Curriculum Vitae Harry Alexopoulos MSc., D.Phil.

Department of Pathophysiology Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens 75 Mikras Asias Street, Athens, 115 27 email: halexo@med.uoa.gr, tel: +302107462720

Personal Information

Nationality: Hellenic

D.O.B: 17/03/1973

Education

1997-2002 D.Phil. in Biochemistry School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Advisor: Prof. J.P.Bacon Thesis title: The evolution of innexins and their function in the electrical synapses of invertebrates.
1996-1997 MSc. in Biochemistry (Genetic Manipulation and Molecular Biology) School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex
1991-1996 Diploma in Biological Sciences, Grade: 69.7% Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Employment  
2008-present Research Fellow, Neuroimmunology Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Advisor: Prof. M. Dalakas
2005-2007 Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Neuroimmunology Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine and Department of Clinical Neurology, University of Oxford, Advisors: Prof. A. Vincent and Prof. L. Fugger
2002-2005 Wellcome Training Fellow, Neurophysiology OXION Program in Integrative Physiology, Department of Physiology, University of Oxford, Advisor: Prof. F.M. Ashcroft
1998-2002 Research Assistant, (Part time) School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex
1998-2008 Tutor, (Part time) Universities of Sussex and Oxford Courses: Developmental Biology, Molecular Genetics, Cell Biology (Sussex); MSc. in Neuroscience (Oxford)

1995-1996 Research Internship Department of Biochemistry, Hellenic Pasteur Institute

Further training

2000 2nd Summer Program, “How the brain works: Experimental and theoretical approaches”, RIKEN, Brain Science Institute, Tokyo, 4-15 July 2000 2001 Advanced FEBS Course, “From differentiation to death of nerve cells” Corgialenios Academy, Spetses, 15-24 Sept 2001 2002 Visiting Scientist, Laboratory of Neurobiology, CNRS, University of Bordeaux II, Advisor: Prof. V. Fenelon (2 months) 2002 Visiting Scientist, Department of Cell Biology, University of Munich, Advisor: Prof. C. David (1 month) 2003 CSHL Summer Course, “Molecular mechanisms of human neurological diseases”, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, 23-29 July 2003 2005 Building a Business, A business training course, aimed at scientists, offered by the Said Business School, University of Oxford, Feb-May 2005 2005 6th European School of Neuroimmunology, Thessaloniki, 12-15 Sept 2005

Scientific techniques and transferable skills

Research techniques: Advanced skills in molecular biology, immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization; Protein and antibody purification; Confocal microscopy; Transgenic mice generation, breeding and genotyping; Primary cell and tissue culture; Electrophysiology; in vivo animal work; Advanced skills in bioinformatics; Analysis of mouse behaviour; Basic immunological techniques.

Transferable skills: I am a skilful communicator, able to speak well and write concisely when expressing my ideas. I posses good research and analytical skills; I can identify novel problems, gather data, analyze them and solve these problems. I have excellent interpersonal skills; I can listen, support and motivate others. I can generate new ideas and initiate projects and I am able to successfully manage them, either alone or as part of a team or as a team leader. I can manage my time in a very efficient way, as to never miss deadlines. Finally, I always accept my responsibilities, I am honest and hardworking and I never evade my duties.

Published Papers

  1. Blagburn JB, Alexopoulos H, Davies JA and Bacon JP. (1999) A null mutation in Shaking-B eliminates electrical, but not chemical, synapses in the Drosophila giant fibre system: A structural study. J.Comp.Neurol. 404, 449
  2. Alexopoulos H, Bottger A, Fischer S, Levin A, Wolf A, Fujisawa T, Hayakawa S, Gojobori T, Davies JA, David CN and Bacon JP. (2004) Evolution of gap junctions: the missing link? Current Biology 14, R879
  3. Alexopoulos H, Burdakov D, Vincent A and Ashcroft FM. (2004) Low-voltage-activated A-current controls the firing dynamics of mouse hypothalamic orexin neurons. Eur.J.Neurosci. 20, 3281
  4. Burdakov D and Alexopoulos H. (2005) Metabolic state signalling through central hypocretin/orexin neurons. J.Cell.Mol.Med. 9, 795
  5. Burdakov D, Jensen LT, Alexopoulos H, Williams RH, Fearon IM, O’Kelly I, Gerasimenko O, Fugger L and Verkhratsky A. (2006) Tandem-Pore K+ channels mediate inhibition of orexin neurons by glucose. Neuron 50, 711
  6. Ducret E, Alexopoulos H, Le Feuvre Y, Davies JA, Meyrand P, Bacon JP and Fenelon VS. (2006) Innexins in the lobster stomatogastric nervous system: cloning, phylogenetic analysis, developmental changes and expression within adult identified dye and electrically coupled neurons. Eur.J.Neurosci. 24, 3119
  7. Williams RH, Alexopoulos H, Jensen LT, Fugger L and Burdakov D. (2008) Adaptive sugar sensors in hypothalamic feeding circuits. Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci. 105, 11975
  8. Alexopoulos H and Dalakas MC. (2010) A critical update on the immunopathogenesis of Stiff Person Syndrome. Eur.J.Clin.Invest. In press

Published Abstracts

  1. Blagburn JM, Alexopoulos H, Davies JA and Bacon JP. (1998) Drosophila shaking-B-2 mutation eliminates giant fibre electrical synapses, but not chemical synapses. Eur.J.Neurosci. 10, 170, Suppl.
  2. Alexopoulos H, Dykes IM, Bacon JP and Davies JA. (2000) Novel innexins in snails and leeches. Eur.J.Neurosci. 12, 15, Suppl.
  3. Burdakov D, Alexopoulos H, Vincent A and Ashcroft FM. (2004) Molecular and biophysical identity of orexin/hypocretin neurons. J.Physiol. 555P PC22
  4. Lekomtseva Y, Lang B, Alexopoulos H, James T and Vincent A. (2008) Identification of the epiphysis system in women with catamenial and/or circadian-dependent epileptic seizures during the different phases of the menstrual cycle. J.Neurol. 255, 15, Suppl. 2
  5. Alexopoulos H, Jensen LT, Deacon R, Buckley C, Elliott J, Fugger L and Vincent A. (2008) Modelling autoimmune narcolepsy in humanised mice, J.Neuroimmunol. 203, 175, Suppl.
  6. Chang T, Pettingil P, Alexopoulos H, Jacobson LW, Brown P and Vincent A. (2009) Autoantibodies to GAD and cell surface determinants in Stiff Person Syndrome. Neurology 72, A472, Suppl.
  7. Chatzi I, Alexopoulos H, Alexoudi A, Tzortzis D, Dokou G, Filippakopoulou P, Dalakas M and Karageorgiou CE. (2010) Coexistence of Anti-NMO IgG and Anti-GFAP in Neuromyelitis Optica. Neurology 74, A170, Suppl.
  8. Pavlakis PP, Alexopoulos H, Kosmidis M, Stamboulis E, Tzioufas AG, Moutsopoulos HM and Dalakas MC. (2010) Sjogren’syndrome associated polyneuropathy: Clinical and immunological profiles. Neurology 74, A491, Suppl.

Invited talks and seminars

  1. Alexopoulos H. (2001) Neuronal regeneration in the leech and DNA microarrays. Advanced FEBS Course, “From differentiation to death of nerve cells” Corgialenios Academy, Spetses, 15-24 Sept 2001
  2. Alexopoulos H. (2005) The hypocretin-expressing neurons of the hypothalamus and their involvement in sleep disorders. 6th Annual Oxbridge Clinical Neurology Meeting, Jesus College Cambridge, 17 June 2005
  3. Alexopoulos H. (2009) Detection of nervous system specific immune responses. 2nd Immunology Summer School & Conference, Fiskardo, Kefalonia, 31 Aug-4 Sept 2009
  4. Alexopoulos H. (2010) From bench to bedside; latest developments in Multiple Sclerosis. 10th Annual Training Seminar in Multiple Sclerosis and Dementia, Pylos, Messinia, 23-25 July 2010

Presentations in international meetings

  1. Alexopoulos H. (1998) Evolution of the Giant Fibre System: A combined cellular and molecular approach. IVth European Meeting of Ph.D Students in Evolutionary Biology, Crete, 1-3 Apr 1998
  2. Alexopoulos H, Davies JA and Bacon JP. (1999) The evolution of neuronal circuits in insects. 27th Conference, German Neuroscience Society, Gottingen, 28-30 May 1999
  3. Alexopoulos H, Dykes IM, Davies JA and Bacon JP. (2001) Evolution of invertebrate gap junctions. Joint Spring Meeting, British Societies for Cell and Developmental Biology, Brighton, 3-6 Apr 2001
  4. Alexopoulos H, Fenelon V, LeFeuvre Y, Davies JA, Meyrand P, and Bacon JP. (2002) Cloning and expression of neural innexins to investigate electrical coupling in a small network of identified neurons. 3rd Forum of European Neuroscience, Paris, 14-17 July 2002
  5. Alexopoulos H, Burdakov D, Ashcroft FM and Vincent A. (2003) Molecular and biophysical identity of orexin/hypocretin neurons. 33rd Annual Meeting, American Society for Neuroscience, New Orleans, 8-12 Nov 2003
  6. Alexopoulos H, Jensen LT, Fugger L and Vincent A. (2004) Investigating potential immune mechanisms in narcolepsy. 2nd Annual Open Day, Integrative Physiology Initiative, University of O f d 24S t2004
  7. Alexopoulos H, Vincent A and Burdakov D. (2005) Do orexin/hypocretin neurons have multiple identities? An electrophysiological study. 1st Symposium on Orexins/Hypocretins, Cologne, 20-24 July 2005
  8. Buckley C, Alexopoulos H, Plazzi G, Montagna P, and Vincent A. (2005) Search for serum antibodies in human narcolepsy. 1st Symposium on Orexins/Hypocretins, Cologne, 20-14 July 2005
  9. Alexopoulos H and Burdakov D. (2008) Physiological properties of the hypothalamic Orexin/Hypocretin neurons; Key players in energy regulation. 22nd Annual Meeting, Hellenic Society for Neuroscience, Athens, 16-19 Oct 2008
  10. Alexopoulos H, Jensen LT, Deacon R, Buckley C, Elliott J, Fugger L and Vincent A. (2009) Modelling autoimmune narcolepsy in humanised mice. 6th International Symposium of Narcolepsy, Ascona, Switzerland, 27 Sept-2 Oct 2009
  11. Pavlakis PP, Alexopoulos H, Kosmidis M, Stamboulis E, Tzartos SJ, Tzioufas AG, Moutsopoulos HM and Dalakas MC. (2010) Sjogren’s syndrome associated polyneuropathy: Clinical and immunological profiles. 11th EULAR Annual European Congress of Rheumatology, Rome, 16-19 June 2010

Presentations in greek meetings

  1. Αλεξόπουλος Χ, Χατζή Ι, Τροχάτου Ρ, Αλεξούδη Α, Τζώρτζης Δ, Δόκου Γ, Φιλλιπακοπούλου Π, Πολίτης Π, Δαλάκας Μ και Καραγεωργίου ΚΕ. (2010) Μελέτη ασθενών θετικών για NMO-IgG: Συνεντόπιση µε αυτοαντισώµατα έναντι αστροκυττάρων, νέες µέθοδοι προσδιορισµού των AQP4 αντισωµάτων και πιθανές κλινικές συσχετίσεις. 24ο Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο Ελλήνων Νευρολόγων, Κως, 20-23 Μαίου 2010
  2. Γραίγος Α, Αλεξούδη Α, Θεοδώρου Β, Αλεξόπουλος Χ, Κιουλαχίδης Κ και Καραγεωργίου ΚΕ. (2010) Μεταιχµιακή εγκεφαλίτιδα µε αντισώµατα έναντι NMDA υποδοχέων και τεράτωµα ωοθηκών σε νεαρή γυναίκα 16 ετών. 24ο Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο Ελλήνων Νευρολόγων, Κως, 20-23 Μαίου 2010

Fellowships, Awards, Memberships of Learned Societies

Dean of the School of Life Sciences Award, University of Sussex, 1997 (Best MSc. thesis of the academic year 1996-1997)

Elected to a Research Membership of Common Room, Wolfson College, Oxford, 2005-2007

Wellcome Trust Training Fellowship, 2002-2005

Referee for the journals; Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal of Autoimmunity

Alliance Travelling Fellowship for collaborative work in France and Germany, 2002

A number of travel awards for attending and presenting in international conferences, including awards from FEBS, RIKEN, The Guarantors of BRAIN, Lockey Bequest, International Society of Neuroimmunology

Full member; The Genetics Society, British Neuroscience Association, International Society of Neuroimmunology, Hellenic Society for Neuroscience

Petty Officer 3rd Rank, Hellenic Navy, 2008