Georgiades N.savvas
LECTURER
Department of Chemistry
Cyprus University of Technology
Cyprus
Biography
Lecturer in Organic Chemistry, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus (current, from Aug. 2011). Lecturer in Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Kingston Upon Thames, UK (Aug. 2010-Jul. 2011). Postdoctoral Research Associate in Chemical Biology, Imperial College, London, UK (Nov. 2007-Jul. 2010). Postdoctoral Research Associate in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA (Sep. 2006-Oct. 2007). Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry/Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MΑ, USA (Jan. 2003-Jun. 2006). Full-time Ph.D. Student in Organic Chemistry, Cornell University, Ithaca, NΥ, USA (Sep. 2001-Dec. 2002, Ph.D. completed at Harvard University). B.Sc. in Chemistry, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus (Sep. 1997-Jul. 2001).
Research Interest
Our research interests encompass the areas of Synthetic, Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry. In particular, we are looking into novel and efficient ways for synthetically accessing biologically active small molecules (including natural products), which can be elaborated into therapeutics or chemical probes for the study of biological systems. One area of focus is the synthesis and investigation of compounds with the potential to act as spatial and temporal modulators of critical cellular signal transduction pathways, for example the PI3K/PTEN/Akt/FOXO pathway, which provide promise for development of anti-cancer, anti-diabetic or neuroprotective therapies. Another research domain is the development of new chemical agents that act as stabilizers of DNA G-quadruplexes in human guanine-rich single-stranded DNA sequences, such as the ones from the telomeres or some oncogene-promoter regions. In either case, quadruplex formation within the sequence has shown potential for inhibition of enzymes involved in the progression of cancer. Various synthetic approaches are used in the lab to carry out our research activities, including conventional solution- and solid-phase synthesis, as well as dynamic and combinatorial methods.
Publications
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In situ polymerised polyamide 6/sepiolite nanocomposites: Effect of different interfaces" Bilotti, E.; Duquesne, E.; Deng, H.; Zhang, R.; Quero, F.; Georgiades, S. N.; Fischer, H. R.; Dubois, P.; Peijs, T. Eur. Polymer J. 2014, 56, 131-139.
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“Synthesis of a ‘Propeller-Like’ Oligoheteroaryl with Alternating Pyridine and Oxazole Motifs” Georgiades, S. N.* (corresponding author); Rizeq, N. Synlett 2015, 26, 489-493.
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“Linear and Branched Pyridyl-Oxazole Oligomers: Synthesis and Circular Dichroism Detectable Effect on c-Myc G-Quadruplex Helicity” Rizeq, N.; Georgiades, S. N.* (corresponding author) Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2016, 122-131.
