Bioinformatics and Human Electrophysiology Laboratory

Company Profile

The Bioinformatics and Human Electrophysiology Laboratory covers research activities of the Department of Informatics of the Ionian University on neurological disorders and their correlation with the subcellular bioenergy measurements.

BiHELab’s goal is to help bridge the translational gap from data to models and from models to drug discovery and personalized therapy by fostering collaborations and developing original quantitative approaches to biological and clinical problems.

Research at the BiHeLab focuses on fundamental questions in geriatrics and neurodegeneration. Exploiting the power of a range of model organisms and the latest molecular, imaging and electrophysiological and computational technologies in neuroscience, BiHeLab scientists explore some of the key processes underlying neuronal function and behavior. Faculty research interests are relevant for understanding neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, autism-spectrum disorders, depression, anxiety, epilepsy and insomnias.

Alzheimer Disease

Focused on this approach, Professor Vlamos and his team have already published a combined statistical test for potential Alzheimer’s (AD) patients in order to achieve the earlier diagnosis. The sensitivity and specificity of this protocol in combination with clinical assessment is calculated over 95%.

Parkinson Disease

At the BiHeLab we have designed a novel model for the association of several heterogeneous patients data and extraction of various biomarkers. The entries of our system mainly consist of data from the patients΄ health record. Patients΄ health record consists of a range of data, including PD progress monitoring data, PD associated genes and patients΄ demographic data.

Furthermore, the system aims to evaluate patients΄ status with PD corresponding treatments using a multilayer neural network. This network will use supervised learning technics for training data in order to define the relevance and efficiency of any new biomarkers.

In particular, research is carried out along the following main axes:

• Mitochondrial Biogenesis - Disruption of Mitochondrial Dynamics
• Amyloid-β Interaction and Metal Ions
• Evaluation of Mitochondrial Population as a Dynamic System
• Frequencies and Electromagnetic Analysis in the Mitochondrial population
• Cell Signaling and Autophagy
• Metal Ions Metabolim and mtDNA Analysis
• Regulation of Cancer Signaling Pathways
• Cellular Protein Network Collapses - Protein Misfolding and Aggregation Roles in Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Molecular Mechanisms and Signaling Pathways contributing to Neuronal Dysfunction

The modern biophysics seems to offer powerful tools that have not been applied yet in bioengineering and molecular biology. The future of neuroscience relies on novel approaches and technological advancements in order to develop new drug targets, and novel protocols for early diagnosis of neurogenerative diseases. At the BiHeLab, we are building on the information garnered from genomics and computational modeling analysis to develop a systems approach to complex biological processes.

Huntington Disease

The aim of research is to examine EEG recordings of patients with Huntington’s disease and control subjects in order to suggest a model of early diagnosis of the diseases.

Neuroeducation

Our focus is on research design and methods in educational neuroscience involving the use of neuroscientific tools such as brain image technologies to investigate cognitive functions and inform educational practices. The study of various aspects of neuroscience which relate to the task in hand, aims to provide improved learning and new teaching methods.

Highlights of BiHeLab achievements

• 3rd World Congress on Genetics, Geriatrics and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research will take place at Fields Institute, Toronto 1-5th of May 2018.

The Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Human Electrophysiology Department of Informatics of the Ionian University in cooperation with the Wilfrid Laurier University are organizing the 3rd World Congress on Genetics, Geriatrics and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research. Leading scientists and researchers from around the world will discuss the latest major challenges in the field of scientific research, for new targets of drugs, the development new biomarkers for new imaging techniques and new protocols for early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.

• Congress 20-23 October 2016, Sparta Greece

BiHeLab in cooperation with the Region and the Peloponnese University organized the 2nd World Congress "Genetics, Geriatrics and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research".

The scientific and research work of BiHeLab, which is led by Professor Panagiotis Vlamos was awarded by Lambros Lambrakis who is Professor of Law (York University) and president of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), while, for the same reason followed the award from the president of the Jordan Medical Association Dr. Marwan Yacoub Jmean. The last award was given to Professor and Chairman of the Conference Organizing Committee Panagiotis Vlamos by Mrs. Chania Maria, Director of Nursing Services of Sparta’s Hospital.

• Congress 10-13 April 2014, Corfu Greece

The 1st World Congress on Geriatrics and Neurodegenerative Disease Research, GeNeDis 2014 (Geriatrics and Neurodegenerative Disease) focused on recent advances in geriatrics and neurodegeneration, ranging from basic science to clinical and pharmaceutical developments and provided an international forum for the latest scientific discoveries, medical practices and care initiatives.

• Summer school in Neuroeducation

BiHeLab and the Department of Primary Education of Aegean University organized a summer school entitled: “Neuroscience in Mathematical Education” from June 30 to July 04, in Rhodes.

• M.Sc in Bioinformatics and Neuroinformatics

M.Sc. is issued and supported by BiHeLab in the Faculty of Informatics of the Ionian University for the academic year 2016-2017. The M.Sc program objectives are “Bioinformatics and Computational Biology” and “Neuroinformatics and Computational Neuroscience”. This is the first M.Sc program in Greece within these objectives.

• Workshop on “Electronic Health Records in the Framework of Adrihealthmob project”

Corfu Medical Association and the Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Human Electrophysiology (BiHeLab) of the Ionian University organized a seminar entitled: “Electronic Health Records in the Framework of Adrihealthmob project” within the project AdriHealthMob in Wednesday September 21, 2016.

The BiHeLab is the only partner during the last year in the IPA Adriatic program for neurodegenaretive diseases. The AdriHealthMob project includes 15 partners from eight countries in order to create an interoperable integrated electronic system, with the use of innovative Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) namely e- health, m-health, tele-health and intelligent health (i-health) in the Adriatic area. The project objective is to improve the mobility of citizens (residents / tourists / consumers / patients)

Target Partners & Collaborations

BiHeLab interests lie within educational, research and development activities in the areas of:

• Neurogenerative diseases and their relations with mitochondrial abnormalities and skin cancers
• Mathematical modeling and data analysis in proteomics, genomics and chemistry
• Systems biology approaches such as pathway, network and interaction analyses
• Large scale statistical and machine learning studies
• Protein structure, function and stability prediction, sequence and domain analyses
• Design and implementation of relational databases and software programs
• Online Health Record System for Diabetics
• Medical Information System for Epilepsy patients
• Pattern recognition techniques on mitochondrial imaging from neural and Schwann cells
• Knowledge Management System for the discrete mathematical representations of RNA secondary structures
• Artificial Neural Network for waveforms recognition on the anesthesiology patient’s monitor
• Wireless MEMS devices for skin and dermis bio-measurements
• Applying Hierarchical Linear Models on studying RPG and Social Networks among students
• Producing Webinars for Bioinformatics e-Classes

The electrophysiological laboratory houses instruments for intra and extracellular recordings in vivo and in vitro, and equipment for behavioral studies and equipment for both tethered and telemetric field potential recording.

Technologies / Services offered or sought

Bihelab Equipment (Under a EU Public Tender)

• Biochemical analysers
• Biomedical equipment
• Fluorescent microscopes
• Optical microscopes
• Neurophysiological equipments, Electro-encephalographs
• Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products
• Laboratory, optical and precision equipments

Advanced Microscopy Unit

Our equipment allows researchers to reclaim control of their imaging research by reducing the learning curve associated with complex general purpose imaging platforms.

Our laboratory software represents the ultimate expandable platform for professional live cell imaging applications and offers by setting the standard for reliability, efficiency, and integration with a multi-wavelength illuminator.

Clients & Collaborations (NATIONAL)

• Collaboration between BiHeLab and the Lab of Molecular Systems Biology, which is led by Nektarios Tavernarakis who is Professor at the Medical School of the University of Crete and Director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at Heraklion Crete.
• Collaboration between BiHeLab and the Department Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Athens, which is led by Professor Kostas Demetzos who is also president of the Hellenic Pharmaceutical Society.
• Collaboration between BiHeLab and the Medical Physics Laboratory of the Medical Faculty which is headed by Panagiotis Bamidis who is Associate Professor of Information and Medical Education.

Clients & Collaborations (INTERNATIONAL)

• Research Center on Computational Biomarkers (RCCB) a joint venture between CARGO Lab (Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada) and BiHeLab (Ionian University, Greece)

The new Research Center entitled ‘Research Center on Computational Biomarkers (RCCB)’ is established on Wilfrid Laurier University’s Waterloo campus by the Directors of the CARGO Lab and BiHeLab. The center activities, will be focused on studying human biomarkers. Professors Ilias Kotsireas and Panagiotis Vlamos stated that the future aims of precision medicine will be based on personalized measurements of specific biomarkers. The Bioinformatics and Human Electrophysiology Lab of the Department of Informatics of the Ionian University is tracing new biomarkers concerning neurodegenerative diseases and constructs frailty functions depending on them. The CARGO Lab of Wilfrid Laurier University develops and implements sophisticated data mining algorithmic techniques which can be applied to the analysis of clinical data, providing exact results for the evolution of the biomarkers, involved in specific biological mechanisms. The center will encompass tools from Applied Mathematics, Data Mining, Modeling, Biophysics, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Neuroinformatics, High‐performance computing and Computational Mathematics in Biology.

• Collaboration between John Tarnanas, researcher at the Swiss Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich and BiHeLab for clinical trials, aiming at early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.

• Collaborations between BiHeLab and the ArdiHealthMob Project. Through the involvement of institutions, universities and research organizations, public and private stakeholders in the Health and Care sector, ICT companies, AdriHealthMob intend to establish a solid partnership. Its task is, through research and pilot actions, to systematize a set of procedures (guidelines) that can facilitate the development of a sustainable strategy capable to ensure the citizenship an easy access to Health and Care services.                                                                                                                                                           
• Collaboration between Neuroscience Laboratory of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) of the US, especially the Human Neuroscience Unit which is led by Professor Kapogiannis and BiHeLab announced during Genedis Conference 2016 in Sparta and aims to establish by the BiHeLab a modern computational model that will incorporate the data of Professor Kapogiannis research and provide more accurate diagnostic information.

• Collaboration between BiHeLab and the Institute of Digital Healthcare, WMG, University of Warwick (Warwick) which is led by Professor Theodore Arvanitis.