PARTNERS

Eleonora Hadjipaschali (Head of Public Health Laboratories Network)

Eleonora Hadjipaschali is a Biologist and Senior management expert with over 35 years professional experience in pharmaceutical industry (Sanofi, Merck etc), health care, public care in private and public sector (Manager of General Hospital “A.Fleming” Chronic diseases Hospital, Model Health Center etc). She is the Head of Public Health Laboratories Network at National Public Health Organization Greece and experienced in coordinating international and national projects.

Professor Anna Psaroulaki (Professor of Microbiology/Zoonoses at the
School of Medicine at the University of Crete)

She is head of the Regional Public Health Laboratory of Crete. She is the scientific responsible for the units of: a) Food, Water & Environment Microbiology, b) Zoonoses & Geographical Medicine, c) the reference Lab of Rickettsiae & Tick-Borne diseases (Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis). She has been a scientific collaborator of the WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Training in Mediterranean Zoonoses (1998-2011). She has extended experience in national & international research projects. She has received funding or has participated in >40 research projects (scientific coordinator in 20 projects). She is member of: ESCMID (European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases); ESGLI (ESCMID Study Group for Legionella Infections); ESCAR (ESCMID Study Group for Coxiella, Anaplasma, Rickettsia , Bartonella); European Network for Vector and Vector borne diseases. She has evaluated international research programs of the ANR-France, the Technology Foundation STW OTP -The Netherlands, and the Israel Science Foundation -ISF, as well as national research programs governed by the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation. She has over 140 publications in peer review journals (citations: 3975, h-index: 37, i10-index=99 (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=kfAXADwAAAAJ&hl=en) and more than >165 abstracts in scientific congresses, and 3 chapters in books. Her research activities concern: a) the investigation of the epidemiological chain of transmission of zoonotic/foodborne/waterborne pathogens at the “Human-Animal-Environment” interface with the aim of better understanding their transmission and spread. Under the One Health approach, bacterial species/strains (from patients, animals and environmental samples) are characterized using molecular epidemiology and omics methodologies, and their phylogenetic relationships and interactions are determined; b) the investigation of mechanisms of intracellular survival and microbial resistance to antibiotics for intracellular bacteria using proteomic/genomic analysis methods; c) the investigation of risk factors for microbiological safety and hygiene in food and water, with the aim of proposing measures and innovative methodologies towards improving quality and safety.

Dimosthenis Chochlakis (h-index 20, > 70 publications at international journals with; total citations >1100; > 80 abstracts at national and international conferences, a book chapter) (HTTPS://WWW.SCOPUS.COM/AUTHID/DETAIL.URI?AUTHORID=24390620800) with expertise on molecular microbiology and epidemiology.

He has conducted significant research on waterborne and tick-borne microbial agents, antimicrobial resistance and their typing using molecular and proteomic methods. For the last 15 years, he has been working on the detection, isolation, typing and investigation of antimicrobial resistance of Legionella and has also participated in many epidemiological investigations of legionellosis cases. He also serves as Technical Manager of the Regional Public Health Laboratory of Crete. Part of his responsibilities include the surveillance of waterborne and tick-borne pathogens, following the notification of a human case by the ECDC, and the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Crete within the framework of the surveillance of the Hellenic National Public Health Organization.He has participated in >10 research protocols funded by Joint Action of the European agency HADEA, the NSRF (Research – Innovate –Create), the Ministry of Education of Serbia, the Private sector and the Ministry of Health of Greece, covering issues of microbiological analyses,pathogen detection/identification/standardization, bureaucracy and coordination.He is a member of a) the European Action COST TD1303 «European Network for Vector and Vector borne diseases», b) the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), c) the ESCMID Study Group for Legionella Infections (ESGLI), d) the European Action CA21170 – Prevention, anticipation and mitigation of tick-borne disease risk applying the DAMA protocol (PRAGMATICK). He has participated in a Short-term Scientific Mission at the School of Health, Sport and Bioscience/University of East London, UK through a scholarship.His research interests focus on a) Molecular microbiology: identification/typification of vector/food/waterborne pathogens, b) Antibiotic susceptibility: testing the sensitivity of waterborne pathogens to antibiotics, c) Use of proteomics (MALDI-TOF MS) and modern techniques (MLVA, MST) in the diagnosis of water/foodborne pathogens, d) Study of new/uncultured microorganisms, e) Study of the virulence of environmental pathogens, f) Study of the behavior of environmental pathogens in comparison to the presence of other microorganisms, g) Introduction of neural networks/artificial intelligence in the study of complex host-pathogen interactions.

Aikaterini Liona, BBA (Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Organizations), MSc, [Master’s Degree in Public Administration – Public Management (In Progress)]

Experienced administrative professional with over 15 years of service in National Public Health Organization (NPHO), Greece. Participation in European Programs since 2019 (MALWEST Program, EU JA – SHARP (Strengthened Health and Regulation Preparedness) EU JA TERROR, EU MOBILISE, EU-JAMRAI, as Project Assistant. Participation in cross-sectoral working groups within the scope of responsibilities at the NPHO.