Charalampos Pontikoglou

Associate Professor of Haematology
University of Crete

Charalampos Pontikoglou has received his BSc in Biology, University of Crete (1992) and his Medical Degree, University of Crete (1997). He was specialized in Hematology at the Hematology Department of the University hospital of Heraklion under the supervision of Prof. Helen A. Papadaki (2000-2006), and trained in Labor für Leukozytenimmunologie Deutsches Rotes Kreuz Blood Service West, Hagen, Germany in the topic ‘Granulocyte serology-Detection of anti-neutrophil antibodies’ under the supervision of Professor J. Bux (2005). He received his PhD in Hematology, University of Crete, School of Medicine (2006)

His research interests include:

– Investigation of the pathogenesis of Chronic Idiopathic Neutropenia

– Investigation of the expression of the immunoregulatory molecule CD200 by cultured Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells and study of its role in osteoclastogenesis

– Study of the quantitative, functional, cytogenetic and immunoregulatory properties of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BM-MSCs) in patients with benign and neoplastic hematological disorders:

– Study of the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of ex-vivo expanded Wharton’s Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells (WJ-MSCs).

– Study of factors/pathways implicated in stemness and/or differentiation of BM- and WJ-MSCs

– Investigation of the osteoinductive potential of BM-and WJ-MSCS immobilized on novel implantable biomaterials

– Investigation of circulating endothelial progenitor cells and BM MSCs in patients with arterial hypertension and ventricular hypertrophy, as well as in younger patients with type I diabetes mellitus