Michalis Aivaliotis – Group Leader

I am currently an Associate Professor of Biochemistry  in the Department of Medicine at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) since December 2017. In September 2018, I established the research group in Functional Proteomics and Systems Biology at AUTh (FunPATh) based in the Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH) and the Laboratory of Biological Chemistry in the Department of Medicine at AUTh. Since October 2020 I am the chair of the steering committee of the Joint Postgraduate Studies Program  “Precision Medicine: Translational Research and Therapeutics”.

In 2000, I received my diploma in Chemistry from the University of Crete (Greece) where I build a strong background in Analytical Chemistry during my diploma thesis in the research group of Prof. Euripidis Stephanou that introduced me to the fascinating world of research.

In 2003 I completed my MSc. in Biochemistry in the University of Crete (Greece) under the supervision of Prof. Georgios Tsiotis who taught me the fundamental of protein biochemistry both theoretically and experimentally.

In 2005, I obtained my PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Crete under the supervision of  Prof. Georgios Tsiotis in collaboration with the University of Johann Wolfgang Goethe (Frankfurt am Main, Germany) and the research group of the pioneer in the application of mass spectrometry in protein analysis and proteomics, Prof. Dr Michael Karas.  During these years I was able to built a strong background in membrane proteins and mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics and experience in close proximity the rapid emerge of proteomics under the supervision of one of the pioneers in the field.

In recognition of excellence during my PhD, I received the prestigious and highly competitive fellowships from Alexander von Humboldt foundation and Max-Planck Society for post-doctoral research in the Max Planck Institute (MPI) of Biochemistry, (Martinsried, Germany), and in the Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry of the University of Johann Wolfgang Goethe in the groups of Prof. Dr Michael Karas and the pioneer in the study of membrane proteins and membrane biochemistry, Prof. Dr Dieter Oesterhelt (2005-2008). During these years I expanded and enriched my knowledge and skills in protein biochemistry, membrane proteins and proteomics in an excellent research environment in collaboration with excellent scientists and researcher.

In 2008, I returned to Greece to fulfill my military service as a distinguished scientist from abroad and I was appointed by the Foundation of Biomedical Research of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA, Athens, Greece) as senior research scientist in the research group of Dr Antonia Vlahou. My experience in this group enhanced my skills in the application of clinical proteomics in human biological fluids, such as, serum and urine for biomarkers discovery.

In 2009, I moved to IMBB-FORTH as a senior research scientist in order to participate in the organization, establishment and operation of the Proteomics Facility at IMBB (ProFI) from scratch under the coordination of Prof. Anastasios Economou in the framework of an EU Capacity Grant. My key role in the whole procedure strengthen and expanded my skill in administration and management of a stat-of-the-art MS-based proteomics facility.

In 2013, I became the manager of ProFI,  in November  2016 I was elected as special research scientist and group leader in functional proteomics and systems biology at IMBB and in 2017 scientific director of ProFI participating in more than 130 different research projects and providing training and supervision in more that 60 different level researchers, technicians and students.

In  December 2017 I was appointed as Associate Professor of Biochemistry in the Department  of Medicine at AUTh and my affiliation with IMBB was changed to collaborating faculty member and group leader in functional proteomics and systems biology till September 2020. I joined the Laboratory of Biological Chemistry in the Department  of Medicine and in September 2018 I founded the research group in Functional Proteomics and Systems Biology at AUTh (FunPATh) based in the Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH).

I am currently the author or the co-author in more than 50 peer-reviewed research articles and 2 reviews in several international scientific journals and I am reviewing for several scientific journals including Journal of Chromatography B, Journal of Proteome Research, Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, Bioinformatics, Proteomics, Translational Medicine; Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, Journal of Biological Research-Thessaloniki (BioMed Central), FEBS Journal, Nature; for many international grant agencies; and for several national and international evaluation/recruitment committees.

Furthermore, I am member of eleven scientific societies (including FEBS, ACS, ASMS, ASBMB) and I have been involved in the organization of several international meetings and training workshops. Moreover, I have given many invited lectures at international and national conferences and universities.

Besides my research interests and activities, I have been intensively involved in academic teaching and students’ supervising (under- and post-graduate) for more than 15 years in the AUTh, University of Crete, Max Planck Institute, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAICH), University of Ioannina, Democritus University of Thrace, University of Patras  etc..