Dr. Iro Georgoussi Dr Zafiroula-Ιro Georgoussi, heads the Cellular Signaling and Molecular Pharmacology research group of the Institute of Biosciences and Applications, NCSR ‘Demokritos’. Her scientific interests focus on the cellular signaling mechanisms governing G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) function using as model the opioid receptor system. Her team contributed to the dissection of the determinants of opioid receptor function and the discovery of novel interacting partners of these receptors, which represent drug targets. Currently, her activities are focused on the signalling circuits that implicate opioids in transcriptional regulation, neurogenesis and neuronal differentiation. Dr Georgoussi's activities have been funded over the years by multiple national and international competitive grants and her research has been published in high quality peer-reviewed journals. For her research achievements, she has received awards from the International Warsaw Invention Show, the International Federation of Inventors and the Hellenic Industrial Property Organization. Dr Georgoussi has served as chair and/or member for many national and International Conferences and is the National representative in the management Committee of GLISTEN, a COST action for GPCR-Ligand Interactions, Structures and Transmembrane Signalling.
Opening Speech of Session