Orthopedic & Musculoskeletal Therapies Committee member of International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT)
Dimitrios Kouroupis (born 1982 in Athens, Greece), obtained his Biology degree in 2006 (Aristotle University of Thessalonica, Greece), his MSc in Biosciences degree in 2007 (University of Leeds, United Kingdom) and his PhD in Regenerative Medicine in 2012 (University of Leeds, United Kingdom). As an early stage post-doctoral researcher, he contributed to the field of Stem Cell biology of both adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and pluripotent stem cells by investigating their in vitro and in vivo capacity to regenerate soft musculoskeletal tissues (ligaments, tendons and vascular organoids) (2012-2015, University of Ioannina, Biomedical Research Institute-FORTH, Greece). He also worked for a private company on Stem Cell Banking of haematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells (2016-2017, Omnigen Cell and Tissue Centre, Greece). As a late stage post-doctoral researcher, he investigated MSC musculoskeletal therapies (synovitis and osteoarthritis) with focus on ‘MSC signatures’ which are directly related to specific MSC functions in vivo. On this basis, he was designing innovative methodologies to ex vivo ‘train’ MSC for more robust and effective in vivo personalized therapeutics (2017-2020, University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Orthopedics, USA).
Dr. Kouroupis is a principal investigator and faculty with a dual appointment at the Department of Orthopedics – UHealth Sports Medicine Institute and the Diabetes Research Institute & Cell Transplant Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. He is an expert in MSC biology and their potential clinical applications in regenerative medicine. Throughout his career, he has in depth studied various Cellular Biology and Regenerative Medicine scientific aspects in relationship with cell-based therapeutic approaches for the treatment of pathological conditions. The development of off-the-shelf novel stem cell therapies and the generation of innovative stem cell-based therapeutic implants are among his major priorities. Up to date, his research work on Regenerative Medicine and Tissue engineering fields have yielded multiple important publications in high impact factor peer-reviewed journals and podium presentations in international conferences and translated into funding from both EU/UK/USA public and private sources.
Furthermore, his research is focused on strengthening our understanding of the intricate underlying biology of Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC) in order to support the development of standardized and reproducible pre-clinical protocols, expanding the potential therapeutic application of MSC to various pathological conditions. Consequently, his laboratory contributes with efforts to bring closer basic science and cell-based product manufacturing techniques to potential clinical protocols.
Orthopedic & Musculoskeletal Therapies Committee member of International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy (ISCT)
Scientific Interests • Strategies for effective isolation and minimal-manipulation of Stem cells to achieve off-the shelf painless and hazard-free regenerative medicine products • Stem cell musculoskeletal therapy and Bone/Cartilage/Ligament/Tendon tissue engineering • Generation of innovative stem cell-based therapeutic implants ex vivo to treat musculoskeletal disorders • Designation of innovative methodologies to ex vivo ‘train’ Stem cells for more robust and effective in vivo personalized therapeutics • Enhancement of Stem cell immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive effects to treat tissue inflammation locally and various immunological disorders • Enhancement of immunomodulatory and trophic Stem cell potential to treat cardiac and neuronal disorders (such as Heart infraction, Parkinson’s disease and Multiple sclerosis)
Honors, Awards & Grants Patents: • ‘CD10/Neprilysin inducible levels as predictor of efficient Substance P degradation by human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSC)’ - U.S. Filed Patent No. PCT/US2020/053521 • ‘Methods of analyzing soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (sTNFR2) and uses thereof,’ filed January 27, 2022, and assigned U.S. Patent Application No. 63/303,585 • ‘Nanomaterial-stem cell composition and methods of use’ file May 05, 2022, and assigned U.S. Patent Application No. 63/338,593 Grants: • NIH R21 grant application (1R21AR080388-01A1) titled: ‘CD10-bound Exosomes from IFP-MSC Degrade Substance P Controlling OA Inflammation and Pain’ Study section: Skeletal Biology Structure and Regeneration Study Section Role: PI Duration: 07/18/2022-present Total amount: $422,125 • Soffer Family Foundation award titled: ‘Stem Cells in Sports Medicine’ Role: PI Duration: 12/01/2020-present Amount: $50,000/year