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Nektarios Tavernarakis

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B.Sc.:
Aristotle University, Department of Biology, Thessaloniki, Greece. 1989 (Biology)
Ph.D.:
University of Crete, Department of Biology and Foundation for Research and Technology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Heraklion, Greece. 1995 (Molecular Genetics)
Post-Doctoral Studies:
Rutgers University, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, New Jersey, USA. 1996 (Neurobiology)

(1997-1998: interruption for mandatory military service)

Doctoral Thesis

The yeast transcriptional activator Gcn4p: Expression and function. PDF
University of Crete, Department of Biology and Foundation for Research and Technology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.

2010-present:
Professor of Molecular Systems Biology, University of Crete Medical School, Greece.
2008-present:
Professor / Research Director, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Greece.
2016-2025:
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Greece.
2013-2016:
Director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Greece.
2004-2008:
Associate Professor / Chief Researcher, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Greece.
2001-2003:
Assistant Professor / Executive Researcher, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology, Greece.
2000:
Scientific Counselor, PIR, Georgetown University, USA.
1999:
Scientific Counselor, Integrated Genomics Inc., USA.
1999-2001:
Research Associate, Rutgers University, USA.
1995-1996:
Research Fellow, Rutgers University, USA.
1991:
Visiting Scientist, National Cancer Institute, USA.

Koutsolelos A., Charalambidis G., Nikolaou V., Nikoloudakis E., Mitraki A., Apostolidou C. P., Kokotidou C., Tavernarakis N., Markaki M., Petratou D., Gjikolaj M., Donta I.-N., Lelovas P., Parara S. and Tseti I. (2022)
Self-organizing 9-fluorenyl-methoxycarbonyl-diphenylalanine hydrogels with porphyrins for topical use.

European Patent pending.
Driscoll M. and Tavernarakis N. (2001)
Compositions and methods for gene silencing.

United States Patent Application: 20050229272
Ryazanov A. G., Tavernarakis N., Driscoll M., Pavur K. S., and Nefsky B. (2000)
Compositions and methods for extending life span.

Patent Application: WO2000US09209
Tavernarakis N., Hatzidakis G. and Krambovitis E. (1993)
Rapid amplification and detection of nucleic acids.

United States Patent: 5,569,582

2026: Elected Member of the Academy of Geroscience.
2026: Datta Medal and Lecture Award, Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS).
2025: Honorary Doctorate Award (Doctor Honoris Causa) Department of Informatics, Ionian University, Greece.
2025: Elected Distinguished Member of the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Greece.
2024: Elected President of the European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC).
2024: Bodossaki Foundation, Excellence in Biomedical Sciences Award, Greece.
2023: Elected Member, European Academy of Sciences (EurASc), Medicine and Life Sciences Division.
2023: Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (RSB), London, UK.
2022: Elected Chairman of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Governing Board and Executive Committee.
2020: Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
2020: Elected Vice President, Scientific Council of the European Research Council (ERC).
2020: Elected Member of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Governing Board and Executive Committee.
2020: Elected Fellow of the Freiburg Research Collaboration Programme (FResCo), Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies, Freiburg University, Germany.
2019: Elected Member, German National Academy of Sciences-Leopoldina.
2019: Elected Corresponding Member of the Academy of Athens.
2018: Elected Member, European Academy of Sciences and Arts.
2017: Helmholtz Association International Fellow Award.
2017: Honorary Education Business Award: Recognizing Best Practices in Managing Educational Institutions.
2017: Galien Scientific Research Award.
2016: European Research Council (ERC) Proof Of Concept Grant award.
2016: Elected Member, Scientific Council of the European Research Council (ERC).
2016: European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Investigator Grant award.
2015: Research Support Award, Fondation Sante.
2014: BioMedical Research Award, Academy of Athens, Greece.
2014: Elected Member of the European Cell Death Organization (ECDO) Academy.
2014: Elected Member of the Academy of Europe (Academia Europaea).
2012: Empeirikeion Foundation, Academic Excellence Prize.
2012: Excellence Science Award, General Secretariat for Research and Technology, Ministry of Education, Greece.
2011: Appointed Member of the Greek National Life Sciences Council.
2011: Appointed Principal Investigator of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Helmholtz Association, Bonn, Germany.
2011: Appointed National Representative of Greece to the European Union FP7 Health Programme.
2010: Elected Excellence Professor, Medical School, University of Crete.
2009: Elected Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO).
2008: Appointed External Senior Research Fellow, Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies, Freiburg University, Germany.
2008: European Research Council (ERC), Advanced Investigator Grant award.
2007: Foundation for Research and Technology, Research Excellence award.
2007: Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research award (see relevant announcement notes in EMBO Encounters and the Biotechnology Journal).
2007: Empeirikeion Foundation, Research support award.
2006: Appointed Member, Faculty of 1000 in Biology/Medicine, section on Cellular Death & Stress Responses.
2005: Bodossaki Foundation, Academic Prize in Medicine and Biology.
2002-2005: European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Young Investigator.
1996-2000: International Human Frontier in Science Program Organization (HFSPO) fellow.
1996: State of New Jersey, Commission on Cancer Research fellow.
1996: Hellenic University Club of New York, Frederick E. G. Valergakis Post-Graduate Research Grand Program, Academic achievement award.
1995: Best Ph.D. Thesis award, University of Crete.
1989: Dean's List and First Rank University Graduation Honors award, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
1987-1989: Dean's List and Outstanding Annual Performance award, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
1985: Excellence Prize, National Mathematics contest, Greek Mathematical Society.

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