NHRF Center of Excellence for the development of advanced organic materials and innovative approaches for cancer theranostics and bioelectronic applications

The project is part of the funding actions:

“Creation – Expansion – Upgrade of the Infrastructure of Research Centers under the supervision of the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation” (OPS TA 5161770, National Recovery & Resilience Plan – Greece 2.0), and
“Υποστήριξη Ελληνικών Ερευνητικών Κέντρων – GREECE RESEARCH CENTERS SUPPORT” (PDE 2023, SAE 013/2, with the support of the European Investment Bank)

The NHRF Center of Excellence at the Service of Health

The National Hellenic Research Foundation (NHRF) is creating a Center of Excellence that aims to become a benchmark in Southeast Europe for the development of advanced organic materials, innovative theranostic approaches to cancer, and pioneering bioelectronic applications.

With a total budget exceeding €30 million, the NHRF Center of Excellence is set to radically upgrade its research infrastructure, strengthening the Foundation’s competitiveness on the national and global scientific map.

The project includes:

The procurement of state-of-the-art laboratory equipment
Modernization of existing laboratories and creation of new laboratory infrastructure for the installation of new research equipment
Energy and environmental upgrading and renovation of the NHRF building complex

In particular, the Project aims to:

a) capitalize on the progress achieved so far by the NHRF in the field of health and materials, through the establishment of broader synergies and cooperation between its two Physical Sciences and Life Sciences Institutes (ICB, TPCI),

b) encourage NHRF researchers to contribute to the above selected areas of health by developing research and innovations in the fields of advanced organic materials, nanomaterials, and drug discovery, where interdisciplinarity is necessary from the early stages of research,

c) to bring NHRF researchers into even closer collaboration with both clinical scientists, with the aim of identifying previously unmet and/or undefined clinical needs, and with other research and business entities, aiming at the widest possible utilization of the Center of Excellence.

This project will strengthen the research capacity of the NHRF and its dynamism in important and innovative fields of science and technology, such as the following three technological pillars:

	Advanced Organic Materials	Cancer Theranostics	Bioelectronics
	Bioactive compounds Polymers Nanomaterials	Biomarkers Drug discovery Photodynamics-Photothermia	Autonomous applicable biosensors Targeted drug delivery

The Center of Excellence will house seven new research units, fully equipped for cutting-edge research, co-ordinated by corresponding scientific committees.

	Research Unit 1 – Electron Microscopy Dr. C. Chochos (Scientific Director), Dr. V. Gregoriou, Dr. A. Pispas, Dr. G. Kakaranatzas, Sp. Zographos, Dr. E. Chrysina, Dr. P. Kastritis
	Research Unit 2 – Bioimaging Dr. Th. Kalogeropoulou (Scientific Director), Prof. D. Sarigiannis, Dr. A. Pintzas, Dr. V. Zoubourlis, and Dr. Ch. Chochos
	Research Unit 3 – Chemical Analysis Dr. M. Zervou (Scientific Director), Dr. T. Kalogeropoulou, Dr. C. Chochos, and Dr. K. Proussis
	Research Unit 4 – Advanced Spectroscopy Dr. N. Tagmatarchis (Scientific Director), Dr. V. Gregoriou, Dr. C. Chochos, and Dr. D. Palles
	Research Unit 5 – OMICS Dr. T. Katsila (Scientific Director), Prof. D. Sarigiannis, Dr. A. Pintzas, Dr. and Dr. P. Georgiadis
	Research Unit 6 – Informatics and Computing Dr. O. Papadodima (Scientific Director), Prof. D. Sarigiannis, Dr. N. Lathiotakis, Dr. E. Klontzas, Dr. C. Chochos, Prof. N. Maglaveras
	Research Unit 7 – Bioelectronics Dr. V. Gregoriou (Scientific Director), Dr. A. Pispas, Dr. C. Riziotis, and Dr. C. Chochos

Scientific committees have been established for each of the above Units, enabling strategic planning, coordination, and supervision of research activities, ensuring high standards of scientific credibility. These committees contribute significantly to the promotion of research excellence by setting priorities, strengthening interdisciplinary cooperation, and developing synergies with national and international bodies, while ensuring the effective use of cutting-edge infrastructure and the long-term sustainability of the Center.

Leading Infrastructure for Cutting-Edge Research

The Center of Excellence has advanced equipment, from electron microscopes and spectrometers to sequencing platforms and high-performance computing infrastructures, supporting innovation, precision, and interdisciplinary collaboration at a global level.

In particular, the equipment of the NHRF Center of Excellence includes:

An electron microscopy system comprising four distinct electron microscopes
Confocal microscopy system
Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) system
X-ray diffraction (XRD) system
Supplementary equipment for the Rigaku OXFORD Supernova X-ray system
Raman spectrophotometer with AFM/SNOM
Photoacoustic – ultrasonic microscopy system
Fluorescence imaging system for imaging whole animals
Laboratory equipment for the care and breeding of experimental animals
700 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
MALDI mass spectrometers
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS)
Ultraviolet–visible–near-infrared spectrophotometer (UV–Vis–NIR)
Supplementary equipment for the Hobira Nanolog spectrophotometer
Femtosecond laser system
Massively parallel sequencing platform accompanied by an automated sample preparation system
Combined high-resolution automated confocal microscopy and multimodal microplate reader system with automated incubator and microplate dispenser
Additional equipment for the BDFACSAria II cell sorter
High Performance Computing (HPC) / High Performance Computing and Machine Learning (HPC & ML) Suite
Glove Box controlled atmosphere system for sublimation techniques
Optoelectronic characterization and quantum efficiency measurement systems for solar cells and light-emitting diodes
Thermal and mechanical analysis system
Controlled atmosphere Glove Box system for synthesis
Class II biological safety cabinet
Carbon dioxide furnace

Center of Excellence Management Structure

The implementation of the Center of Excellence project is based on a clearly defined management structure, which ensures transparency, efficiency, and scientific excellence at all stages of execution. The administrative structure of the Project has been designed to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, information flow, and synergy between teams, creating a unified, flexible, and efficient governance framework.

The Scientific Director and Chair of the Project Management, Monitoring, and Acceptance Committee is Prof. Dimosthenis Sarigiannis, Director of NHRF and Chairman of the Board of Directors, who will be replaced in matters of day-to-day management by the Director of the NHRF Support Service, Ms. Ioanna Petrohilou.

Decisions of a scientific and administrative nature (changes to the schedule, changes to the TDP, problem solving, etc.) are taken by the Scientific Director, in collaboration with the Project Management, Monitoring and Acceptance Committee, which has been formed with the following composition:

Dimosthenis Sarigiannis, Director of EIE and Chairman of the Board of Directors, as Scientific Director of the Project and Chairman of the Committee
Efstathios Gonos, Director of ICB/NHRF
Nikolaos Tagmatarchis, Director of TPCI/NHRF
Ioanna Petrohilou, Director of the NHRF Support Service
Vasileios Gregoriou, Researcher A’ ICB/EIE
Christos Chochos, Researcher B, ICB/EIE
Panagiotis Thanopoulos, Head of Technical Services and Administrative Support Department, EIE

With an eye to the future and under the scientific supervision of Professor Dimosthenis Sarigiannis, Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NHRF, the project is expected to be completed by June 2026, marking a new era for research in our country. The new Center of Excellence is not just another piece of infrastructure; it is an investment in knowledge and innovation.