OUPPS (Open University People Profile System)

Biography

2022 - Today: Lecturer in Biomedical and Health Sciences, The Open University
2021 - Today: External Scientific Expert, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, Italy
2018 - 2022: Beamline Scientist, Cryo-Imaging group, Diamond Light Source (UK's National Synchrotron)
2017 - 2020: Master in Education (strand: Leadership and Management), School of Education, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
2016 - 2017: Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education (PCTHE) Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development (OCSLD), Oxford Brookes University, Oxford UK
2011 - 2017: Postdoctoral Researcher, Biochemistry Department, University of Oxford, UK
2006 - 2010: PhD in Microbiology & Genetics, School of Biology, Aristotle Universisty of Thessaloniki, Greece
2000 - 2005: BSc in Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle Universisty of Thessaloniki, Greece

Ilias is a Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society (FRMS) and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Currently, he serves as a coordinator of the Neuroscience research cluster at the School of Life & Health Sciences (LHCS) at the Open University, alongside Dr. Laura Lopez.

Research interests

Host pathogen interaction topics with a special interest on fungal pathogenesis (Candida spp.)
Development and application of correlative microscopy schemes in biomedical topics.
Compounds screening for antimicrobial properties.
Study of inflammageing phenomenon using invertebrate models.

Prospective research students

Ilias can supervise postgraduate research projects linked to his interests as part of the new Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Science Landscape Award (ILESLA) doctoral training programme.

Our lab's work is alligned with the following ILESLA research themes:

1. Animal and Human Health with pothential research topics:

Antimicrobial Resistance, Immunology, Microbiology, Microbiome science, Healthy Ageing & Pharmaceutical and vaccine production

2. Rules of life with pothential research topics:

Cellular mechanisms, Genetics

3. Transformative Technologies with potential research topics:

Advanced experimental techniques, Imaging, Synchrotron science, Cryo-EM

To apply for the new ILESLA PhD doctoral training programme at The Open University, click here.

I am also open to discussing potential projects with self-funded prospective PhD students, whether based at home or overseas.

Projects

Fruit Fly Biosensors: Leveraging Olfactory Responses for Detection of Explosives and Toxic Chemicals

With the current proposal, we aim to address a critical need in Counter Terrorism Policing: the development of innovative, cost-effective detection methods for hazardous chemicals, including explosives. We propose a non-invasive testing approach that utilizes fruit flies, which can provide rapid response capabilities, enabling law enforcement agencies to respond swiftly to potential threats. This research has the potential to significantly enhance counterterrorism efforts by offering a fast, reliable, and affordable method for detecting hazardous substances in real-time. The ability to deploy fruit flies as biological detectors could revolutionize the way security personnel identify chemical threats, reducing response times and improving the safety of civilians. Moreover, this method could be integrated into routine screening processes at airports, public venues, and border security checkpoints, improving overall threat detection without relying on expensive or complex technology. In terms of future research, this study opens avenues for exploring the broader applications of biological detection systems in various fields, such as environmental monitoring, public health, and disaster response. The techniques developed here could also inspire the development of new detection systems for other types of dangerous substances or pathogens, broadening the scope of biological sensor applications in both security and scientific fields.