THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS

BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER

The American University of Athens is dedicated to a number of research disciplines, creating an environment for the best minds to work together in tackling some of the world's most challenging research problems, with the main focus on:

• The role of adult stem cells and its potential clinical implications. An initial clinical trial will be carried out, employing the in vivo model and focusing on the following areas:

Osteogenetic

The clinical implications of osteogenetic differentiation on skeletal regeneration after trauma-induced bone defects (amputation).

Myogenic/Cardiomyogenic

The clinical implications of tissue reconstruction after trauma and surgery, dystrophic muscle disorder, heart muscle reconstruction and heart failure.

Pancreatic/Endocrine

The study of the clinical implications of insulin-secreting cells for Type 1 diabetes.

Neurogenic

The clinical implications of brain injuries, strokes and peripheral nerve injuries.

Adipose Stem Cells

As the rate of people throughout the world suffering from hunger continues to rise, new sources of food need to be found. One solution which has been discussed with interest is the creation of artificial meat.

Further areas of research interest include:

• The study of alpha inhibin in prostate, ovarian and lung cancers.

• Gene methylation of alpha inhibin in cancer (Molecular Biology).

• Testing ovarian reserves and male fertility with new blood tests.

• DNA and hormonal screening in athletes for detecting illegal substances.

• Forensic archaeology: locating evidence at a crime scene using the skills normally employed on archeological sites to uncover evidence from the past.

• Cryogenic storage of umbilical and placenta tissue.

• Providing continuous training and developing a new generation of researchers.

To facilitate this, we recently established the American University of Athens Research Institute. This will allow researchers to work together across all disciplines in order to support and showcase the diverse research programs taking place within the university and its associated academic, public and private sectors organizations.

AUA will become the new public-spirited institution and declares its intention to make research serve public ends. This includes taking up pressing societal and environmental problems as well as promoting inquiry and open debate based on evidence and reason.

Our aim is to bring researchers together and get them talking. Our Research Institute will found new relationships between individual researchers and research teams on campus and around the world.