Research

Research priorities: Ageing, Apoptosis, Autophagy, Cell death, Learning & memory, Mitochondria, Necrosis, Neurodegeneration, Protein homeostasis, Senescence, Stress

Nektarios Tavernarakis is a Greek biologist. His work aims to elucidate and understand the causes of diseases associated with aging. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of necrotic cell death and neurodegeneration, the interaction of cellular metabolism and aging, the mechanisms of sensory transduction and integration of the nervous system, and the development of novel genetic tools for biomedical research.

Tavernarakis examines the process of aging which is associated with a general reduction in neuronal functions and with susceptibility to neurodegenerative processes. In humans, this includes an increased risk of certain diseases, such as stroke, ataxias, i.e. disorders of movement coordination, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

One area of his research is aging and metabolism. Aging is accompanied by a significant change in cellular energy metabolism and protein synthesis. Tavernarakis' work aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the deterioration of cellular function. To clarify all these mechanisms, Tavernarakis uses the experimental strengths of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), a nematode that is mainly used as a model organism in developmental biology and genetics. These experiments aim to promote the longevity of organisms.

In addition, Tavernarakis is also investigating neurodegeneration and necrotic cell death. This involves the delimitation of the cellular and molecular events which occur during cell death (necrotic cell death) as a consequence of the development of a disease (pathogenesis), but also as a consequence of the natural aging process. Tavernarakis is again using C. elegans in these studies. Using the nematode, the role of the targeted degradation of mitochondria (neuronal mitophagy) in neurodegeneration is being investigated in particular. Thereby, the "death program" of this model organism is genetically and molecularly decoded. Several new genes associated with necrotic cell death have been identified and are now being characterized.

And lastly, Tavernarakis is also researching the field of sensory transduction and integration. This involves clarifying the mechanisms by which organisms assess their environment and in response adapt their physiology and behavior to it. The basis for this process is the nervous system, which in all organisms receives information about the environment through specialized sensory organs, then processes and integrates it to achieve permanent changes in future behavior. These changes reflect past experiences and are the manifestation of memory. The molecular mechanisms underlying these changes remain unclear. The nematode C. elegans, with its simple nervous system, offers a unique platform to study these mechanisms. Tavernarakis' research focuses on the identification of relevant genes in this context.

Career

• since 2016 Chairman of the Board of Directors, Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Greece
• 2013-2016 Director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB-FORTH), Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas, Heraklion
• since 2010 Distinguished Professor, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion
• since 2008 Research Director, IMBB-FORTH, Heraklion
• 2004-2008 Chief Researcher and Associate Professor, IMBB-FORTH, Heraklion
• 2001-2004 Executive Researcher and Assistant Professor, IMBB-FORTH, Heraklion
• 1999-2001 Research Associate, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, USA
• 1995-1996 Postdoctoral Fellow, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick

Functions

• from 2021 Vice President, European Research Council (ERC), Life Sciences domain
• since 2020 Elected Member, European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Governing Board
• since 2016 Elected Member, Scientific Council of the European Research Council (ERC)
• since 2014 Elected Member, European Cell Death Organization (ECDO) Academy
• since 2009 Elected Member, European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)

Projects

• 2020-2024 Coordinator, Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), FET Open, European Commission
• 2019-2021 Principal Investigator, Innovative Training Networks (ITN), Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, European Commission
• 2017-2022 Coordinator, Advanced Investigator Grant, European Research Council (ERC)
• 2017-2018 Coordinator, Proof Of Concept Grant, European Research Council (ERC)
• 2009-2014Coordinator, Advanced Investigator Grant; European Research Council (ERC)

Honours and memberships

• since 2020 Elected Fellow of the Freiburg Research Collaboration Programme (FResCo), Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies, Freiburg University, Germany
• since 2019 Member of the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
• since 2019 Elected Corresponding Member of the Academy of Athens, Greece
• since 2018 Elected Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (Class of Natural Sciences)
• 2017 Helmholtz International Fellow Award, Helmholtz Association, Germany
• 2017 Galien Scientific Research Award
• 2016 Proof of Concept Grant award, European Research Council (ERC)
• 2016 Advanced Investigator Grant award, European Research Council
• 2014 Biomedical Research Excellence Award, Academy of Athens
• since 2014 Elected Member, Academia Europaea (Section: Physiology and Medicine)
• 2012 Academic Excellence Prize, Empeirikeion Foundation
• 2012 Science Excellence (Aristeia) award, General Secretariat for Research and Technology, Ministry of Education, Greece
• 2009 Advanced Investigator Grant award, European Research Council
• 2008 Appointed Distinguished External Senior Research Fellow, Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies, Freiburg University, Germany
• 2007 Research Excellence award, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Greece
• 2007 Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel research award, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany
• 2005 Academic Prize in Medicine and Biology, Bodossaki Foundation
• 2002 Young Investigator Award, European Molecular Biology Organization
• 1996 Long-Term Postdoctoral Fellowship, International Human Frontier Science Program Organization
• 1996 Long term postdoctorial fellowships, Commission on Cancer Research, State of New Jersey, USA
• 1996 Academic Achievement Award, Dr. Frederick E. G. Valergakis Post-Graduate Research Grant Program, Hellenic University Association of New York, USA
• 1995 Ph.D. Excellence Prize, University of Crete, Heraklion
• 1989 Dean’s List and First Rank Graduation Honours, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
• 1985 Excellence Prize, National Mathematics contest, Greek Mathematical Society