervisor: Dr. Efthimios Skoulakis, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming"

Paraskevi Marina (Vivian) Maragianni was born in Agrinio, Greece, in 2002. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in 2025. Her thesis, entitled “Study of the autophagy mechanism in patients with renal cell carcinoma”, was conducted at the Section of Genetics and Biotechnology of the Department of Biology, NKUA, under the supervision of Prof. Panagoula Kollia. She presented her thesis at the 44th Annual Scientific Conference of the Hellenic Society of Biological Sciences, where she was distinguished with an Award for Excellence. During her studies, Vivian cultivated a strong interest in the molecular basis of human diseases and innovative therapeutic approaches. She has attended numerous conferences and seminars covering Bioethics, Clinical Embryology, Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, Pharmacogenomics, and Personalized Medicine. In her fourth year, seeking to further strengthen her laboratory expertise, she completed a two-month internship at "GeneDiagnosis" Diagnostic Laboratory, under the supervision of Dr. Panagiota Fenia Tsoplou (Clinical Laboratory Geneticist, ErCLG, Laboratory Manager). Vivian is currently enrolled in the International MSc program in Molecular Biomedicine of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) and the BSRC "Alexander Fleming".

● First Rotation Supervisor: Dr. Maria Xilouri, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens

Karina Myskiv was born in Athens, Greece, in 2003. She graduated from the Faculty of Biology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in July 2025. During her undergraduate studies, she undertook a one-month internship at the Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Product Chemistry Lab of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the NKUA, under the supervision of Associate Professor Maria Chalabalaki, where she gained knowledge of biochemical analysis techniques. At the fourth year of her studies, she conducted her dissertation thesis, entitled "Immunophenotypic analysis of the bone marrow and peripheral blood in Multiple Myeloma with Mass Cytometry (CyTOF)", under the supervision of Professor Ourania Tsitsilonis and Staff Research Scientist Dr. Nikolaos Paschalidis, at the Flow Cytometry Unit of the NKUA and Mass Cytometry Unit of the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA). There, she had the opportunity to participate in different research projects, including the European research program ELMUMY. Karina is currently attending the International MSc program in Molecular Biomedicine at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), in collaboration with the Biomedical Sciences Research Center (BSRC) "Alexander Fleming".
● First Rotation Supervisor: Dr. Pantelis Hatzis, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming"

Errica Nianiakoudi Cohen was born in Athens, Greece in 2003. She graduated from the Department of Biology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) in 2025, specializing in Molecular Biology, Genetics and Biotechnology. She conducted her Bachelor thesis, entitled "Mobilization and genetic modification of hematopoietic stem cells in a Friedreich’s ataxia experimental model", at the Department of Gene and Cell Therapy of the "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, under the supervision of Assistant Professor Nikoletta Psatha and Dr. Evangelia Yannaki. To further develop her skills during her undergraduate studies, she conducted a two-month internship at the REA Hospital, the HYGEIA Hospital, and the ISTOLAB laboratories respectively, as well as a series of advanced eLearning training courses at the Harvard Medical School. Her research based on her thesis has been recognized with a Poster Presentation Award at the 74th National Conference of the Hellenic Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and she has presented her work at international and national conferences such as FELASA and the ESN–HSN Biennial Meeting. Errica is currently attending the International MSc in Molecular Biomedicine at the Medical School of NKUA in collaboration with the Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming."
● First Rotation Supervisor: Dr. Aggelos Banos, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens

Maria Eleni (Marialena) Nikolaou was born in Athens, Greece in 2002. She was enrolled in the School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology of the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), and she obtained an Integrated Master’s Degree in Biotechnology in 2025. During her studies, Marialena completed two internship cycles in the Inflammation and Autoimmunity Lab of Prof. Dimitrios Boumpas at the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA). There, she also conducted her thesis titled “Investigation of the Neuroimmune crosstalk in Autoimmunity” with a particular focus on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) under the supervision of Prof. Boumpas. Throughout her time as an undergraduate student, she participated in two Student Research Hubs organized by the EU-Conexus European University Alliance, exploring topics such as bioreactivity of microalgae-derived biochemical extracts and genetic polymorphisms in fish species. In June 2025, she presented a poster at the 5th Immunology Workshop of Clinicians, held in Crete, titled "Epitranscriptome editing and transcriptome fragmentation set immune-related epigenetic memory of monocytes in Human Systemic Lupus Erythematosus" highlighting epigenetic mechanisms that determine innate memory in autoimmune diseases. Marialena is currently attending the International MSc in Molecular Biomedicine at the Medical School of NKUA in collaboration with the Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming."
● First Rotation Supervisor: Dr. Georgios Skretas, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming"

Martha Eliza Papadopoulou was born in Athens, Greece in 2002. She acquired her Bachelor’s degree from the Department of Biology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in 2025. As an undergraduate student, she participated in an Erasmus+ exchange program at the Università degli Studi di Parma during the spring semester of 2024. She conducted her dissertation thesis “Investigation of the development of sarcopenia in an in vivo mouse model of Metabolic Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)” at the Laboratory of Physiology of the Medical School - NKUA, under the supervision of Prof. Antonios Chatzigeorgiou integrating molecular, histological, and physiological approaches. She had the opportunity to gain experience in molecular biology, histology, microscopy, and animal physiology techniques. She presented her work at the 44th Annual Conference of the Hellenic Society of Biological Sciences in 2025. Martha Eliza is currently attending the International MSc program in Molecular Biomedicine of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in collaboration with the BSRC “Alexander Fleming”.
● First Rotation Supervisor: Dr. Kostas Vekrellis, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens

Navjot Singh was born in Maroussi, Athens in 2002. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from the University of Patras in 2024. His undergraduate thesis, entitled “Isolation and Quantification of DNA from Olive Leaves (Olea europaea) and Olive Oil” was carried out under the supervision of Prof. Theodore K. Christopoulos and focused on cfDNA isolation with magnetic beads. During his studies, he acquired experience in a range of molecular and analytical techniques. He has attended several workshops and webinars on molecular biology, analytical methods, and biosensing technologies, organized by institutions such as the University of Patras, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos,” as well as by biotechnology companies such as QIAGEN. These experiences have collectively deepened his interest in the study of biological systems. Navjot is currently attending the International MSc program in Molecular Biomedicine, organized by the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in collaboration with the BSRC "Alexander Fleming".
● First Rotation Supervisor: Dr. Maria Fousteri, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming"