Roles
Assistant Professor (Research)
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Biography
Dimitrios Kouroupis (born 1982 in Athens, Greece), obtained his Biology degree in 2006 (Aristotle University of Thessalonica, Greece), his MSc in Biosciences degree in 2007 (University of Leeds, United Kingdom) and his PhD in Regenerative Medicine in 2012 (University of Leeds, United Kingdom). As an early stage post-doctoral researcher, he contributed to the field of Stem Cell biology of both adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and pluripotent stem cells by investigating their in vitro and in vivo capacity to regenerate soft musculoskeletal tissues (ligaments, tendons and vascular organoids) (2012-2015, University of Ioannina, Biomedical Research Institute-FORTH, Greece). He also worked for a private company on Stem Cell Banking of haematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells (2016-2017, Omnigen Cell and Tissue Centre, Greece). As a late stage post-doctoral researcher, he investigated MSC musculoskeletal therapies (synovitis and osteoarthritis) with focus on ‘MSC signatures’ which are directly related to specific MSC functions in vivo. On this basis, he was designing innovative methodologies to ex vivo ‘train’ MSC for more robust and effective in vivo personalized therapeutics (2017-2020, University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Orthopedics, USA).
Dr. Kouroupis is a principal investigator and faculty with a dual appointment at the Department of Orthopedics – UHealth Sports Medicine Institute and the Diabetes Research Institute & Cell Transplant Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. He is an expert in MSC biology and their potential clinical applications in regenerative medicine. Throughout his career, he has in depth studied various Cellular Biology and Regenerative Medicine scientific aspects in relationship with cell-based therapeutic approaches for the treatment of pathological conditions. The development of off-the-shelf novel stem cell therapies and the generation of innovative stem cell-based therapeutic implants are among his major priorities. Up to date, his research work on Regenerative Medicine and Tissue engineering fields have yielded multiple important publications in high impact factor peer-reviewed journals and podium presentations in international conferences and translated into funding from both EU/UK/USA public and private sources.
Furthermore, his research is focused on strengthening our understanding of the intricate underlying biology of Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) in order to support the development of standardized and reproducible pre-clinical protocols, expanding the potential therapeutic application of MSC to various pathological conditions. Consequently, his laboratory contributes with efforts to bring closer basic science and cell-based product manufacturing techniques to potential clinical protocols. -
Education & Training
Education
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Teaching Interests
His teaching Interest are as follow:
· Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering lectures
· Mentorship on fellowships for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
· Mentorship and laboratory training of pre-medical students, medical students, medical residents, MSc/PhD students, and postdoctoral fellows -
Research Interests
Dr. Kouroupis research is focused on strengthening our understanding of the intricate underlying biology of Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) in order to support the development of standardized and reproducible pre-clinical protocols, expanding the potential therapeutic application of MSC to various pathological conditions. Consequently, his laboratory contributes with efforts to bring closer basic science and cell-based product manufacturing techniques to potential clinical protocols.
Research Interests of Dr. Kouroupis Stem Cell Research laboratory:
- Identification and characterization of distinct phenotypic mesenchymal stem cell subpopulations within crude preparations isolated from bone marrow, infrapatellar fat pad, adipose, tendon, umbilical cord and endometrial tissues. Secondary to this, to understand how these distinct “signatures” impact their performance as cell progenitors, immunomodulators and trophic effectors during cell-based therapy, developing ex vivo protocols to reduce the innate product heterogeneity by inducing “more uniform” functional phenotypes with specific attributes.
- Identification of tissue-specific progenitors with potent immunomodulatory and reparative capacities that can serve as inflammation/fibrosis/pain therapeutic targets.
- Mesenchymal stem cell intercellular communication mechanisms through exosomes-type of extracellular vesicles during tissue repair, and ways to “tailor” their signaling cargo by processing parental cells.
- Generation of novel ways to deliver stem cells (e.g., 3D structures) that maintain and protect the beneficial induced phenotypic features.
- Development of potency assays to predict stem cell efficacy ex vivo that result from the identified functional signatures. -
Publications
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Copyrights & Patents
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Professional Activities
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