Aikaterini Vrentzou

EDUCATION

College / University

University of Crete

Highest Degree

Bachelor of Science

Major Subjects

Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Country

Greece

Lab Experience

Mammalian cell culture (cancer and mesenchymal stromal cells), 2D and 3D in vitro assays (spheroid formation and migration assays, co-culture), bacterial culture, molecular cloning, gene expression analysis (real-time PCR, Western blot), epigenetic analysis, immunocytochemistry.

Projects / Research

09/2016 – 12/2016 “Tumor and microenvironment interactions: The effect of adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stromal cells on the migration of cancer cells out of 3D spheroids". Dir. L. Kucerova, Cancer Research Institute of SAS, Biomedical Research Center, Slovakia
06/2015 – 06/2016 “The role of cell fate determinant protein NUMB in tumor initiation and progression". Prof. J. Papamatheakis, Institute of Molecular Biology-Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Greece

Scholarships / Awards

2017 – 2018:	Stipend by the International Max Planck Research School
2016:	Erasmus + Mobility for Traineeship Scholarship

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS AND GOALS

Understanding the molecular events underlying human diseases, such as cancer, has always fascinated me. Currently, I am interested in exploring deregulated signaling pathways in a wide spectrum of cellular processes, including chromosome dynamics, cell motility and communication. In combination with the development of innovative methods and in vitro models, this knowledge can be exploited in the discovery of new molecular targets able to suppress malignant properties of cells. In the near future, I would also like to gain insight into molecular biology topics regarding developmental disorders and diseases of the nervous system.