Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas
Vassilika Vouton, PO Box 1385

GR 711 10 - Heraklion
Crete, Grece

+30-2810-391139

poirazi@imbb.forth.gr

Job opportunities

Our group has two main research directions, namely computational neuroscience and bioinformatics. In the computational neuroscience field, we use primarily cocmputational approaches to model neurons and neural networks involved in learning and memory functions. We develop abstract mathematical as well as detailed compartmental models of single CA1 and neocortical pyramidal neurons and study their integrative properties in relation to their learning and memory capacity.

We are interested in modeling neuronal function under both normal as well as degenerative conditions such as aging and stress. We are currently in the process of extending our brain modeling work to include bioinformatics, molecular and biophysical methods towards a more thorough understanding of the mechanismus involved in learning and memory. We are primarily interested in understanding the role of various hippocampal excitability patterns in learning and memory as well as unraveling associated molecular mechanisms (e.g. membrane mechanisms, miRNAs etc) that support this role.

See also: http://www.imbb.forth.gr/people/poirazi/index.html

Oulas, A. Boutla, A. Gkirtzou, K. Reczko, M. Kalantidis, K. and Poirazi, P. "Prediction of novel microRNA genes in cancer associated genomic regions: a combined computational and experimental approach" Nucleic Acid Research, March 2009.

Petalidis, L.P., Oulas, A.,Wayland, M.T., Liu, L., Plant, K., Happerfield, L., Renault-Mihara , F., Freeman, T.C., Poirazi, P., & Collins, P.V. "Grading of human astrocytic brain tumours by artificial neural network analysis of gene expression microarray data." Mol Cancer Ther., vol. 7, No 5, pg. 1013-24, May 2008.

Liebmann, L., Karst, H., Sidiropoulou, K., van Gemert, N.,  Meijer, O., Poirazi, P. and Joëls, M. "Differential effects of corticosterone on the sAHP in the basolateral amygdala and CA1 region: Role of calcium channel subunits." J. Neurophysiology, vol 99, No 2, pg. 958-68, Feb. 2008.

Poirazi, P., Leroy, F., Georgalaki, M.D., Aktypis, A., De Vuyst, L., and Tsakalidou, E. "Use of artificial neural networks and a gamma-concept-based approach to model growth of and bacteriocin production by Streptococcus macedonicus ACA-DC 198 under conditions simulating Kasseri cheese technology." Appl. Environ. Microbiol, vol. 73, No 3, pg. 768-776, Feb. 2007.

Sidiropoulou K., Pissadaki E.K., and Poirazi P. "Inside the brain of a neuron" EMBO reports, vol. 7, pg. 886-892, Sept. 2006.  

Pavlidis P. and Poirazi P. "Individualized markers optimize class prediction of microarray data" BMC Bioinformatics, vol. 7, pg. 345-359, July 2006.

Poirazi, P. Brannon, T. & Mel, B.W. "Arithmetic of Subthreshold Synaptic Summation in a Model CA1 Pyramidal Cell."  Neuron, vol 37, pg. 977-987, March 2003.

 Poirazi, P. Brannon, T. & Mel, B.W. "Pyramidal Neuron as 2-Layer Neural Network." Neuron, vol 37, pg. 989-999, March 2003.

 Poirazi, P. and Mel, B.W.  "Impact of Active Dendritic Processing and Structural Plasticity on Learning and Memory." Neuron, vol 29, pg. 779-796, March 2001.