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Prof. Thimios Mitsiadis

Professor in the Medical Faculty, University of Zurich
Institute of Oral Biology
Plattenstrasse 11, Zurich
 

Brief Biography:


Thimios Mitsiadis is a Professor in the Medical Faculty at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. He conducts research in the fields of stem cells, genetics, molecular and experimental biology related to craniofacial developmental processes. Prof. Mitsiadis obtained his DDS degree from the Dental Faculty of the Kapodistrion University of Athens (Greece). He got specializations in Restorative Dentistry and in Pediatric Dentistry in the University of Lyon I (France). He obtained a Master Degree (DEA) in Immunology, Genetics and Differentiation and his PhD Degree in Developmental Biology in The University of Lyon I (France). He conducted Post-doctoral studies in the University of Helsinki (Helsinki, Finland), under the supervision of Prof. Irma Thesleff, Karolinska Nobel Institute (Stockholm, Sweden), under the supervision of Prof. Urban Lendahl, and Yale University (New Haven, USA), under the supervision of Prof. Spyros Artavanis-Tsakonas. Thimios was Professor at the University Aix-Marseille II (France), Visiting Professor at the Ecole Normale Superieure of Lyon, Clinical Senior Lecturer at King's College London (UK), and Associate Professor at the Dental School in Athens (Greece). Actually, he is a Visiting Professor at the Second University of Napoli (Italy). For more than twenty years Prof. Mitsiadis has been studying the molecular basis and interactions involved in tooth development, pathology and regeneration. A major milestone in his previous research was the creation of teeth in chick embryos after transplantation of mouse neural crest cells. Thimios maintains active collaborations with several experts in the stem cell field in Switzerland (Yann Barrandon, Lausanne; Anis Feki, Geneva). Such collaborations are deemed necessary to efficiently address the increasing challenges of the stem cell field. He also is an active member of an international consortium on stem cell technology bringing together academic institutes and companies. Dr Mitsiadis maintains strong links with industrials and potential stakeholders. He has participated in scientific meetings on stem cells organized by industry (Novartis, Lancome etc) and has been invited many times to talk on his research findings and on stem cells to journalists for newspapers of general interest or specialised magazines, radio and television of many countries (France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Germany, UK etc). His research achievements have been highlighted several times in the international press as well as in two recent articles (2009) by the UNIMAGAZIN of the University of Zurich. He has been proposed as the Greek man of the year 2009 in science.
Dr Mitsiadis has been invited by many international institutions (Ecole Normale Superieure, France; Bologna University, Italy; AOF, Davos; University of Athens, Greece etc) to teach on stem cell biology. Thimios has a strong interest to bring research findings to clinical and/or diagnostic applications. This is exemplified by the current contact of Dr Mitsiadis with UNITECTRA, the University of Zurich tech transfer unit, to explore patent protection of a novel technology to derive stem cells from dental pulp. To this end he collaborates with a French start-up company (CLINIDENT) that focus on dental stem cells and clinical applications. 
Thimios participates in various external evaluation panels of Greek and French Universities and Institutes, and in evaluation committees of the French National Research Agency (France, ANR), Region Rhones Alpes (France), National Medical Research Council (NMRC, South Korea), Thalis (Greek minister of Education) etc for financing research proposals.

 

Academic positions:


2006, Professor, University of Zurich, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Oral Biology, Orofacial Development and Regeneration
2004-2005, Associate Professor, University of Athens, Dental School of Athens, Oral Biology
2003-2006, Clinical Senior Lecturer, Kings College London, Dental Institute, Craniofacial Development
2002-2002, Invited Professor, Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon, Molecular Biology
2001-2001, Scientific Director, Natural Implant Company (Biotechnology), Lyon
1996-1996, Postdoctoral Associate Researcher, Yale University, School of Medicine, Cell Biology
1996-2001, Professor, Université de la Mediterranée, Dental Factulty of Marseille, France, Biological Sciences
1994-1996, Postdoctoral Associate Researcher, Karolinska Nobel Institute, Stockholm, Cell Molecular Biology
1993-1994, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Helsinki, Dental Faculty, Paedodontics and Orthodontics, Developmental Biology
1986-1992, Clinical Assistant, Faculty of Dentistry, Lyon, Pediatric Dentistry
1985-1987, Clinical Assistant, Croix Rousse Hospital, Lyon, Maxillofacial Surgery

 

Research interests:


We have previously shown that Notch receptors and ligands are expressed in developing mouse teeth (Mitsiadis et al., 1997; Mitsiadis et al., 1998; Mitsiadis et al., 1995; Mitsiadis et al., 2005). Notch1 and Notch2 are mainly expressed in distinct epithelial cell populations (i.e. stratum intermedium, stellate reticulum) of the developing teeth that are in close contact with epithelial cells giving rise to the terminally differentiated ameloblasts, which produce the enamel matrix and express the Notch ligands Jagged1, Jagged2 and Delta1. A similar expression pattern is detected in the mesenchymal compartment of the developing teeth, where the ligands are expressed in differentiated cells (i.e. odontoblasts) producing the dentin matrix, while the Notch receptors are expressed in proliferating cells. Thus expression of the Notch ligands in teeth is complementary to that of Notch receptors. In the continuously growing rodent incisors, Notch1 and Notch2 are expressed in epithelial cell populations of the cervical loop, which represents the area where the stem cell niche is located.
Our findings in injured teeth suggest a role of Notch pathway in neovascularisation and cytodiferentiation during tooth repair. Delta1 is not expressed in intact adult teeth, while during dental pulp injury Delta1 expression is upregulated in odontoblasts and endothelial cells (Mitsiadis et al., 1999; Mitsiadis et al., 1998). Similarly, Notch receptors are not expressed in healthy adult teeth, whereas after dental injury expression of all four receptors, and especially of the Notch2 receptors, is upregulated in distinct cell populations of the dental pulp and blood vessels either close to the injury site or far away from this site (Mitsiadis et al., 1999; 2003).
More precisely, Notch2 expression is stimulated in a population of mesenchymal cells (i.e. subodontoblastic cells) after tooth injury in humans (Mitsiadis et al., 2003). Subodontoblastic cells contribute to the replacement of the disintegrating odontoblasts after injury and the formation of a reparative dentin matrix. Finally, we have identified a population of cells in vessels (i.e. pericytes) that express Notch3 following dental injury in rats (Lovschall et al., 2007). It has been suggested that pericytes represent progenitors of odontoblasts following dental injury and able to form reparative dentin. Taken together these results convince us to investigate more in details the exact role of the Notch proteins in the diverse fates of dental stem cell populations. Very recently, in collaboration with Prof. G. Pappaccio, we developed a new method of dental pulp culture for the collection of stem cells. In addition, using in vitro and in vivo techniques, we have demonstrated that periosteal and synovial stem cells from adults share common properties with mesenchymal stem cells from other origins (De Bari et al., 2008; De Bari et al., 2006; Karystinou et al., 2009). These cells can be used to form bone or cartilage in vivo when combined with biomaterials.

 

Any other information:


2011             Committee member and evaluator for grants by ANR (France).

2011             External evaluator after ministerial decision for EU grants in Greece (Thalis). 

2011             Presentation in the Greek Media (newspapers, TV, web, radio) on stem cell research activities – newspapers: Kathimerini, Macedonia, Express etc

2010-2011    External evaluator and Committee member after ministerial decision (ministry of Education) for the evaluation of Greek Universities: Dental School of Aristotelion University of Thessaloniki (coordinator of the committee), Genetics & Molecular Biology Department of Thraca University.

2010             External evaluator after ministerial decision for EU grants in Greece (Thalis). 

2010             Committee member and evaluator for grants by ANR (France).

2010             Chief-Editor in 'Frontiers in Craniofacial Biology'

2010             Associate Editor in 'Frontiers in Physiology'

2010             Presentation in the Media (newspapers, TV, web) of research activities – interviews in Greek (To Vima), Swiss and German newspapers and magazines.

2009             Guest Editor in the 'Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B Molecular & Developmental Evolution' for the Special Issue: Tooth Development in Evolution & Disease.

2009             Presentation in the Media (newspapers, TV, radio, web, etc) covering research activities – interviews in French, Greek (To Vima), Swiss and German newspapers and magazines.

2008-date     Scientific Editor in the 'European Cells & Materials' e-journal, responsible for the tooth section (IF: 5.4)

2007             Organiser of the 9th international 'Tooth Morphogenesis & Differentiation' meeting for 2007, Zurich, Switzerland

2005             Referee for MRC, BBSRC grants

2005             Presentation in the Media (TV- NET channel) covering the COST meeting in Athens - interview

2005             Organizer of the international COST-ESF meeting on “Modern Dentistry: Oral Pathology, Stem Cells & Dental Engineering”, Athens, Greece

2004-2005    Referee of Research Grant Applications: NMRC Singapore, CERH Texas

2005             Co-organiser of the annual SICB meeting on "Evolution and Development of the Vertebrate Dentition", San Diego, California, USA

2004             Local organiser of the 8th international 'Tooth Morphogenesis & Differentiation' meeting for 2004, York, UK

2004             Opponent for a PhD thesis, Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki, Finland

2003             Presentation in the Media (French TV: TF1, France2, M6, TCL etc, French Radio: France Info etc) covering my research activities – interviews in French (Le Monde, Le Figaro, Le Parisien, Liberation, etc), Spanish (ABC), Belgian (Le Soir), UK (The Times), Greek (To Vima) etc newspapers.

2003             External evaluator with ministerial decision for the INSERM medical-scientific organisation, France

2003-2007    Member of the management committee in the European COST B23 action in Odontogenesis

2002             Evaluator by ministerial decision of research projects from EU in Greece

2001             Advisory Scientific Committee for the 7th 'Tooth Morphogenesis & Differentiation meeting'

2000-2002    Editorial Board in the 'Journal of Dental Research'

2000-2003    Evaluator of research projects in French Association of Dentistry

2000             Scientific Committee for the international congress "6th world Hellenic Biomedical Congress", Athens, Greece

1999             Organiser of the international meeting on "Molecular aspects of Odontogenesis", Marseille, France

1995             Invitation at the Nobel Price Ceremony, Stockholm, Sweden

1994 to date    Reviewer:

- DEVELOPMENT

- DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

- MECHANISMS OF DEVELOPMENT

- DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS

- INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

- JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B

- GENE EXPRESSION PATTERNS

- EVOLUTION & DEVELOPMENT

- ANATOMICAL RECORD

- EXPERIMENTAL CELL RESEARCH

- EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY

- ARCHIVES OF ORAL BIOLOGY

- JOURNAL OF DENTAL RESEARCH

- EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES

- ACTA ODONTOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA

- INTERNATIONAL ENDONTONTIC JOURNAL

- COIR (CLINICAL ORAL IMPLANTS RESEARCH)

- INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

- BMC MEDICAL IMAGING

- JOURNAL BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH

- BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING 

- TISSUE ENGINEERING

- EUROPEAN CELLS AND MATERIALS

- STEM CELLS

- CALCIFIED TISSUE INTERNATIONAL

- EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HISTOCHEMISTRY

- CELL & TISSUE RESEARCH

- CONNECTIVE TISSUE RESEARCH

- JOURNAL OF HISTOCHEMISTRY AND CYTOCHEMISTRY

- HISTOCHEMISTRY & CELL BIOLOGY

- GENE

- JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY

- SCIENCE

- PLOS ONE etc

1992             First Price for Dental Sciences, French Dental Biology Society

1992 to date    More than 120 international invitations for seminars and oral presentations

 

What I think of the idea behind WebmedCentral:


Is an excellent idea

 

Home Page:


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