Vasiliki Pletsa

Vasiliki PLETSA Senior Researcher Institute of Chemical Biology National Hellenic Research Foundation Phone: +302107273754 Fax: +302107273627 E-mail: vpletsa@eie.gr Website: http://www.eie.gr/nhrf/institutes/ibrb/cvs/cv-pletsa-en.html ________________________________________ Education 1991: Ph. D degree in Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, School of Sciences, National Kapodistrian University of Athens PhD Thesis: “Mutagenesis and activation of the human Ha-ras proto-oncogene by alkylating carcinogens” 1984: Bachelor’s Degree (BSc), Faculty of Biology, School of Sciences, National Kapodistrian University of Athens Appointments 2003-present: Researcher (Research Assistant Professor), National Hellenic Research Foundation, Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, Chemical Carcinogenesis and Genetic Toxicology Programme 1995-2003: Functional Research Scientist In charge of the development of the GMO Detection Laboratory of the Institute of Biological Research and Biotechnology of the National Hellenic Research Foundation. 1992-1995: Post doctoral Researcher, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Institute of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Chemical Carcinogenesis and Genetic Toxicology Programme 1991: Post doctoral Fellow ( Fellowship by European Science Foundation, DNA Repair Network and C.N.R.S.), Centre National de Recherches Scientifiques C.N.R.S., Institut de Recherches Scientifiques sur le Cancer, Laboratoire de Genetique Moleculaire, Villejuif, France Sabbatical Leaves 2004: six months sabbatical leave, Department of Toxicogenetics, Sylvius Laboratories, Leiden University Medical Center, Wassenaarseweg72, 2333AL Leiden,The Netherlands Work on the mechanisms of mutagenesis induced by the Translesion Synthesis polymerases. Secondments May 2008-May 2012: General Secretariat for Research and Technology, Ministry of Education, International S&T Cooperation Directorate, European Union Division Main tasks regarding the integration of the European Research Area, the Europe 2020 agenda as well as the Science & Technology issues in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. Teaching and Supervision experience Ph D theses:3 2006-2010: “Study on the mechanism of cell death induced by methylating agents”, A. Koryllou, Medical School of Athens, NTUA, Athens 2010 2010-2016: “Impact of beta-glucan on the intestinal microbiota of a high risk colon population (polypectomised patients)”, Katjia Turunen, Harokopio University, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Athens 2016. 2016-present: “Development of Nanodispersions as carriers of bioactive compounds. Biological applications”, Ioanna Theochari, University of Thessaly, School of Health Sciences, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology (ongoing in NHRF) Teaching 2006-present: regular lectures on “The Biotechnology Challenge; the recombinant DNA technology in Food, is this a threat for Public Health and Environment?”, in the context of the postgraduate programmes “Environmental risks and Food Safety”, Harokopian University of Athens and “Microbial Biotechnology”, Faculty of Biology, NTUA. Lecture on “Mechanisms of Cell Death and Immunoresponse in cancer” in the context of the postgraduate programme “Clinical Biochemistry-Molecular Diagnostics”, Faculty of Biology, NTUA. 2015-present: “Bioenterpreneurship” http://bioepixirin.bio.uth.gr/, interdepartmental, interdisciplinary postgraduate programme, Joint Master’s Degree, University of Thessaly/National Hellenic Research Foundation. Member of the Interdepartmental and Coordination Committee Current Research Interests • DNA damage response and mechanisms of cell death • molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis, • nutrition and cancer Current Research projects STHENOS-b ESPA 2014-2020 National Programme: “Targeted therapeutic approaches against degenerative diseases with special focus on cancer and ageing-optimisation of the targeted bioactive molecules” WP3, 4 and 5. EREVNW- KAINOTOMW-DIMIOYRGW(«ΕΡΕΥΝΩ - ΔΗΜΙΟΥΡΓΩ - ΚΑΙΝΟΤΟΜΩ») ESPA 2014-2020 National Programme: FUNGLUCAN: “Development of a novel functional food enriched with β-glucans isolated from edible mushrooms of Greek habitats” Book Chapters in collective volumes T. Varzakas and V. Pletsa “Genetically Modified Herbicide-Tolerant Crops and Sugar Beet-Environmental and Health Concerns” Chapter in “Sweeteners: Nutritional Aspects, Applications, and Production Technology, published May 14, 2012 by CRC Press Evaluator/Reviewer in National and EU Calls Science communication to the public, students and pupils regularly, within the frame of dedicated events (i.e. Researcher's Night, Science and Technology Festival, etc; www.eie.gr/nhrf/institutes/ibmcb/index-en-ibcmb.html). Member of the European Enviromental Mutagen Society (EEMS). Member of the Hellenic Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (HSBMB)