Vasiliki Gkretsi
Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences
22559630
School of Sciences
Department of Life Sciences
Academic Qualifications
| Qualification | Year | Awarding Institution | Department | Thesis title |
| Ph.D | 2006 | University of Pittsburgh Medical School, PA, USA | Department of Cellular and Molecular Pathology | Role of integrin-proximal complexes in cancer cell behavior and normal liver function. |
| Diploma in Biology | 2001 | National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece | Biology Department | Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) and screening for mutations of the MEFV gene in Greeks and in the Greek population of Cyprus. |
Employment History
| Period of employment | Employer | Location | Position | |
| From | To | |||
| 2021 | Present | European University Cyprus | Nicosia, Cyprus | Associate Professor |
| 2017 | 2020 | European University Cyprus | Nicosia, Cyprus | Assistant Professor |
| 2015 | 2017 | University of Cyprus | Nicosia, Cyprus | Senior Scientist |
| 2009 | 2015 | Centre for Research and Technology, Hellas (CE.R.T.H), Institute of Research and Technology-Thessaly (IRETETH), Department of Biomedical Sciences | Larissa, Greece | Research Assistant Professor (Researcher C) |
Publications
| Year | Title | Other authors | Journal and Publisher / Conference | Vol. | Pages |
| 2020 | The focal adhesion protein Integrin Linked Kinase (ILK) as an important player in breast cancer pathogenesis | Tsirtsaki K., and Gkretsi V. | Cell Adhesion and Migration | 14(1) | 204-213 |
| 2020 | Ras Suppressor-1 (RSU-1) in cancer cell metastasis; a tale of a tumor suppressor | Louca M., Stylianopoulos T., and Gkretsi V. | International Journal of Molecular Sciences | 21(11) | 4076 |
| 2020 | Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15) in cancer cell metastasis: from the cells to the patients | Spanopoulou A., and Gkretsi V*. | Clinical & Experimental Metastasis | 37(4) | 451-464 |
| 2020 | ILK silencing inhibits migration and invasion of more invasive glioblastoma cells by downregulating ROCK1 and Fascin-1 | Louca M., Zaravinos A., Stylianopoulos T, and Gkretsi V | Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry | 471(1-2) | 143-153 |
| 2020 | Silencing of Growth Differentiation Factor-15 promotes breast cancer cell invasion by downregulating focal adhesion genes. | Gkretsi V.*, Stylianou A., Kalli M., Louca M., Voutouri C., Zaravinos A., Stylianopoulos T* | Anticancer Res | 40 (3) | 1375-1385 |
| 2019 | Inhibition of Breast Cancer cell invasion by Ras Suppressor-1 (RSU-1) silencing is reversed by Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15). | Gkretsi V, Louca M, Stylianou A, Minadakis G, Spyrou GM, Stylianopoulos T. | International Journal of Molecular Sciences | 20 (1) | Pii:E163 |
| 2019 | Depletion of Ras Suppressor-1 (RSU-1) promotes cell invasion of breast cancer cells through a compensatory upregulation of a truncated isoform. | Gkretsi V*., Kalli M., Efstathiades C., Papageorgis P., Papanikolaou V., Zacharia LC., Tsezou A., Athanassiou E., Stylianopoulos T.* | Scientific Reports | 9(1) | 10050 |
| 2019 | Ras suppressor-1 (RSU-1) promotes cell iinvasion in aggressive glioma cells and inhibits it in non-aggressive cells through STAT6 phospho-regulation | Louca M., Stylianou A., Minia A., Pliaka V., Alexopoulos LG., Gkretsi V.*, and Stylianopoulos T*. | Scientific Reports | 9(1) | 7782 |
| 2015 | Ras Suppressor-1 promotes apoptosis in breast cancer cells by inhibiting PINCH-1 and activating p53-upregulated-modulator of apoptosis (PUMA); verification from metastatic breast cancer human samples | Giotopoulou N., Valiakou V., Papanikolaou V., Dubos S., Athanassiou E., Tsezou A., Zacharia LC, Gkretsi V.* | Clinical & Experimental Metastasis | 32(3) | 255-65 |
| 2008 | Liver specific ablation of Integrin-Linked Kinase in mice results in abnormal histology, enhanced cell proliferation and hepatomegaly | Gkretsi V., Apte U., Mars WM., Bowen WC., Luo JH., Yang Y., Yu YP., Orr A., St.-Arnaud R., Dedhar S., Kaestner KH., Wu C., Michalopoulos GK. | Hepatology | 48 (6) | 1932-1941 |
Exhibitions
| Date | Topic | International / Local | Location* | Role in Exhibition |
| March 29-30th, 2019 | Targeting metastasis. Could RSU-1 be the key? | Local | 1st SynBio Conference in Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus | Oral presentation |
| December 7th 2018 | Inhibition of breast cancer cell invasion by Ras suppressor-1 (RSU-1) silencing is reversed by Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15) | International | International Conference of the Cyprus Society of Human Genetics, Nicosia Cyprus | Oral presentation |
| November 15-17, 2018 | Depletion of Ras Suppressor-1 promotes cell invasion of breast cancer cells through a compensatory upregulation of a truncated isoform | International | 6th International Multithematic Bio-Medical Congress, Nicosia, Cyprus | Oral presentation |
| June 25-28, 2017 | Identification of Ras Suppressor-1 (RSU-1) and Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein (VASP) as potential breast cancer metastasis biomarkers using a three-dimensional in vitro approach. | International | 7th International Conference on Tumor-Host Interaction and Angiogenesis, Ascona, Switzerland | Poster presentation |
| October 6-8, 2016 | Targeting breast cancer metastasis: a bioengineering approach | International | 21st World Congress on Advances in Oncology & 19th International Symposium of Molecular Medicine, Athens, Greece | Oral presentation |
| November 9, 2008 | Validation of therapeutic siRNA approaches in animal models of TNF mediated chronic inflammatory diseases. Therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA): Targeting the actin cytoskeleton? | International | RIGHT Symposium “RNAi for Therapy”, Lisbon, Portugal | Oral presentation |
| April 1-5, 2006 | Depletion of Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) from primary mouse hepatocytes leads to apoptosis | International | FASEB, Experimental Biology meeting, San Francisco, CA, USA | Oral presentation |
| April 2-6, 2005 | Physical and functional association of migfilin with cell-cell adhesions | International | Experimental Biology meeting, San Diego, CA, USA | Oral presentation |
Research Projects
| Date | Title | Funded by | Project Role* |
| 2021-2024 | Identification of Medicinal/Aromatic Plants properties and improving quality, nutritive value and storability of fresh and dry products to support SME competitiveness | Research Promotion Foundation (Excellence hub) | Participant |
| 2013-2014 | The role of integrin-proximal protein complexes during hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis (renewal) | European Society for the Study of the Liver, 2012 EASL Sheila Sherlock award | Principal investigator (project coordinator) |
| 2012-2013 | The role of integrin-proximal protein complexes during hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis | European Society for the Study of the Liver, 2012 EASL Sheila Sherlock award | Principal investigator (project coordinator) |
| 2012-2015 | Smart pole of specialization and development-Thessaly; Research, innovation and strategics | Ministry of Education, religious affairs, culture and sports / General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT) | Co-Principal investigator (co-coordinator) |
| 2007-2013 | Osteoarthritis: complete systematic analysis for targeted biologic therapy | General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT). Action: NSFR 2007-2013, Cooperation, Protocol number: 12-11/09 #705 | Co-Principal investigator (co-coordinator) |
Academic Consulting Services/Councils/Boards/Editorial Committees
| Period | Organization | Title of Position or Service | Key Activities |
| 2020-2022 | Journal “Life” with an impact factor of 3.817 | Special Issue Editor. Title “Cancer cell metastasis: the in vitro approach” | Evaluation and selection of articles to be published in the special issue of the journal. |
| 2018-2021 | Committee of Bioethics Evaluation of Biomedical and Clinical Research B | Member | Evaluation of research proposals submitted to the committee from the perspective of bioethics. |
| 2018-present | European University Cyprus | Representative of the School of Sciences at the Internal Quality Assurance Committee of the European University Cyprus. | Quality assurance for academic programs in the School of Sciences. |
| 2019-2020 | International Journal of Molecular Sciences with an impact factor of 5.923 | Special Issue Editor. Title “Tumor Microenvironment and Actin Cytoskeleton in Cancer Cell Metastasis” | Evaluation and selection of articles to be published in the special issue of the journal. |
| 2016-2017 | Frontiers in Oncology journal with an impact factor of 6.244 | Topic Editor | Title of Research Topic “Metastasis: from cell adhesion and beyond”. |
Awards/International Recognition
| Date | Title | Awarded by: |
| 2012-2014 | European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL*) Sheila Sherlock fellowship 2012, International Liver Congress 2012, April 18-22, Barcelona, Spain. Title of the research project: “The role of integrin-proximal protein complexes during hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis”. *EASL is the leading association in Europe attracting the foremost experts in hepatology, exhibiting an impressive track record in promoting cutting edge research in liver disease, supporting wider education and promoting changes in European liver policy. http://www.easl.eu/_fellowship/list-of-awardees/2012 | European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) |
| 2012 | Travel award to attend the International Liver Congress 2012, April 18-22, Barcelona, Spain. | European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) |
| 2006 | invited as student honoree and received the yellow ribbon at the Honors Convocation 2006 of the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Library, February 24th 2006, Pittsburgh, PA, USA | University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA |
| 2005 | received the 2005-2006 Stephen L. Phillips Scientific Achievement Award at the 10th Annual University of Pittsburgh Biomedical Graduate Student Research Symposium, October 2005, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. This award is given in recognition of an outstanding first author publication and contribution to graduate research. | University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA |
| 2004 | 2004: received the American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP) Trainee Travel Award for the Experimental Biology meeting 2005, San Diego, CA, USA. | American Society for Investigative Pathology |
Other Achievements
| Date | Title | Key Activities: |
| 2005-present | · 45 peer reviewed articles and 3 book chapters · 1st author in 20, 2nd in 11 and corresponding in 22 · 1166 citations (Scopus), h index 18 · 1690 citations (Google Scholar), h index 22 · Reviewer in 29 scientific journals | |
| 2005 | Journal of Cell Science (IF=6,144) cover photo from the article: Gkretsi V., et al.(2005) Physical and functional association of migfilin with cell-cell adhesions, J Cell Sci 118 (4), 697-710. | An image from this work was selected for the cover of the Journal of Cell Science. |
| 2009 | Draft US provisional patent application-Application No. 61175960, Date of application: May 06, 2009 Title: “METHODS FOR TREATING INFLAMMATION”. Inventors: Georgios Kollias, Vasiliki Gkretsi, Yiannis Vasilopoulos. | Patent |