Dr Eleni Papanikolaou is Lecturer of Gene Transfer and Gene Therapy at the School of Medicine of National & Kapodistrian University of Athens in Greece, and Scientific Director for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Gene Therapy at the Department of Research and Development of Miltenyi Biotec, in Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany.
Her research focuses on translating cutting-edge research into state-of-the-art products and services in the field of hemopoiesis and to develop best practices for novel gene therapies for hematological diseases based on classical gene addition or via genome editing of hematopoietic stem cells. Additionally, she has extensive expertise in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation both in the allogeneic and in the autologous setting and in the context of immune cell depletion as a strategy to mitigate Graft Versus Host Disease. Among various translational research studies, a special emphasis is given to hemoglobinopathies, a set of diseases of special interest for Europe, not only because of significant patient morbidity but for the enormous financial burden on the health system, as well.
Dr Papanikolaou has received more than 15 national and international awards and has served as PI and co-PI of at least four EU-funded collaborative research programmes involving gene therapy laboratories of excellence across Europe.