Biomedical Sciences and Bioinformatics Research for Health Innovation

The Biomedical Sciences and Bioinformatics (BSB) Team at the American College of Greece Research Center is a multidisciplinary research group embedded within the Research, Technology & Innovation Network (RTIN), dedicated to bridging fundamental science with health innovation. The team’s research spans chemical biology, molecular and cell biology, neuroscience, pharmacology, structural biology/molecular biophysics, bioinformatics, big data analytics, and environmental health, with applications in precision medicine, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and health sustainability.

BSB places strong emphasis on collaborative research with academic and industrial partners to co-develop solutions aligned with Horizon Health priorities, accelerating innovation through interdisciplinary expertise, shared research platforms, and co-funded programmes.

Core Research Infrastructure and Capabilities

Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory (MCBL)
The MCBL investigates cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on genomic instability, DNA damage and repair, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cellular stress responses—shared pathogenic pathways in tumorigenesis and disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. The laboratory supports genetic toxicology and cytogenetic analyses, including comet and micronucleus assays, immunocyto/histochemistry, fluorescence microscopy, and cell-based functional assays.
MCBL evaluates environmental exposures, chemical compounds, and candidate therapeutics, enabling studies on carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity, neuroprotection, and anti-cancer mechanisms, and contributes to mechanistic disease modelling and early-stage translational research aligned with Horizon Health priorities in cancer, brain health, environmental determinants of disease, and healthy ageing.

Chemical Biology Laboratory
The Chemical Biology Laboratory provides an interdisciplinary platform for compound discovery, characterisation, and biological evaluation, supporting research at the interface of chemistry, biology, and medicine. The lab enables the design, synthesis, and functional assessment of small molecules and chemical probes with applications in oncology, neurodegeneration, inflammation, and metabolic disease. Integration with cellular and molecular platforms supports structure–activity relationship studies, target engagement analyses, and phenotypic screening, contributing to early drug discovery and proof-of-concept therapeutic development.

Environmental Science Research Laboratory
This laboratory focuses on atmospheric science, water quality, biodiversity and evolution, geospatial analysis, and urban environmental systems, providing analytical and field-based capabilities to study environmental determinants of health. Research addresses pollution impacts, ecosystem services, and resilience, supporting One Health approaches and Horizon Health priorities in environment–health interactions and disease prevention.

AI & Data Science Laboratory for Bioinformatics and Chemoinformatics
The AI & Data Science Laboratory acts as a cross-cutting enabler, applying machine learning, artificial intelligence, statistical modelling, and big data analytics to omics data, molecular networks, chemical libraries, and imaging datasets. Core applications include biomarker discovery, pathway analysis, drug–target prediction, compound repurposing, and integrative disease modelling, strengthening precision medicine and AI-enabled health innovationacross all BSB platforms.

STEM and Interdisciplinary Laboratories
BSB leverages fully renovated STEM laboratories, including biology, chemistry, cell and molecular biology, and physical sciences facilities, supporting advanced experimentation, cross-disciplinary training, and collaborative research from fundamental discovery to applied health innovation.

Strategic Fit for Horizon Health

BSB offers a cohesive research ecosystem aligned with Horizon Health priorities in biomedical innovation, environmental influences on health, and precision and preventive medicine. Its integrated infrastructure and strong national and international collaboration network position the team as a valuable partner for co-creating impactful Horizon Health projects.

Collaboration Interests

The team seeks partnerships for joint proposals, pilot studies, translational research initiatives, and training networks, with priority areas including genomic and chemical toxicology, compound discovery, environmental health risk modelling, and data-driven biomedical research, delivering scalable impact through cross-sector collaboration.