Dr. Fotios Mpekris earned a BS degree (with an excellent GPA) in Physics from the University of Cyprus in 2012 and the same year, he joined the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the UCY and the CBL in particular as a PhD student. He defended his PhD thesis in November 2016, and since then with funding coming mostly from his own grants, he had been a Postdoctoral fellow at the CBL and a Part time Lecturer at the UCY and the University of Nicosia until October 2023. Recently he secured a highly selective research grant by the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant, MMSCancer, 1.5M euros, started at November 2023) and he took over a faculty position as a Research Assistant Professor at UCY. Furthermore, he is the Head of Tumor Mechanopathophysiology Lab (TMP²Lab).

His research activity focuses on the study of the mechanical forces generated during tumor progression and how taming these forces can improve therapeutic outcomes in many cancers. He has an expertise in biomedical engineering and mathematical modeling and on the biomechanical characterization of solid tumors and other biological tissues. He has profound knowledge in small laboratory animal handling and surgical procedures, as well as in anticancer drug treatments and ultrasound imaging techniques in small laboratory animals, including shear wave elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Furthermore, he has expertise in bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging on animals and tissue specimens for preclinical research and for the in vivo detection of nano-drugs and metastasis in tumors.

During his research career, he has secured close to 1.9M euros in research funding as a Principal Investigator. Furthermore, he has been awarded the Young Researcher Award by the RIF of Cyprus in 2023 and Youth Researcher Award in Sciences by the Youth Board of Cyprus in 2024. He has co-authored 40 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals (16 as a first author and 2 as corresponding author, h-index=21, >2,300 citations, Google Scholar). Additionally, he has co-authored 21 papers and/or abstracts in referred conference proceedings and has given 12 oral presentations in International conferences.

Research Assistant Professor Fotios Mpekris

Tumor Mechanopathophysiology Lab

Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering

University of Cyprus

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TMP²Lab (Tumor Mechanopathophysiology Lab) was established in 2023 with the support of a highly selective ERC Starting Grant. The focus of the lab is the application of state-of-the-art experimental and computational techniques to explore the mechanopathology of cancers, while applications of biophysical/bioengineering concepts in other pertinent pathological conditions are also investigated.

Researchers in TMP²Lab have expertise in murine tumor models, small laboratory animal handling and surgical procedures, as well as in anticancer drug treatments. Additionally, they have profound knowledge of tumor biology as well as ultrasound imaging techniques in small laboratory animals, including shear wave elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Furthermore, they have expertise in bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging on animals and tissue specimens for preclinical research and for the in vivo detection of nano-drugs and metastasis in tumors.

Translational Cancer Research

We conduct in vivo experiments using preclinical tumor models to evaluate the efficacy of cancer therapeutics and explore innovative strategies aimed at enhancing cancer treatments. Our research integrates principles and techniques from multiple disciplines, including bioengineering, medical imaging, pharmacology, and tumor biology. By combining these fields, we strive to advance cancer therapies, bridging the gap between laboratory research and clinical application, ultimately translating scientific discoveries into effective treatments for patients.

Mathematical and computational research

We develop complex mathematical models to understand cancer dynamics and improve treatment strategies. We study tumor growth, treatment responses, and interactions within the tumor microenvironment by simulating complex biological processes to optimize drug delivery, and explore new therapeutic approaches, ultimately aiding in personalized cancer treatments and decision-making in clinical oncology.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

1.      Mpekris F., et al., (2024). Modulating cancer mechanopathology to restore vascular function and enhance immunotherapy, Cell Reports Medicine 101626 [DOI:10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101626].

2.      Mpekris F., et al., (2024). A synergistic approach for modulating the tumor microenvironment to enhance nano-immunotherapy in sarcomas, Neoplasia 51: 100990 [DOI:10.1016/j.neo.2024.100990].

3.      Panagi M., Mpekris F., et al., (2024). Reprogramming tumor resident mast cells restores T cell infiltration and sensitizes sarcomas to PD-L1 inhibition, Clinical Cancer Research 30 (11): 2582–2597. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-24-0246].

4.      Mpekris F., et al., (2023). Pirfenidone-loaded polymeric micelles as an effective mechanotherapeutic to potentiate immunotherapy in mouse breast cancer models, ACS Nano 17, 24: 24654–24667. [DOI:10.1021/acsnano.3c03305].

5.      Mpekris F., et al., (2023). Translational nanomedicine potentiates immunotherapy in sarcoma by normalizing the microenvironment, Journal of Controlled Release 353: 956-964 [DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.12.016].