Michalopoulos Eystathios

Scientific Achievements

Dr. E. Michalopoulos was actively engaged in the field of medical engineering during his undergraduate studies, and attained his BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences, and then continued his postgraduate studies at the Liverpool University.  His PhD in Leeds University, was multidisciplinary, and involved surgery, biology and engineering, while simultaneously having active collaborations with beneficiaries including the National Blood Service Tissue Services and Leeds General Infirmary.  During his PhD he investigated the effects of mechanical stimulation on the differentiation of human bone marrow derived adult stem cells and succeeded where others had failed, to clone adult stem cells and demonstrate their multipotency. Hence, the work he subsequently carried out on the differentiation of the cells in response to physical stimulation was novel, valid and highly important in the field. As a member of the Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (iMBE) his contribution to the iMBE has included original experimental design and measurements.

After completion of his doctoral studies, he was offered a postdoctoral appointment at the Hellenic Cord Blood Bank. At the postdoctoral level, he investigated the isolation of human hematopoietic stem cells from cord blood as well as the isolation, differentiation and the cryopreservation of human mesenchymal stromal cells from umbilical cord Wharton jelly. This work successfully led to the development of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Bank in the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens.

He is responsible for the Regenerative Medicine laboratory, which has been established in the Hellenic Cord Blood Bank since 2010. The main role of this laboratory is the expansion of human mesenchymal cells from bone marrow their administration to patients with multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as well as the isolation of mesenchymal cells from adipose tissue and administration to patients with cartilage defects and osteoarthritis. Additionally, the involvement of Dr. Michalopoulos in the field of tissue engineering and decellularisation protocols has led to awarding doctorates to students, to create tracheal vascular grafts and nerve guides.

In recent years Dr. Michalopoulos has become an expert quality management strategist, he offers his keen business acumen and superior quality management skills with an inclination to meet quality standards for the Hellenic Cord Blood Bank products at every stage. Since 2012, after following specific and difficult training, Dr. Michalopoulos has become an accredited inspector for the Foundation of Accreditation of Cellular Therapy and so far has inspected 12 cord blood banks globally. As a staff research scientist he has not only maintained the utmost in quality at the Hellenic Cord Blood Bank in process and production, but also has created a number of polices and standard operating procedures to revamp current outdated and lacking methods of production.  He ensures that everyone is doing the best at every step of the procedure to end up with most qualitative product.

Dr. Michalopoulos has published over 50 papers in peer-reviewed journals, is a member of the Hellenic Society of Immunology and has participated in numerous conferences as guest speaker on issues concerning the application of hematopoietic stem cells and mesenchymal stromal cells.