Nektarios Tavernarakis, researcher at the Institute of Research and Technology (ITE), was awarded recently από το εξαιρετικά ανταγωνιστικό και υψηλού κύρους πρόγραμμα χρηματοδότησης έμπειρων ερευνητών (Advanced Investigator Grant) του Ευρωπαϊκού Συμβουλίου Έρευνας (ERC) για την ερευνητική του πρόταση με τίτλο “Μοριακή Βάση της Γήρανσης των Νευρικών Κυττάρων – NeuronAge.”
These European Research Council grants are specifically aimed at internationally renowned scientists in any field of science to enable them to design and carry out ground-breaking research projects. Funding for each selected proposal can reach 3.5 million euros for up to 5 years. This is extremely high-level funding to individual researchers, which was introduced for the first time this year by the European Join.
"The research activity of our laboratory focuses on the investigation of the basic molecular mechanisms of aging, necrosis and neurodegenerative cell death, as well as the mechanisms by which the nervous system perceives and processes stimuli from the environment," said Nektarios Taverna.
"The experimental system we use for the relevant research is the simple nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Through a series of studies, using a combination of genetic and molecular techniques, we have demonstrated the value and advantages of C. elegans for research on aging, mode of nerve cells, as well as the causes and mechanisms that govern neurodegenerative cell death" added Nektarios Tavernarakis.
"Although aging is one of the most fundamental biological phenomena experienced by all living organisms, it is at the same time one of the least understood. What mechanisms are responsible for cell aging and cat ?? expansion of the whole organism? How are they controlled? ”
“The objectives of the research program NeuronAge are multiple and include the creation of a platform for manipulating and visualizing the function of specific neurons in living C. elegans individuals, as well as for the continuous observation of neural activity during aging. "The development and use of relevant technology will allow the systematic study of the mechanisms responsible for the aging of nerve cells," said Dr. Tavernarakis.
” Επειδή οι βασικοί μηχανισμοί που διέπουν τη λειτουργία των νευρικών κυττάρων είναι εξαιρετικά όμοιοι ανάμεσα στο νηματώδη και σε ανώτερους οργανισμούς συμπεριλαμβανόμενου και του ανθρώπου, είναι αναμενόμενο ότι τα Results της έρευνας θα έχουν άμεση σχέση με τη γήρανση στους οργανισμούς αυτούς. Είναι σημαντικό να αναφερθεί ότι η γήρανση και οι σύνοδες παθολογικές καταστάσεις (νευροεκφυλιστικές ασθένειες, καρκίνος, καρδιοπάθειες κ.α.), αποτελούν έναν από τους διαρκώς αυξανόμενους παράγοντες ανθρώπινης αναπηρίας στις σύγχρονες κοινωνίες. Η αποκάλυψη των βιολογικών μηχανισμών που εμπλέκονται στη γήρανση θα επιτρέψει την ανάπτυξη αποτελεσματικών παρεμβάσεων με στόχο τη βελτίωση της ποιότητας ζωής στις μεγάλες ηλικίες.” εξήγησε ο Δρ. Ταβερναράκης.
Nektarios Tavernarakis studied Biology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He then completed postgraduate studies in Molecular Genetics at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of FORTH, and in the Department of Biology of the University of Crete. During his undergraduate and postgraduate studies, Nektarios Tavernarakis was awarded with scholarships from the State Scholarship Foundation, he received his Bachelor's degree in Biology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with the best Ph.D. thesis of the Department of Biology of the University of Crete.
He continued his postdoctoral studies in the United States of America. There he trained in Neurobiology and the biology of nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. In 2000 he was elected a researcher at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of FORTH, where since 2001 he has been leading the molecular genetics group C. elegans of the Institute.
He has published dozens of scientific papers in prestigious international scientific journals and books as well as several popular scientific articles in Greek and international journals. His team's research activity has been internationally recognized and financially supported by funding from the European Union, international organizations and the Greek Government.
Για το σύνολο της επιστημονικής του συνεισφοράς, ο Νεκτάριος Ταβερναράκης, έχει βραβευτεί από διεθνείς οργανισμούς όπως οι International Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSPO), European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), State of New Jersey, Commission on Cancer Research, USA, Frederick E. G. Valergakis Post-Graduate Research Grand Program, USA National Cancer Institute (NCI, USA και National Institutes of Health (NIH, USA). Ο Νεκτάριος Ταβερναράκης έχει επίσης τιμηθεί με το επιστημονικό βραβείο του Ιδρύματος Μποδοσάκη στον τομέα των Βιοϊατρικών Επιστημών, με το βραβείο Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel του ιδρύματος Alexander von Humboldt, καθώς και με το Ερευνητικό Βραβείο του ΙΤΕ.
