Cancer Mechanobiology & Applied Biophysics

andreas-stylianou

Andreas Stylianou

Group Leader
Assistant Professor, Research Methods and Applied Biophysics
Department of Health Sciences
School of Sciences
European University Cyprus

Short Bio

Dr. Andreas Stylianou is an Assistant Professor of Research Methods and Applied Biophysics of the School of Sciences at European University Cyprus. He received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece in 2014. He has also received a Bachelor of Science/Master of Science in Applied Physics from the School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Science of the NTUA in 2007 and a Master of Science in Medical Physics (2011) from the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics of the Open University, United Kingdom. Finally, he holds a PhD in Social Aspects of Health (2018) from the graduate program of Health Care Management of the Faculty of Economies and Management of the Open University of Cyprus. In 2015 his postdoctoral project proposal was funded by the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie individual fellowships and in 2019 he received the University of Cyprus Advanced Post-doctoral Research Fellowship. He is also the recipient of the prestigious “Young Researcher Award” for 2019 from the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation. Dr. Stylianou is leading the Cancer Mechanobiology and Applied Biophysics group, part of the Basic and Translational Cancer Research Center (BTCRC) at European University Cyprus. His primary academic interests include the investigation of tumor microenvironment mechanical and biophysical properties, the understanding of cancer and stromal cells mechanosensing and the cell-substrate interactions. Additionally, the study of tumor fibrosis, the role of collagen in cancer progression and the identification of collagen-based biomarkers lie within his research interests. Dr Stylianou has published more than 38 peer-reviews articles (h-index: 15-Scopus, 18-GoogleScholar), 4 book chapters, 12 articles in referred conference proceeding and has presented his work in more than 38 conference presentation in national and international conferences.

Research focus:

The Cancer Mechanobiology and Applied Biophysics group focuses on the investigation of tumor microenvironment mechanical and biophysical properties, the understanding of cancer and stromal cells mechanosensing and the cell-substrate interactions. Additionally, the study of tumor fibrosis, the role of collagen in cancer progression and the identification of collagen-based biomarkers lie within the group’s research interests. Although an important research goal is the identification of novel mechanical biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment monitoring, the group’s research interests also expand to other pathological conditions and unique biophysical research areas. The approaches used cover a wide spectrum of research techniques starting from assessment of cellular properties in vitro, experiments in whole animals, and finally validation in humans. Thus, cutting edge biophysical, bionengineering and biology techniques are employed, including advanced Atomic Force Microscopy techniques, which are among the research group’s expertise. 

Current Group Members

katerina polemidiotou

Katerina
Polemidiotou

MSc student
Her main research interests include the study of the of collagen in cancer progression and especially in sarcomas.
andreas mathaiou

Andreas
Mattheou

BSc student
His main research interests include the study of nanomechanical and optical properties of sarcoma tissue .
Georgios Koufopantelis

Koufopantelis Georgios

BSc student
His main research interests include the use of Atomic Force Microscopy for studying the mechanical properties of brain .
Tamara

Tamara Buludova

BSc student
Her main research interests include the in vitro identification of biophysical and mechanical fingerprints of individual lung cells in correlation to the TGF-β treatments.

Past Group Members

Elena Andreou

Andreou
Elena

BSc, (2021)
BSc Thesis Title: Use of ultrasound techniques for drug delivery.
Makrina Danai Papatheologou

Makrina – Danai Papatheologou

BSc, (2021)
BSc Thesis Title: UV photodynamic Therapy.
Charalambia Antoniou

Charalambia
Antoniou

BSc, (2021)
BSc Thesis Title: Use of Atomic Force Microscopy for studying drug delivery.

Agisilaos Georgakoloupos

BSc, (2021)
BSc Thesis Title: Laser Activated drugs

Stephania Papaconstanti

BSc, (2021)
BSc Thesis Title: Advanced Microscopy Technique in Pharmacy

Troumbounia Chara

BSc, (2020)
BSc Thesis Title: Desmoplasia and drug delivery in cancer therapy

Panteli Rafaella

BSc, (2020)
BSc Thesis Title: Atomic Force Microscopy and Alzheimer

Lazarou Vasiliki

BSc, (2020)
BSc Thesis Title: Lasers in Pharmaceutical Research

Nikos Procopiou

BSc, (2020)
BSc Thesis Title: Role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in tumor microenvironment

Andreas, Ioannou

BSc, (2019)
BSc Thesis Title: New Photosensitizers in Photodynamic Therapy

Alexis Kyprianou

BSc, (2019)
BSc Thesis Title: Atomic Force Microscopy in Pharmaceutical Research

Andreas Nathanael

BSc, (2019)
BSc Thesis Title: Low Level Laser Therapy for wound healing” Program of Biological Sciences

Giorgos Potamitis

BSc, (2019)
BSc Thesis Title: Atomic Force Microscopy for assessing the nanomechanical properties of cancer cells

Research Grants

Ongoing

“EXCELLENCE HUBS”, Research & Innovation Foundation’s Program, (EXCELLENCE 0421/0263, 01/03/2021 – 28/02/2023). Role: Project Coordinator Title: “Nanomechanical FingerPrints of Pulmonary Fibrosis”.

Cost European Cooperation in Science & Technology, (COMULIS, CA17121, 12/10/2018-11/10/2022). Role: Cyprus Management Committee (MC) member, Title: “Correlated Multimodal Imaging in Life Sciences”.

European Research Council, (ERC-2019-CoG-863955, 01/04/2020 – 31/03/2025). Role: Researcher. Title: “Mechanical Biomarkers for Cancer Immunotherapy Prediction“.

Research Promotion Foundation’s Program (INTERNATIONAL/USA/0118/0057, 2019 -2021). Role: Researcher, Title: “COROSIS: Is there a link between metal ion release and in-stent restenosis?”.

Completed

University of Cyprus, (“PACA-FingerPrints”, 01/01/2019-31/8/2020). Role: Project Coordinator/Fellow. Title: “NanoMechanical FingerPrints of Pancreatic Cancer”.

Horizon 2020, (MSCA-IF-2014-658769, 01/06/2015-31/05/2017). Role: Project Coordinator/Fellow. Title: “Modulating the behaviour of cancer myofibroblasts to control tumour desmoplasia”.

European Union (European Social Fund – ESF) and Greek national funds through the Operational Program “Education and Lifelong Learning” of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), (68/1054, 01/09/2010 –30/04/2014). Role: Fellow. Title: “Optical Radiation Effects on Collagen Topology Studied by AFM and SEM”.

Selected Publications

Book chapters

Full list of publications

Collaborators

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