Eleni Vergadi is currently an Assistant Professor of Paediatrics at the Medical School of University of Crete and Consultant in Paediatrics Infectious Diseases, at Heraklion University Hospital. Dr Vergadi graduated from the Medical School of the University of Crete with honors, she obtained a Master of Science degree in Molecular Basis of Human Disease (University of Crete), a Doctoral Degree in Immunology at the University of Crete and Harvard University, a postgraduate diploma in Paediatric Infectious Diseases at Oxford University and a Diploma in Vaccinology from Pasteur Institute.
She has served as a research fellow at Harvard Medical School, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB-Forth), Dresden Bioinnovation Center and University of Crete and she has been trained in Paediatrics and Paediatric Infectious Diseases at Children’s Hospital Boston, Heraklion University Hospital, St Mary’s Hospital London (Imperial NHS Trust, UK) and Evelina London Children’s Hospital (Guys and St Thomas NHS Trust, UK).
She is actively involved in both clinical and laboratory-based translational research focusing on Paediatrics, Infectious Diseases and host defense and has relevant, highly cited publications in major peer-reviewed international journals. For her research she has received the L’Oreal-UNESCO award for “Women in Science” and Young Investigator Award from the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases. He has also received many other honors, awards and grants and has secured significant research funding (at national and European level). Currently, she devotes her time to patient clinical care, teaching and research. She supervises postgraduate and undergraduate students towards their thesis research projects. She is an elected board member of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases and peer-reviewer in international scientific journals
Education
2001-2007: M.D. Degree (University of Crete, School of Medicine).
2007-2009: Master of Science (MSc): «Molecular Basis of Human Diseases» University of Crete, School of Medicine.
2010-2015: PhD Diploma, University of Crete and Harvard University, School of Medicine.
2019-2021: PostGrad Diploma in Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Oxford University. UK.
2021: Diploma in Vaccinology, Institute of Pasteur, Paris. France.
Research Training & Experience
2007-2008: Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, IMBB/FORTH, Greece.
2008-2010: Νewborn Medicine Research Lab, Children’s Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School. Boston. MA, USA.
University of Crete, School of Medicine, Greece.
Bioinnovation Center, Dresden, Germany.
Training in Paediatrics and Paediatric Infectious Diseases
2008-2010: Children’s Hospital Boston, Boston, USA
2013-2017: Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital of Heraklion, Greece.
2022-2023: St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial NHS Trust, London, UK.
2024: Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Guys and St Thomas NHS Trust, London, UK.
Research Interests
Dr Vergadi’s research interests are focused on the understanding of the innate immune responses of neonates and young infants infections and the identification of the immune pathways that cause susceptibility of neonatal hosts to sepsis. More specifically, she is studying the mechanism of protection through maternal antibides as well as autophagy mediated phagocytosis in young infants and its role in eliminating group B streptococcal infections, the expression and function of endogenous inhibitors of leukocyte adhesion in the innate immune responses of young hosts and, finally, the TLR signaling regulators and long non-coding RNAs that differentially control the neonatal monocyte responses to TLR stimulation compared to adults.
Memberships
- European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) (elected Young ESPID Board Representative, 2023-2026)
- European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID)
- Hellenic Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases
- BPAIIG: British Paediatric Allergy, Immunity and Infection Group
- British Society for Immunology
- IMPRINT: Immunising pregnant women and infants network
- Hellenic Bioscientific Association of the USA
- Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA)
