ACG 150

Alexia Victoria Polissidis, PhD

Biomedical Sciences
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, Biomedical Sciences Program, Dept. of Science and Mathematics, ACG
CURRICULUM VITAE

CONTACT INFO

EDUCATION

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
PhD, Psychopharmacology
2006 – 2009

University of Alberta, Canada
BSc, Pharmacology
2000 – 2004

Alexia V. Polissidis holds a BSc Honors Pharmacology degree from the University of Alberta, Canada and a PhD in Psychopharmacology from the Medical School, University of Athens. She is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at The American College of Greece and an independently-funded Junior Research Team Leader at the Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery, and Translational Research at the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, where she also established in 2011 the NeuroBehavior Rodent Phenotyping Facility. She has a background in psychopharmacology and translational neuroscience with expertise in preclinical drug screening, cannabinoid pharmacology and transgenic and viral rodent models of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases. Her current research interests include 1) gene-environment interactions and their contribution to the mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathogenesis, 2) identification of potential phenotypes or biomarkers to permit early intervention with neuroprotective therapies for PD, and 3) mechanisms underlying the psychotropic and therapeutic effects of cannabinoids and other psychotropic drugs. Alexia has received 2 grants and 6 awards for her research, published 38 peer-reviewed papers, and co-authored two book chapters. Alexia currently serves as a member of the Governing Council of the Hellenic Society for Neuroscience. She was a member of the first National Committee for Medicinal Cannabis Products and an external advisor for the European Medicines Agency Expert for the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use. Alexia is also Co-founder and CEO of Anacalypsis Therapeutics, an Athens-based biotech discovering novel therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases.

Publications

Recent Publications (2019-)

  1. M. Argyrofthalmidou, A. Polissidis, S. Karaliota, I. Papapanagiotou, E. Sotiriou, M. Manousaki, Z. Papadopoulou-Daifoti, M.G. Spillantini, L. Stefanis, D.K. Vassilatis. Functional Interaction Between α-Synuclein and Nurr1 in Dopaminergic Neurons. Neuroscience. (2022) Dec 1;506:114-126. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.10.011. PMID: 36270413
  2. C. Karoussiotis, A. Sotiriou, A. Polissidis, A. Symeonof, D. Papavranoussi-Daponte, V. Nikoletopoulou, Z. Georgoussi. The κ-opioid receptor-induced autophagy is implicated in stress-driven synaptic alterations. Front Mol Neurosci. (2022) Nov 16;15:1039135. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1039135. PMID: 36466809
  3. J. Kowalczyk, M. Nakos-Bimpos, A. Polissidis, C. Dalla, N. Kokras, K. Skalicka-Woźniak, B. Budzyńska. Imperatorin Influences Depressive-like Behaviors: A Preclinical Study on Behavioral and Neurochemical Sex Differences. Molecules. (2022) Feb 10;27(4):1179. doi: 10.3390/molecules27041179. PMID: 35208969
  4. A. Polissidis, E. Koronaiou, G. Nikolopoulou, C. Viel, M. Nikatou, M. Bogiongko, S.P. Sardi, M. Xilouri, K. Vekrellis, L. Stefanis. A double-hit in vivo model of GBA viral microRNA-mediated downregulation and human α-synuclein overexpression demonstrates nigrostriatal degeneration. Neurobiology of Disease. (2022) Jan 4;163:105612. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105612. PMID: 34995756
  5. A. Dimoula, D. Fotellis, E. Aivalioti, D. Delialis, A. Polissidis, R. Patras, N. Kokras, K. Stamatelopoulos. Off-Target Effects of Antidepressants on Vascular Function and Structure. Biomedicines. (2021) Dec 28;10(1):56. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10010056. PMID: 35052735
  6. D. Gkikas, D. Stellas, A. Polissidis, T. Manolakou, M.G. Kokotou, G. Kokotos, P.K. Politis PK. Nuclear receptor NR5A2 negatively regulates cell proliferation and tumor growth in nervous system malignancies. (2021) PNAS. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2015243118. PMID: 34561301
  7. Ε. Tsoupri, Ι. Kostavasili, Ι. Kloukina, Μ. Tsikitis, Miliou, E. Vasilaki, A. Varela, M. Nakos-Bimpos, C. Davos, M. Mavroidis, A. Polissidis, Y. Capetanaki. Myospryn deficiency leads to impaired cardiac structure and function and schizophrenia-associated symptoms. (2021) Cell Tissue Res. doi: 10.1007/s00441-021-03447-2. PMID: 34037836
  8. N. Poulia, F.Delis, C. Brakatselos, A. Polissidis, Y. Koutmani, N. Kokras, C. Dalla, PK Politis, K. Antoniou. Detrimental effects of adolescent escalating low-dose Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol leads to a specific bio-behavioral profile in adult male rats. (2021) Br J Pharmacol. doi: 10.1111/bph.15394.
  9. A. Polissidis, V. Kollia, Maria Koronaiou, M. Boyongo, S. Vrettou, M. Nakos-Mpimpos, N. Casadei, O. Riess, P. Sardi, M. Xilouri, L. Stefanis. Psychosis-like behavior and hyperdopaminergic dysregulation in human alpha-synuclein BAC transgenic rats (2020) Movement Disorders. doi: 10.1002/mds.28383. PMID: 33200461
  10. I. Chaniotakis, E. Diamantakos, V. Rizou, E. Moltsanidou, C. Kotopoulis, M. Thavarajah, A. Polissidis, N. Kostomitsopoulos. Laboratory rats as pets: The potential role of neonatal handling schedule for their life in and after the lab. (2020) Pet Behaviour Science. 10: 36 – 45. https://doi.org/10.21071/pbs.vi10.12480.
  11. J. Kowalczyk J, M. Nakos-Bimpos M, A. Polissidis, C. Dalla, N. Kokras, K. Skalicka-Wozniak, B. Budzynska. Xanthotoxin affects depression-related behavior and neurotransmitters content in a sex-dependent manner in mice. (2020) Behavioural Brain Research. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112985. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33144177
  12. V.S. Sykioti, M. Karampetsou, I. Chalatsa, A. Polissidis, I.P. Michael, M. Pagaki-Skaliora, A. Nagy, E. Emmanouilidou, G. Sotiropoulou, K. Vekrellis. Deficiency of the serine peptidase Kallikrein 6 does not affect the levels and the pathological accumulation of a-synuclein in mouse brain. (2020) Journal of Neurochemistry. doi: 10.1111/jnc.15199. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32974895
  13. A. Polissidis, L. Petropoulou-Vathi, M. Nakos-Bimpos M, H.J. Rideout. The Future of Targeted Gene-Based Treatment Strategies and Biomarkers in Parkinson’s Disease. (2020) Biomolecules. 10(6): 912. doi: 10.3390/biom10060912. Review.
  14. I.A. Gampierakis, Y. Koutmani, M. Semitekolou, I. Morianos, A. Polissidis, A. Katsouda, I. Charalampopoulos, G. Xanthou, A. Gravanis, K.P. Karalis. Hippocampal neural stem cells and microglia response to experimental inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). (2020) Molecular Psychiatry. doi: 10.1038/s41380-020-0651-6. Online ahead of print. PMID: 31969694
  15. Y. Koutmani, I.A. Gampierakis, A. Polissidis, M. Ximerakis, P.N. Koutsoudaki, A. Polyzos, G. Agrogiannis, S. Karaliota, D. Thomaidou, L.L. Rubin, P.K. Politis, K.P. Karalis. CRH Promotes the Neurogenic Activity of Neural Stem Cells in the Adult Hippocampus. (2019). Cell Reports. 29(4):932-945. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.09.037.