FAME Lab

Company Profile

The FAME Lab was founded in 2008 to study the (F)unctional (A)rchitecture of (M)ammals in their (E)nvironment and is part of the University of Thessaly, School of Exercise Science. FAME Lab is the only Environmental Physiology lab in South Europe aiming to help society understand and adapt to the impacts of environmental factors on human beings. Understanding and addressing the drivers of poor outcomes in health, productivity, and performance will, undoubtedly, accelerate improvements in quality of life for all people – sustainably and justly. FAME Lab consists of 15 full-time funded researchers (post-doctoral fellows and doctoral candidates) and >10 graduate students, with research activities covering four main broad areas:

• Environmental Physiology
• Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) Function
• Occupational Heat Stress
• Thermal stress responses in humans.   

To date, FAME Lab has actively participated in 13 EU-funded projects (Marie Curie, PHC, Cost Action), being the coordinator of 6 Marie Curie projects, has published >150 research publications, and has a strong presence at >230 international conferences. FAME Lab’s scientific input has proved valuable in policy making and guidelines formulation pertaining to the health effects of environmental factors for different international organizations (World Health Organisation, United Nations, European Commission, NASA, and others).

Target Partners & Collaborations

FAME Lab is interested in establishing collaboration with companies and/or academic partners aiming to:

• Build competitive consortiums for national and European funding schemes.
• Commercialize scientific research results.
• Expand the number and value of new products and services offered to Academia and Business sectors.
• Explore novel areas of research though jointed research collaborations with other HBIO members.

Technologies / Services offered or sought

Technologies available for commercial exploitation     

• Developing miniature wireless sensors and data collection systems for motion, heart rate, and heart rate variability for application in workers performing manual work.
• Developing innovative nutraceutical products based on colostrum to prevent osteoporosis, and reduce endotoxemia in individuals exercising or working under hot conditions.
• Developing a nanostructured delivery-L-menthol system for enhancing brown adipose tissue activity.
• Developing the first non-invasive, practical and affordable method to estimate human brown adipose tissue activity that can be used in clinical and community settings.
• Developing the next generation of bicycle helmets with smart thermal management.

Services offered

• Core facilities for testing models of human physiology and comfort under extreme environmental conditions using a walk-in environmental chamber.
• Core facilities for testing the effect of exercise clothing on athletic performance under extreme environmental conditions using a walk-in environmental chamber.
• Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping analysis.
• Flow cytometry (cell cycle analysis, cell proliferation assays, functional assays, gene expression, and apoptosis).

Clients & Collaborations (NATIONAL)

FAME Lab has an extensive network of research collaborators in Greece and Europe with national research institutions, as well as with companies in the fields of Biotechnology, Biomechanics, Biometeorology, Pharmaceutical Development, Nanotechnology, Environmental Medicine, and Sports Outwear funded by EU Horizon 2020 funding scheme. An indicative list of our collaborators include:

• Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, aiming to study the impact of genetic-environmental interactions on the athletic performance.
• Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, aiming to investigate cell-cell signaling in co-cultures of white adipocytes and myocytes. 

• Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Ageing, Institute of Biology, NCSR "Demokritos", Athens, aiming to investigate the early-life environmental influences on BAT function and identify potential links between BAT activity and pre-programmed rate of ageing.
• Artia, Nano-Engineering & Business Consulting, aiming to the implementation of the nanoBAT project (MSCA-RISE/Horizon 2020) for the development of nanostructured L-menthol-delivery prototypes to enhance BAT activity.
• Biomechanical Solutions (BME), Leading Movement Science, aiming to the implementation of the smartHELMET project (MSCA-RISE-Horizon 2020) for the identification of thermal solutions for bicycle helmets.

Clients & Collaborations (INTERNATIONAL)

FAME Lab has an extensive network of research collaborators in Greece and Europe with national research institutions, as well as with companies in the fields of Biotechnology, Biomechanics, Biometeorology, Pharmaceutical Development, Nanotechnology, Environmental Medicine, and Sports Outwear funded by EU Horizon 2020 funding scheme. An indicative list of our collaborators include:

• Center of Technology research &Innovation LTD-CETRI- (Cyprus), aiming to  the implementation of the smartHELMET project, ICI-THROUGH project (MSCA-RISE-Horizon 2020) for the development of non-invasive techniques to estimate human brown adipose tissue activity,  and GI-Neu project (IAPP-FP7) for the development of a colostrum-based neutraceutical and the assessment of its effect on gastrointestinal disorders (FGID).
• Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia (Italy), aiming to the implementation of the SCAFFY project (MSCA-RISE-Horizon 2020) for the development of a bio-scaffold engineered device for BAT regeneration.
• Transport Phenomena Research Centre, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (Portugal), aiming to the implementation of the smartHELMET and the ICI-THROUGH projects.
• Laboratory Measure, Model & Manage Bioresponses (M3-BIORES), Division Animal and Human Health Engineering, Department of Biosystems, KU LEUVEN (Belgium), aiming to the implementation of the smartHELMET project. 
• Department of Agriculture, Forests, Nature and Energy (DAFNE), University of Tuscia (Italy), aiming to the implementation of the Gi-Neu project.  
• Department of nutrition and exercise sciences, University of Copenhagen (Denmark), aiming to the implementation of the HEAT-SHIELD project (PHC-Horizon 2020) for addressing the negative impact of increased workplace heat stress on the health and productivity of five strategic European industries: manufacturing, construction, transportation, tourism and agriculture.
• The Institute of Biometeorology (IBIMET), National Research Council (Italy), aiming to the implementation of the HEAT-SHIELD project.
• Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto (Portugal), aiming to the implementation of COLOSTEO (MSCA-RISE-Horizon 2020) for developing an innovative nutraceutical product based on colostrum to prevent osteoporosis. 
• Chatham University, Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Department of Exercise Science, aiming toinvestigate the effects of nutrition on brown adipose tissue as well as the “browning” process (i.e., conversion of white adipocytes to brown-like cells).
• CESIF- Centro de Estudios Superiores de la Industria Farmacéutica S.A. (Spain), aiming to the implementation of COLOSTEO project. 
• Imedica S.A.,Biotechnology Company (Romania), aiming to the implementation of the ICI-THOUGH, GI-Neu, SCAFFY, and nanoBAT projects.
• Kalite System Group (Turkey), aiming to the implementation of the GI-Neu project.
• Lazer Sports NV, aiming to the implementation of the smartHELMET project.
• Public Health Services Gelderland-Midden (VGGM), Department of Environmental Medicine (Netherlands), aiming to the implementation of the HEAT-SHIELD project.