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CLOSEThe Institute of Chemical Biology (ICB) is the only institute in Greece dedicated to cutting-edge research at the interface of Chemistry and Biology. Through an integrative, interdisciplinary approach, ICB addresses critical challenges in health, drug discovery, and biotechnology.
ICB draws upon and combines the expertise and synergies of its scientific personnel with its state-of-the-art infrastructure, aiming to promote research, education and innovation. ICB by continuously strengthening its uniqueness has succeeded in maximizing its research performance and impact within the national and international research ecosystem.
Newsroom
Dr Theodora Katsila, Senior Researcher and Head of the Biomarker Discovery & Translational Research Laboratory at the ICB/NHRF has been elected Chair of the Marketing and Outreach Committee (MOC) of the Human Proteome Organization (HUPO), the leading global body in Proteomics. This role further enhances opportunities for international collaboration and participation in global research networks of scientific excellence. This appointment recognizes Dr Katsila’s scientific contribution in proteoform-based multi-omics analysis and the repurposing of drugs, advanced materials, and smart systems, as well as the strategic framework developed within the NHRF Centre of Excellence.
A new review article titled “Accessing new dimensions in high-resolution materials exploration by cryo-electron microscopy” by Dr Panagiota Koralli and the ERA Chair Hot4Cryo project team (Dr P. Kastritis, Dr C. Chochos and Dr F. Kyrilis), implemented at the ICB/NHRF, has been published in Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports (Impact Factor 26.8).
The review brings together developments in instrumentation, sample preparation, and analytical methodologies that enable the study of non-biological nanoscale systems. It also discusses emerging approaches such as AI-assisted analysis and open-data practices, which can improve reproducibility and data interpretation in materials science.
The Biomarker Discovery & Translational Research Laboratory of the Institute of Chemical Biology (ICB) at NHRF, led by Dr Theodora Katsila actively participates in the European network IMMUNO-model (COST Action CA21135), which focuses on advancing preclinical models to better understand immunotherapy response and toxicity in cancer. Dr Katsila also serves on the Patient Engagement Task Force of the Action, supporting collaboration between researchers, patients, and patient organisations. This initiative aims to strengthen public engagement in research and promote accessible scientific communication on immunotherapy. Through its participation in IMMUNO-model, NHRF contributes to advancing translational immuno-oncology research and strengthening international collaboration.
A review article entitled “Nanoprecipitation- and Nanoemulsification-Based Systems for Nucleic Acid Delivery” was recently published in Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science (IF 7.0), with the participation of ICB/NHRF researchers and Dr Evgenia Mitsou as corresponding author.
The article presents recent advances in the development of nanosystems based on nanoprecipitation and nanoemulsification techniques for nucleic acid delivery.
Strategic research pillars
ICB is unique in Greece in Drug research employing a comprehensive integrated approach encompassing all the stages of Drug discovery (structural biology, design, synthesis, biological evaluation in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo, development of nanocarriers for effective delivery) combined with translational research (collaboration with clinicians, biomarker, big data analysis).
ICB applies a combination of holistic chemical, biological and computational technologies (genomics, epigenomics, proteomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics) to characterize a wide range of samples, to study the mechanism of disease onset and progression and the efficacy/toxicity of drugs and other therapeutic approaches, and for the discovery of biomarkers related to environmental exposure, population heterogeneity, disease pathogenesis and development of drug resistance.
ICB applies biotechnological approaches, nanotechnology and green chemistry to produce compounds and nanocarriers with applications in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and chemicals.
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Research Infrastructure & Services
ICB has state-of-the-art scientific equipment and is currently considered one of the best equipped research institutes in Greece, particularly in the fields of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Mass Spectrometry (MS) and X-ray Protein Crystallography.
ICB together with the TPCI, operate a large set of advanced instrumentation, acquired through funding from the European Union – NextGenerationEU, co-financed by national resources and the European Investment Bank, within the framework of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0”.
An integral part of ICB’s activities is the provision of specialized services to research and technology centers, universities, health institutions and industries both in the country and abroad.
ICB researchers, utilizing their expertise and the Institute’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, provide scientific services in selected application areas to academic institutions, health institutions (hospitals) and the private sector (Pharmaceutical Industry, Chemical, Food & Cosmetics Industry).