Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB) - Centre for Research and Technology (CERTH)

Company Profile

The Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB) was established in 2012 by legislature No. 4051 (Government Gazette Issue 40 Α΄/ 29.02.2012) from the merge of the former Institutes of Agrobiotechnology and Biomedical & Biomolecular Research.

The mandate of INAB is to address the gap between research excellence and applications that meet end-user demands through close ties to interested stakeholders (SMEs, health sector, productive sector, social groups etc). Realizing that change happens fast in the world of work, driven by innovation and by developments in technology and markets, INAB will actively try to meet the challenge of keeping up with this pace of change through concerted actions in well-defined areas with scientific and economic relevance.  

Three main pillars of research activities are covered:

  • Agri-biotechnology
  • Health translational research
  • Informatics for big biodata

INAB currently has 8 researchers conducting cross-sector research in all three aforementioned pillars. It has experience in managing European & National R&D projects and has participated in more than 35 R&D EU and GSRT projects. INAB has an extensive network of collaborations throughout Greece, neighboring countries, Europe and the rest of the world. There are joint activities with more than 30 academic and research institutions in Greece, public agencies and private companies in more than 80 research programs.

INAB has a leading position in the fields of biotechnology and agri-biotechnology in Greece emphasizing on genomics applications and molecular biotechnology for the production of food with improved quality, new elite plant varieties and animal breeds, industrially relevant materials, genetically certified plant materials and microbial production systems of high added value products of industrial and pharmaceutical interest. Overall, INAB aims to provide solutions in important issues of the Greek agri-food value chain.

INAB is also conducting multidisciplinary biomedical research in the fields of genomics, bioinformatics, epigenetics and the science of nutrition in medicine. It has coordinated large-scale biomedical projects entailing the collaboration of academic institutes from both Europe and the US and reporting on genomic and functional studies of various types of cancers with a main emphasis on hematologic malignancies, on the largest thus far analysed patient cohorts.

INAB is very active in the field of ICT for health and personalized health. Its competences start from big data management, analytics and interpretation with data stemming from biomolecular to streaming data, to telemonitoring, medication, and social media data. E-Health systems based on medical devices and ICT are built aiming in producing third generation telemonitoring systems enabling disease management of chronic patients, multi-morbid patients, as well as preventive monitoring of healthy individuals. Finally, in-silico modeling of the human organism beyond the cellular level in the cardiovascular system as well as in the mental/immuno systems is a major focus of INAB.

The Institute of Applied Biosciences, aims to bridge the gap between bioscientific research excellence and applications meeting the evolving needs of the end-user. INAB is involved in the development and use of biotechnological applications taking full advantage of the current advances in the field with emphasis on “omic” sciences and applications to Health, Nutrition and Agri-Food sectors. To this end INAB exploits progresses in molecular biology, genome sequencing and mapping, computational biology, protein engineering, protein localization and trafficking, molecular breeding, plant-variety and animal-race typing. Current and future R&D activities include:

 

For the Food and Pharma Biotechnology Sector:

  • Metatranscriptomics of algae species for the isolation of genes involved in the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical uses
  • Sequencing of the Haslea ostrearia genome in order to elucidate the biosynthesis of the compound marenine
  • 16S high throughput amplicon sequencing and metagenomic approaches on food samples to profile the microbial population during conservation and spoilage in order to avoid food-borne pathogens
  • Isolation of microbes with potential health benefits
  • Genome sequencing of yeast strains of industrial interest
  • Transcriptomics and metabolomics of aromatic and pharmaceutical plants

 

For the Health Sector:

  • High-throughput profiling of human cancer, with major emphasis on lymphoid malignancies, aiming at identifying novel pathomechanisms of disease, novel predictive and prognostic biomarkers and novel druggable targets
  • High-throughput immunogenetics in health and disease aiming at identifying disease- and/or context-specific immune repertoire signatures
  • Microenvironmental interactions in lymphomas, aiming at improved patient management through interventions on bystander cells and external triggers driving lymphoma evolution
  • Molecular and clinical epidemiology studies in female genital cancer and chronic pulmonary disease, aiming at detailed mapping of incidence trends and identifying novel preventive strategies

 

For the Informatics for Big Biodata and the Medical Informatics Sector:

  • Big data analytics for diverse types of health-related data, i.e. genetic, observational, physiological, biosensor, etc.
  • Semantic integration of heterogeneous biomedical data – linked data for health
  • Design, development and evaluation of systems/services exploiting new types of health-related data for personal health monitoring, lifestyle coaching and behavioural change (personal health systems, Ambient Assisted Living)
  • Advanced drug safety surveillance methods - pharmacovigilance
  • Learning Health Systems: applications in patient safety with emphasis on adverse event detection and prevention

 

Target Partners & Collaborations

The main three pillars of research activities that are covered by INAB are

  • Agri-biotechnology
  • Health translational research
  • Informatics for big biodata,

Current and future R&D activities of the Institute of Applied Biosciences include:

For the Food and Pharma Biotechnology Sector:

  • Metatranscriptomics of algae species for the isolation of genes involved in the biosynthesis of halogenate terpenes for pharmaceutical uses
  • Sequencing of the Haslea ostrearia genome in order to elucidate the biosynthesis of the compound marenine
  • 16S metagenomics on food samples to profile the microbial population during conservation and spoilage in order to avoid food-borne pathogens
  • Isolation of microbes with potential health benefits
  • Genome sequencing of yeast strains of industrial interest
  • Molecular Marker Assisted (MMAss) breeding to improve local ovine races and plant varieties with higher nutrition content.

For the Health Sector:

  • High-throughput profiling of human cancer, with major emphasis on lymphoid malignancies, aiming at identifying novel pathomechanisms of disease, novel predictive and prognostic biomarkers and novel druggable targets
  • High-throughput immunogenetics in health and disease aiming at identifying disease- and/or context-specific immune repertoire signatures
  • Microenvironmental interactions in lymphomas, aiming at improved patient management through interventions on bystander cells and external triggers driving lymphoma evolution
  • Molecular and clinical epidemiology studies in female genital cancer and chronic pulmonary disease, aiming at detailed mapping of incidence trends and identifying novel preventive strategies

For the Informatics for Big Biodata and the Medical Informatics Sector:

  • Big data analytics for diverse types of health-related data, i.e. genetic, observational, physiological, biosensor, etc.
  • Semantic integration of heterogeneous biomedical data – linked data for health
  • Design, development and evaluation of systems/services exploiting new types of health-related data for personal health monitoring, lifestyle coaching and behavioural change (personal health systems, Ambient Assisted Living)
  • Advanced drug safety surveillance methods - pharmacovigilance
  • Learning Health Systems: applications in patient safety with emphasis on adverse event detection and prevention

Therefore, we are interesting in getting in touch with companies or organizations of the same fields that will help us to expand our collaborations further not only in Greece but also abroad.

In addition, we are not opposed to collaborations that differentiate the aforementioned pillars but will have potential benefits to our institute.    

Technologies / Services offered or sought

  • Detection of DNA from Genetic Modified Organisms (GMO) in food products and seeds
  • Detection of Horse, Pig, Chicken, Turkey, Bovine, Buffalo DNA in meat products.
  • Genotyping of animals and plants
  • Genotyping of microbes based on 16S analysis
  • DNA microArrays to genotype animals for breeding efforts.
  • Genetic traceability of food products (ex. Products made from Greek Black Pig, Fava Santorinis, monovarietal olive oils, Feta Cheese etc)
  • Molecular breeding of animals and plants
  • Molecular profile of food products (ex. Total fat, full profile of fatty acids, total polyphenols, olive oil phenols, full profile of free aminoacids
  • Metagenomic analysis of microbes in fermented foods based on Illumina platforms
  • Gut microbial profile based on 16S analysis and metagenomics  based on illumine platforms

Technology and R&D

The Institute of Applied Biosciences, aims to bridge the gap between bioscientific research excellence and applications meeting the evolving needs of the end-user. INAB is involved in the development and use of biotechnological applications taking full advantage of the current advances in the field with emphasis on “omic” sciences and applications to Health, Nutrition and Agri-Food sectors. To this end INAB exploits progresses in molecular biology, genome sequencing and mapping, computational biology, protein engineering, protein localization and trafficking, molecular breeding, plant-variety and animal-race typing. Current and future R&D activities include:

 

For the Food and Pharma Biotechnology Sector:

  • Metatranscriptomics of algae species for the isolation of genes involved in the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical uses

Sequencing of the Haslea ostrearia genome in order to elucidate the biosynthesis of the compound marenine

  • 16S high throughput sequencing and metagenomics on food samples to profile the microbial population during conservation and spoilage in order to avoid food-borne pathogens

Isolation of microbes with potential health benefits

Genome sequencing of yeast strains of industrial interest

Transcriptomics and metabolomics of aromatic and pharmaceutical plants

 

For the Health Sector:

  • High-throughput profiling of human cancer, with major emphasis on lymphoid malignancies, aiming at identifying novel pathomechanisms of disease, novel predictive and prognostic biomarkers and novel druggable targets
  • High-throughput immunogenetics in health and disease aiming at identifying disease- and/or context-specific immune repertoire signatures
  • Microenvironmental interactions in lymphomas, aiming at improved patient management through interventions on bystander cells and external triggers driving lymphoma evolution
  • Molecular and clinical epidemiology studies in female genital cancer and chronic pulmonary disease, aiming at detailed mapping of incidence trends and identifying novel preventive strategies

 

For the Informatics for Big Biodata and the Medical Informatics Sector:

  • Big data analytics for diverse types of health-related data, i.e. genetic, observational, physiological, biosensor, etc.
  • Semantic integration of heterogeneous biomedical data – linked data for health
  • Design, development and evaluation of systems/services exploiting new types of health-related data for personal health monitoring, lifestyle coaching and behavioural change (personal health systems, Ambient Assisted Living)
  • Advanced drug safety surveillance methods - pharmacovigilance
  • Learning Health Systems: applications in patient safety with emphasis on adverse event detection and prevention

 

Clients & Collaborations (NATIONAL)

1.            Hematology Department and HCT Unit, G. Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki

2.            Hematology Department, Nikea General Hospital, Athens

3.            Hematopathology Department, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens

4.            School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion

5.            School of Medicine, University of Patras

6.            School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

7.            School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace

8.            Faculty of forestry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

9.            Dept of Electrical & Computer Engng, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

10.          Dept of Electrical & Computer Engng, National Technical University of Athens

11.          Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, Athens

12.          School of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

13.          School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

14.          School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

15.          School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

16.          Agricultural University of Athens

17.          Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace

18.          Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace

19.          School of Pharmacy, University of Athens

20.          School of Sciences and Technologies, University of Ioannina

21.          Hematology Department and HCT Unit, G. Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki

22.          Hematology Department, Nikea General Hospital, Athens

23.          Hematopathology Department, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens

24.          School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion

25.          School of Medicine, University of Patras

26.          School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

27.          School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace

28.          Faculty of forestry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

29.          Dept of Electrical & Computer Engng, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

30.          Dept of Electrical & Computer Engng, National Technical University of Athens

31.          Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, Athens

32.          School of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

33.          School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

34.          School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

35.          School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

36.          Agricultural University of Athens

37.          Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace

38.          Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace

39.          School of Pharmacy, University of Athens

40.          School of Sciences and Technologies, University of Ioannina

41.          Hellenic Agricultural Organization, Demeter

42.          Hellenic Society of Haematology

43.          University Hospital of Heraklion

44.          Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania

45.          FORTH – Institute of Computer Science, Crete

46.          Intrasoft S.A.

47.          SINGULAR LOGIC S.A

48.          MLS Multimedia AE

49.          BYTE Computer SA

50.          SafeBlood-Boanalytica SA

51.          PZ Zafiropoulos SA

52.          ANTISEL SA

53.          Genesis Pharma

54.          Leriva SA

55.          Varelas SA

56.          Eulambia Advanced Technologies LTD, Greece

From Greece

  1. Hematology Department and HCT Unit, G. Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki
  2. Hematology Department, Nikea General Hospital, Athens
  3. Hematopathology Department, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens
  4. School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion
  5. School of Medicine, University of Patras
  6. School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  7. School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace
  8. Faculty of forestry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  9. Dept of Electrical & Computer Engng, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  10. Dept of Electrical & Computer Engng, National Technical University of Athens
  11. Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, Athens
  12. School of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  13. School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  14. School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  15. School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  16. Agricultural University of Athens
  17. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace
  18. Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace
  19. School of Pharmacy, University of Athens
  20. School of Sciences and Technologies, University of Ioannina
  21. Hematology Department and HCT Unit, G. Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki
  22. Hematology Department, Nikea General Hospital, Athens
  23. Hematopathology Department, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens
  24. School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion
  25. School of Medicine, University of Patras
  26. School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  27. School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace
  28. Faculty of forestry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  29. Dept of Electrical & Computer Engng, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  30. Dept of Electrical & Computer Engng, National Technical University of Athens
  31. Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, Athens
  32. School of Informatics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  33. School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  34. School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
  35. School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

 

 

  1. Agricultural University of Athens
  2. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace
  3. Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace
  4. School of Pharmacy, University of Athens
  5. School of Sciences and Technologies, University of Ioannina
  6. Hellenic Agricultural Organization, Demeter
  7. Hellenic Society of Haematology
  8. University Hospital of Heraklion
  9. Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania
  10. FORTH – Institute of Computer Science, Crete
  11. Intrasoft S.A.
  12. SINGULAR LOGIC S.A
  13. MLS Multimedia AE
  14. BYTE Computer SA
  15. SafeBlood-Boanalytica SA
  16. PZ Zafiropoulos SA
  17. ANTISEL SA
  18. Genesis Pharma
  19. Leriva SA
  20. Varelas SA
  21. Eulambia Advanced Technologies LTD, Greece

Clients & Collaborations (INTERNATIONAL)

  1. IMGT®, the international ImMunoGeneTics information system®, Université Montpellier 2, LIGM, Institut de Génétique Humaine IGH, UPR CNRS 1142, Montpellier, France
  2. Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
  3. Department of Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
  4. The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Manhasset, NY, US
  5. Department of Haematology, Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Bournemouth, United Kingdom
  6. Department of Immunology, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  7. Department of Hematooncology, University Hospital Brno and Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
  8. Department of Hematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
  9. Department of Haematology, Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom
  10. CERMS, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, Turin, Italy
  11. Laboratory of B Cell Neoplasia and Unit of Lymphoid Malignancies, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele and Istituto Scientifico San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
  12. Hematology Department and University Pierre et Marie Curie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpètrière, Paris, France
  13. Lund University and Hospital Department of Hematology, Lund, Sweden
  14. Hopital Henri Mondor, and Universite Paris-XII Val de Marnes, Creteil, France
  15. Hospital Clinic, and University of Barcelona, Institute of Biomedical Research August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
  16. Department of Pathology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
  17. Hôpital Necker, Paris, France
  18. Department of Oncology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
  19. Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
  20. Pathology Department, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
  21. University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
  22. Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
  23. Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Toledo, Spain
  24. Department of Hematology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
  25. Hospices Civils de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Lyon, France
  26. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, US
  27. Hospital Universitario Marques de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
  28. Kings College, London, UK
  29. Wageningen Institute, The Netherlands
  30. Molecular and Oncology Research Institute, Tufts University, US
  31. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, US
  32. Veterinary School of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  33. Max-Plank Institute, Jena, Germany
  34. Pfizer, Joint Genome Institute, Department of Energy, US
  35. Euroclonality-NGS Network
  36. Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy
  37. Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Serbia
  38. European Research Initiative on CLL
  39. Central European Institute of Technology
  40. National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Bethesda, MD, US
  41. Engineering Department, Harper Adams University, UK
  42. Department of Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark
  43. Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
  44. Fox Chase Cancer Center, PA, US
  45. Faculty of Pharmacy, University Ss Cyril and Methodius, FYROM
  46. Dpt. of Biotechnology, Univ. of Tirana, Albania
  47. Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Croatia
  48. Plant Sciences, University of Manchester
  49. Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Agrarie e Alimentari Università of Catania, Italy
  50. University of Novi Sad, Serbia
  51. Plant production research center Piestany, Slovakia
  52. Dpt. of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, China
  53. School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences Dpt.  of Chemistry University of Durham, UK
  54. Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA), National Research Council (CNR), Italy
  55. Edmund Mach Foundation, Istituto Agrario di San Michele all’Adige (IASMA), Italy
  56. SINTEF, Norway
  57. IBM, Haifa
  58. PHILIPS
  59. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  60. Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Canada
  61. Austrian Institute of Technology, Vienna, Austria
  62. Norwegian Telemedicine Center
  63. University Polytechnico of Valencia, Spain
  64. ERIKSSON S.A., Croatia
  65. CNR, Pisa, Italy
  66. GNUBILA, France
  67. EXUS S.A., London, UK
  68. MAXELER Technologies, UK
  69. TIME.LEX, Brussels, Belgium
  70. Kingston University, London, UK
  71. Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, the Netherlands
  72. Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, London, UK
  73. GLOBAZ S.A., Portugal
  74. Medasys, Paris, France
  75. Technosite, Madrid, Spain
  76. LIMICS, UMRS1142, INSERM – UPMC – Université Paris 13, Paris, France
  77. Centre Régional de Pharmacovigilance, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France
  78. University Hospital of Lille, France
  79. University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology (UMIT), Hall in Tirol, Austria
  80. Dublin City University, Ireland
  81. University of Ulster, Ireland
  82. Electronic Record Services B.V., Netherlands
  83. Nurogames GmbH, Germany
  84. Engineering IT, Italy
  85. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
  86. Mater Hospital, Ireland
  87. University of Glasgow, UK
  88. Vastra Gotalands Lans Landsting, Sweden
  89. Linkopings Universitet - Centre For Dementia Research, Sweden
  90. Fundacion Instituto Gerontologico Matia – Ingema, Spain
  91. Consorcio Regional De Transportes De Madrid, Spain
  92. University of Sheffield, UK
  93. Roessingh Research and Development BV, The Netherlands
  94. Internationales Informationszentrum für Terminologie, Austria
  95. Institut Jozef Stefan, Slovenia
  96. Open Evidence, Spain
  97. Stichting Trivium Meulenbelt Groep, The Netherlands
  98. Virtualware 2007 SA, Spain
  99. Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE), Denmark
  100. Sheffcare Ltd, UK
  101. Doktor24 d.o.o., Slovenia
  102. Telbios S.p.a, Italy
  103. Bit4ID s.r.l., Italy
  104. Fundacio Eurocat (EURECAT), Spain
  105. Agencia de Qualitat i Avaluacio Sanitaries de Catalunya (AQUAS), Spain
  106. Consorci Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Spain
  107. Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per l’Informatica (CINI), Italy
  108. Commissariat a l’Energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives (CEA)
  109. MedCom, Denmark
  110. Sundhed.dk IS, Denmark
  111. Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, UK
  112. Fondazione Santobono Pausilipon onlus, Italy
  113. Novartis
  114. Janssen Pharmaceuticals
  115. Gilead Sciences
  116. Roche SA
  117. Celgene
  118. Illumina
  119. Beckton Dickinson
  120. MLL Lab
Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB)
INFO
Postal Address
6th km charilaou – Thermi Rd.
57001 Thessaloniki
Greece
E-mail
inab@certh.gr
Website
inab.certh.gr
Social Media