Ioannis Charalambopoulos

Ioannis Charalambopoulos is an Associate Professor of Pharmacology in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Crete. Hie research interest is focusing on the investigation of the molecular mechanisms that growth factors and their receptors are using to regulate the regenerative capacity of adult nervous system. Such molecules, as Neurotrophins, control brain development and maintenance during adulthood and in aging, while they importantly participate in neuronal survival, differentiation and repair. Our studies are ranging from neurotrophin receptors structure-function experiments to pharmacological development of novel ligands for these receptors with neurogenic and regenerative properties. The aim of our work is to determine and decipher the multiple signaling pathways of the neurotrophin receptors on adult neurogenesis (using in vivo animal models and in vitro 3D neural stem cell cultures) and thus to enhance their ability to promote regeneration of nervous tissue, targeting the optimization of their therapeutic potential on animal models of neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s Disease and Spinal Cord Injury).