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Department of Basic Sciences

Director: Professor Efthimia Kitraki
Secretary: Evgenia Giannopoulou
Contact Details: (+30) 210-746-1284, E-mail: egiannop[at]dent.uoa[dot]gr
Address: 2 Thivon Str, 11527, Goudi, Athens, Greece

Aims

The Faculty of the Department of the Basic Biomedical Sciences: a) is responsible for the theoretical and laboratory training of the undergraduate and postgraduate students of the Dental School, NKUA, in Basic Biomedical Sciences. b) conducts expert basic and clinical research in the field of Biology with emphasis in Oral Biology and in Pathology with emphasis in the oral carcinogenesis and the etiopathogenetic mechanism of chronic autoimmune diseases affecting the oral mucosa such as pemphigus vulgaris. They also participate in research protocols in collaboration with other Research Institutions and/or Universities, domestic or abroad, c) provides theoretical and technical expertise to other Faculty members and Staff of the Dental School and supports at various levels their research protocols.

Teaching Duties

At the undergraduate program, the Faculty of the Department provides theoretical education to the dental students and is responsible for the following courses: Biology, Human Genetics, Histology and Histopathology. The Department is also responsible for a 2-year postgraduate program in Oral Biology (which leads to Masterʼs Degree) and supports PhD programs in the same field. Students in the postgraduate program complete individual research projects, as part of the program requirements. Currently there are 5 Master students and 2 PhD students working in the lab.

Undergraduate Courses

  • Biology (co-ordinator: Prof E. Kitraki)
  • Human Genetics (co-ordinator: Prof E. Kitraki)
  • General Histology-Embryology/ Histology-Embryology of the Oral Cavity (participation with lectures and lab exercises, Assist. Prof I. Chatzistamou)

Postgraduate Courses

  • Molecular Biology (co-ordinator: Prof E. Kitraki)
  • Oral Biology (co-ordinator: Prof E. Kitraki)
  • General Principles in Pathology (co-ordinator: Lecturer I. Chatzistamou)
  • Diagnostic Pathology (co-ordinator: Assist. Prof I. Chatzistamou)
  • Basic laboratory techniques (co-ordinator: Prof E. Kitraki)

Research and Infrastructures

The research interests of the Faculty members of the Department of the Basic Biomedical Sciences include the following topics: Dental pulp biology, tissue regeneration and tooth eruption, head and neck carcinogenesis, stroma-tumor interactions, etiopathogenetic mechanism of autoimmune diseases affecting the oral mucosa, genetic polymorphisms related to chronic periodontitis.

Departmental instrumentation includes a fully equipped Anatomy lab for the students’ training, as well as a research lab equipped for histology and tissue processing, histomorphometry, microscopes, and instruments for the application of standard biochemical and molecular techniques.

Faculty-Staff