THE TEAM
CURRENT MEMBERS
CHRISTINA KARATZAFERI
Dr. Christina Karatzaferi is the director of the Myology Lab and Professor of Exercise Physiology at the University of Thessaly Department of Physical Education and Sport Science (DPESS). Dr. Karatzaferi also leads muscle research at IRETETH-CERTH since 2006. Dr. Karatzaferi also co-leads research and educational activities of the Experimental Physiology and Therapeutic Exercise Laboratory. She is currently coordinating a multinational H2020 MSCAS RISE project Muscle Stress Relief, (project 645648). Her main research interests lie in Human Physiology, Muscle Mechanics, Muscle Fatigue, Muscle Biochemistry and Exercise Interventions.
GIORGOS SAKKAS
Dr. Georgios Sakkas is the co-director of the Myology Lab and Associate Professor of Exercise in Clinical Populations at the University of Thessaly at the DPESS. He also directs the "Exercise is Medicine" lab at the Center. Since August 2019, he holds the chair of Professor of Lifestyle Medicine at the Cardiff Metropolitan University in Wales, United Kingdom. Dr. Sakkas’ research focuses on the effect of therapeutic exercise on patients with chronic diseases. In 2020 he was elected as the General Secretariat for the “Exercise is Medicine-Greece” association for promoting the benefits of exercise in various clinical populations, a position he holds to this day.
GEORGIA MITROU
Dr. Georgia Mitrou is a Postdoctoral Researcher and Lab Manager of the Myology Lab. Her research at the moment focuses on the causes and the mechanisms behind the reduced muscle performance often seen in Chronic Kidney Disease. She is currently teaching the undergraduate course "Exercise Physiology, Safe Exercise and First Aid".
ELENI POLYZOU
Eleni Polyzou MD is an Anesthesiologist practicing at the Trikala General Hospital. She is currently completing her PhD studies under the tutelage of Drs Karatzaferi, Sakkas and Diggelidis. She is co-coordinator of the “KIds Save Lives” initiative, along with Dr. Karatzaferi. She also teaches First Aid for the Safe Exercise and First Aid course.
ELMINA RODITI
Elmina-Eleftheria Roditi is a PhD candidate under the tutelage of Dr. Karatzaferi. She runs her Yoga Academy and is a Track & Field trainer at the Trikala Military School. Her research topic is the effect of physiological and biomechanic parameters on proprioception.
ILIAS NTOUMAS
Ilias Ntoumas is a PhD candidate of the lab under Dr. Sakkas’ tutelage. His current research project focuses on Lifestyle Medicine approaches to improve health of athletes and non-athletes. He was a track and field Panhellenic champion at the 200-meters dash and the 4 x 100-meters relay.
IOANNIS PAPADOPOULOS
Ioannis Papadopoulos is a political scientist, and he holds an MSc in Political Economy of Europe from the LSE and an MBA from Derby. Ioannis is the Program Delivery and Students Affairs Manager of the Interdepartmental Program of Postgraduate studies ‘MSc in Lifestyle Medicine’ offered by the University of Thessaly.
VIRGINIA SMIXIOTI
Virginia Smixioti is a clinical psychologist with an MSc in Neurorehabilitation. She is a research assistant at the Myology Lab and a teaching assistant at the Dept of PE and Sport Science.
EVANTHIA MAKRI
Evanthia Makri is a fourth-year Undergraduate student at the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at the University of Thessaly. She is currently completing her dissertation project under Professor Karatzaferi, in the area of Low Energy Availability and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports.
MARKELLA CHASIOTI
Dr Markella Chasioti is a keen and aspiring young veterinary surgeon who since 2014 has her own private practice in Trikala, Greece. In September 2022 she was taken on by the University of Thessaly as a part-time lecturer in the departments of Veterinary Studies, Public Health and Nutrition. Markella currently works as a post-doctoral researcher at University of Thessaly working with animal models related to muscle atrophy.