Professor of Pediatrics and Head of the Division of Neonatology at Ege University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Türkiye
Head of the Department of Forensic Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine, MEDIPOL University, Ankara, Türkiye
Professor of Pediatrics, Chief, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Marmara University, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye
Pediatrician / Neonatologist / Intensivist, President of the Hellenic Society of Perinatal Medicine, Coordinating Director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), REA Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece
Professor of Pediatrics -Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye
Associate Professor of Pediatrics – Pediatric Pulmonology, University of Patras, Greece
Professor of Pediatrics – Neonatology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Greece, Director, Neonatology Clinic, Aretaieio University Hospital, Director of the MSc Program “Resuscitation”, NKUA Medical School, Athens, Greece
MD, PhD, FMH (CH) Professor of Pediatrics – Pediatric Endocrinology, Director of the 1st Department of Pediatrics and Choremio Research Laboratory, Scientific Director of the Diabetes Center and the Unit of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Diabetes, Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), “Agia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece
Professor | Pediatric Immunology and Allergy Specialist Head of Pediatric Immunology and Allergy, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye. Head of Pulmonary Immunology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Institute of Pulmonology and Tuberculosis, Istanbul, Türkiye
Head of the service of the Pediatric Infectious diseases, University Hospital center “Mother Teresa” Tirana, Albania
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Director of the Pediatric Ophthalmology Department, IASO Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece
Hon. Prof. Dr. med. Pediatrician – Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Head of the Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition Unit, 1st Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece at “Ahia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece
Professor of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology & Nutrition, Istanbul, Türkiye
Emeritus Professor of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA); Greece, Scientific Director of the Pediatric Gastroenterology Department, “MITERA” Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece
Prof. Emeritus of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Greece, Chair of the Greek National Vaccination Committee, Athens, Greece
MSc, MPhil, PhD, MGS, FGS, MRSC, MRSB, MRS Med (UK), Associate Professor of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, School of Applied Biology & Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Associate Professor of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye
Professor of Pediatrics and Head of the Division of Neonatology at Ege University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Türkiye.
Prof. Dr. Özge Altun is Professor of Pediatrics and Head of the Division of Neonatology at Ege University Faculty of Medicine, İzmir, Türkiye.
She graduated from Marmara University School of Medicine in 2000 and trained in Pediatrics at Marmara University between 2000 and 2005. She has been working in the field of Neonatology since 2005, when she joined the Division of Neonatology at Ege University Faculty of Medicine and received her subspecialty training in Neonatology.
Between 2009 and 2011, she worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, under the mentorship of Professor Richard J. Martin.
Prof. Altun has been actively involved in neonatal care, education, and research for more than two decades. Her main areas of interest include family-centered neonatal care, developmental and long-term follow-up of preterm and high-risk infants, neonatal respiratory care, and quality improvement in neonatology.
She has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications and book chapters and has contributed to national and international educational and research collaborations. She is also a co-founder of NestNeo, a digital parenting platform that combines evidence-based pediatric guidance with artificial intelligence-supported family education and decision support.
Prof. Altun currently serves as Head of the Division of Neonatology at Ege University Faculty of Medicine and continues to lead clinical, educational, and research activities aimed at improving outcomes for newborn infants and their families.
Head of the Department of Forensic Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine, MEDIPOL University, Ankara, Türkiye
Head of the Department of Forensic Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine, MEDIPOL University, Ankara, Türkiye
Dr. Ersi Ambatzi–Kalfoglou is a medical doctor and forensic specialist currently serving as Head of the Department of Forensic Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine, Medipol University in Ankara, Türkiye. She has extensive experience in forensic medicine, medico‑legal investigation, and the application of scientific methodologies in legal and clinical contexts.
Her academic and professional work focuses on forensic pathology, clinical forensic examination, injury interpretation, and the interface between medicine and the justice system. She has contributed to the development of forensic medical education, supervised trainees and young physicians, and participated in multidisciplinary collaborations involving law enforcement, legal authorities, and healthcare institutions.
Dr. Ambatzi–Kalfoglou has authored and co‑authored scientific publications, presented at national and international conferences, and actively promotes high standards in forensic medical practice and ethics. Her leadership at Medipol University includes curriculum development, departmental coordination, and strengthening academic and clinical training in forensic sciences.
Professor of Pediatrics, Chief, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Marmara University, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye
Prof. Bereket is a Professor and Head of the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology at Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul. Dr. Bereket graduated from Ankara University School of Medicine in 1986. After completing his pediatric residency training in 1991, he completed a fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA, between 1991 and 1996.
Dr. Bereket has authored more than 190 peer-reviewed articles in international journals and has an H-index of 34. He was awarded the “Distinguished Young Scientist” prize by the Turkish Academy of Sciences in 2001 and received the “ESPE Outstanding Clinician Award” in 2022.
He served as a member of the ESPE Summer School Steering Committee from 2011 to 2015. He also served as Treasurer, Vice President, and President of the Turkish Pediatric Endocrinology Society between 2001 and 2007.
He currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology and is a member of the editorial boards of several journals. His main research interests include insulin-like growth factors, obesity, precocious puberty, and rickets.
Pediatrician / Neonatologist / Intensivist, President of the Hellenic Society of Perinatal Medicine, Coordinating Director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), REA Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece
Antonia Charitou is a Pediatrician specializing in Neonatology and Intensive Care, with many years of experience in the management of high‑risk newborns and children. She has held significant administrative and organizational positions in the field of pediatric and neonatal care, contributing to the planning, operation, and improvement of healthcare services. She works within secondary and tertiary healthcare structures, playing an active role in coordinating clinical teams, managing high‑severity cases, and implementing quality and safety protocols. Her administrative experience is complemented by a strong clinical background in Neonatology and Intensive Care, strengthening the connection between clinical practice and effective healthcare management.
Professor of Pediatrics -Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye
Prof. Dr. Ela Erdem Eralp is Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology at Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Türkiye.
She graduated from Marmara University Faculty of Medicine in 1997 and completed her residency in Pediatrics at Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital in 2003. She received her subspecialty training in Pediatric Pulmonology at Marmara University.
Prof. Eralp is actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and currently serves as the coordinator of the fifth-year Pediatrics clerkship at Marmara University Faculty of Medicine. She is also the director of the Pediatric Sleep Laboratory, where she leads the diagnosis and management of sleep-disordered breathing and other pediatric sleep disorders. In addition to her academic and clinical responsibilities, she contributes to several international research networks and collaborative initiatives in pediatric respiratory medicine. She is a member of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Working Group of the Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Clinical Trial Network (PCD-CTN) and serves as Chair of the Pediatric Pulmonology Working Group of the Turkish Thoracic Society.
Her main clinical and research interests include primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), sleep-disordered breathing, bronchiectasis, and home mechanical ventilation. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications and has been actively involved in several national and international collaborative research projects. She has authored more than 110 peer-reviewed publications indexed in PubMed and has received over 1,600 citations (Google Scholar), with an h-index of 25.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics – Pediatric Pulmonology, University of Patras, Greece
Sotiris Fouzas was born in 1973 in Athens. He graduated from the Medical School of Timisoara in 1998, and after completing his military service and rural medical service, he specialized in Pediatrics.
He served as an NHS Consultant Pediatrician at the Pediatric Clinic of the University Hospital of Patras from 2008 to 2018. He trained in Pediatric Pulmonology (2008–2011) and received the corresponding European Diploma (ERS‑HERMES) in 2011. During 2012–2013, he completed further training in computational respiratory physiology and respiratory function testing in infants and children at the University Children’s Hospital of Basel (Switzerland).
Since January 2018, he has served as Assistant Professor in the Medical Department of the University of Patras, with academic focus on “General Pediatrics.”
Research Activity
His research focuses on:
He has 84 full publications in international peer‑reviewed journals (PubMed). His measurable academic metrics (March 2022) are:
He has also authored 6 chapters in international and 14 chapters in Greek multi‑author textbooks.
Research Funding
He has received research funding from:
Awards
He has received 7 awards for research presentations at international and Greek scientific conferences, including:
Memberships
He is a member of:
Since October 2021, he has served as Vice President of the Board of the Hellenic Pediatric Pulmonology Society.
Professor of Pediatrics – Neonatology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Greece, Director, Neonatology Clinic, Aretaieio University Hospital, Director of the MSc Program “Resuscitation”, NKUA Medical School, Athens, Greece, Vice President, Board of Trustees of Aretaieio Hospital, Athens, Greece, Vice President of the Board of Directors at “P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece, Chair of the Committee for Equal Access for Persons with Disabilities and Special Educational Needs, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Greece
Postgraduate Training
Clinical Experience
After completing her specialty and subspecialty training, she worked for four years as a Pediatrician–Neonatologist in private‑sector NICUs. She subsequently served for thirteen years as an NHS physician in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of “P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital. Since 2006, she has been a faculty member of the NKUA Medical School.
Administrative Roles
Teaching Activities
Scientific Contributions
She has published more than 200 international peer‑reviewed articles in high‑impact journals, as well as articles in the Greek scientific press. She has been repeatedly invited as a speaker at national and international conferences.
MD, PhD, FMH (CH) Professor of Pediatrics – Pediatric Endocrinology Director, 1st Department of Pediatrics and Choremio Research Laboratory, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Greece, Scientific Director of the Diabetes Center and the Unit of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Diabetes, 1st Department of Pediatrics, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Greece at “Agia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece, President, Institute of Child Health Endo ERN Representative at “Agia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, Member of the National Committee for Rare Diseases Scientific Director of the Center of Expertise for Rare Pediatric Endocrine Disorders
Dr. Christina Kanaka‑Gantenbein is Professor of Pediatrics – Pediatric Endocrinology and Director of the 1st Department of Pediatrics at the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), located at “Ahia Sophia” Children’s Hospital.
She was admitted first in rank to the NKUA Medical School, achieving the highest national score in the Panhellenic Entrance Examinations of her year. She later graduated with the highest grade of her class, delivering the Hippocratic Oath at the graduation ceremony.
She completed her Pediatrics residency in University Pediatric Clinics in Germany (Freiburg im Breisgau) and Switzerland (Inselspital Bern and Triemlispital Zurich). She then subspecialized in Pediatric Endocrinology in University Hospitals in France and Switzerland (Robert Debré Hospital, Paris; University Pediatric Clinic, Inselspital Bern; and University Pediatric Clinic of Geneva).
Upon returning to Greece, she was first elected Assistant Professor at the University of Crete and subsequently joined the 1st Department of Pediatrics, NKUA, where she has served since 2005, progressing through all academic ranks:
In June 2018, she was elected Director of the 1st Department of Pediatrics, a position she continues to hold.
She is also Director of the NKUA Postgraduate Program “Stress Management and Health Promotion” (2018–present).
Dr. Kanaka‑Gantenbein serves as Scientific Director of both the Diabetes Center and the Unit of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Diabetes of the 1st Department of Pediatrics, NKUA. Under her leadership:
She has also served as Director of the Mother–Child Health Division and as a member of the Board of the NKUA Medical School (2020–2021).
Scientifically, she has supervised more than 18 PhD dissertations, participated in over 600 national and international conferences, and serves as a reviewer for more than 25 international scientific journals.
Since 2020, she has been President of the Scientific Council of ELEPAP (Hellenic Society for the Protection and Rehabilitation of Disabled Children).
From June 2015 to August 2020, she served as Vice President of the Governing Committee of the Institute of Child Health (ICH), and since August 2020 she has been President of the ICH Governing Committee for the 2020–2025 term.
At the European level, she has been an active member of committees of the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE), including:
She has also served for many years as an abstract reviewer for the Annual ESPE Meeting.
She has played an active role in the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) as well, serving as reviewer for international fellowships for young endocrinologists and as a member of the Program Organizing Committee for the ESE Annual Meeting in Munich (2016). She continues to serve as an abstract reviewer for the ESE Annual Congress.
Her research output includes over 170 international peer‑reviewed publications and authorship of chapters in major textbooks of Pediatrics and Endocrinology. Her scientific interests focus on Type 1 Diabetes in youth, intrauterine and postnatal growth disorders, monogenic endocrine diseases, and thyroid cancer in childhood and adolescence.
She is a member of numerous scientific societies in Greece and abroad. Her clinical, educational, and research work is extensive and continuous, with a strong commitment to the training of young physicians—particularly future Pediatricians and Endocrinologists.
Professor | Pediatric Immunology and Allergy Specialist Head of Pediatric Immunology and Allergy, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye. Head of Pulmonary Immunology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Institute of Pulmonology and Tuberculosis, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Affiliation: Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Immunology and Allergy
Profile
Professor and pediatric immunology/allergy specialist with extensive experience in clinical practice, medical education, and academic research. Her main areas of expertise include primary immunodeficiencies, pediatric allergy, immunology, and translational research.
Education
Supervised Theses
Memberships
Award
Dr. Işıl Berat Barlan Young Scientist Award, Turkish Immunology Association (2018).
Selected Publications
Meric Z, Gemici Karaaslan B, Yalcin Gungoren E, Bektas Hortoglu M, Cavas T, Aydemir S, Bilgic Eltan S, Firtina S, Kendir Demirkol Y, Eser M, Cekic S, Kilic S, Karasu G, Yesilipek MA, Eke Gungor H, Karakoc-Aydiner E, Ozen A, Baris S, Yucel E, Cokugras H, Kiykim A. Artemis deficiency: A large cohort including a novel variant with increased radiosensitivity. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2024 Jun;35(6):e14171. doi: 10.1111/pai.14171. PMID: 38860449.
Gemici Karaaslan B, Benamar M, Ulas S, Aydemir S, Yesil G, Gezdirici A, Sari AA, Nepesov S, Cokugras H, Camcioglu Y, Ayaz A, Aydogmus C, Charbonnier LM, Chatila T, Kiykim A. A Novel Phosphoglucomutase-3 Gene Variant Causing Milder Phenotype in Two Families. J Clin Immunol. 2026 Mar 29;46(1):49. doi: 10.1007/s10875-026-02012-2. PMID: 41904308; PMCID: PMC13156099.
Meric Z, Kosa B, Karaaslan BG, Aydemir S, Aydin M, Gumus DD, Akay N, Ozer E, Kan A, Çimen SS, Ar MC, Yucelten AD, Kasapcopur O, Uzuncakmak TK, Yucel E, Kiykim A. The Skin Tells the Story: Early Signs of Inborn Errors of Immunity. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2026 Feb;14(2):464-474.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2025.11.014. Epub 2025 Nov 21. PMID: 41275964.
Karaaslan BG, Ucgun H, Kaya M, Cengiz GN, Ozturk S, Barut O, Korkut Z, Aydemir S, Meric Z, Topcu B, Kulli HD, Cokuğras H, Kiykim A. Breath of relief: Transforming pediatric asthma care with telemedicine-guided exercises. Clin Transl Allergy. 2025 Mar;15(3):e70049. doi: 10.1002/clt2.70049. PMID: 40128609; PMCID: PMC11932885.
Ülgen E, Saygılı S, Kıykım A, Burtecene N, Yılmaz EK, Ağbaş A, Canpolat N. T-cell receptor Vβ repertoire skewing reflects premature immune senescence in children with chronic kidney disease. Pediatr Nephrol. 2026 Mar 25. doi: 10.1007/s00467-026-07267-w. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41876754.
Kaplan Kilic S, Kiykim A, Burtecene N, Genc DB, Kasim MS, Turkkan E, Emre S, Ergen SA, Ocak S. Evaluating functional hyposplenism in pediatric hodgkin lymphoma: the role of marginal zone b cells post-radiotherapy. BMC Cancer. 2026 Mar 20;26(1):557. doi: 10.1186/s12885-026-15722-y. PMID: 41862843; PMCID: PMC13137470.
Meric Z, Durcan G, Coban ZB, Esen BK, Dedeli RD, Karaaslan BG, Gumus DD, Aydin M, Aydemir S, Yavuz M, Dogangun B, Yucel E, Kiykim A. Vulnerability beyond infection: Effects of peer victimization on quality of life and psychosocial well-being in inborn errors of immunity. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2026 Mar;37(3):e70318. doi: 10.1111/pai.70318. PMID: 41800593.
Akalu Y, Taft J, Berger T, Rostásy K, Dafsari HS, Schönrade H, Cüceoğlu MK, Özen S, Faye A, Melki I, Dobroz I, Boespflug-Tanguy O, Kiykim A, Sahin S, Tahir Turanli E, Akca ÜK, van Laar JAM, van Pelt PA, Hollink IHIM, Pimpale Chavan P, Khubchandani R, Aksentijevich I, Bogunovic D. Human TBK1 deficiency: An expanded spectrum from autoinflammation to viral encephalitis. J Hum Immun. 2026 Feb 10;2(2):e20250245. doi: 10.70962/jhi.20250245. PMID: 41675198; PMCID: PMC12888840.
Bakirtas A, Kiykim A, Baskin AK, Anil H, Bozkurt HB, Cimen SS, Demirkale ZH, Esenboga S, Ogulur I, Ardicli S, Cagdas D, Kistler W, Yuksel H, Akdis CA. A Survey on Environmental Protective and Risk Factors and Awareness Related to Epithelial Barrier Integrity, Microbiome and Allergic Diseases. Allergy. 2026 Mar;81(3):930-933. doi: 10.1111/all.70190. Epub 2025 Dec 23. PMID: 41431830; PMCID: PMC12954555.
Aydin M, Aydemir S, Meric Z, Gumus DD, Karaaslan BG, Aykut A, Sucak AG, Emri KAS, Ucar AK, Yucel E, Kiykim A. Granulomatous and Lymphocytic Interstitial Lung Disease in Hyper-IgM Syndrome. Scand J Immunol. 2025 Dec;102(6):e70074. doi: 10.1111/sji.70074. PMID: 41327753.
Meric Z, Aydin M, Demir Gumus D, Yucel E, Kiykim A. Understanding and Managing Hyper IgE Syndromes. Immunotargets Ther. 2025 Nov 5;14:1233-1245. doi: 10.2147/ITT.S532287. PMID: 41216363; PMCID: PMC12596842.
Meric Z, Karaaslan BG, Aydemir S, Aydin M, Demir Gumus D, Ozyildirim Demirel S, Bulbul L, Mustu U, Cokugras H, Celiksoy MH, Yucel E, Kiykim A. Unmasking Beta-Lactam Allergies in Children: A Closer Look at Diagnosis and Risk Factors. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2026;187(4):337-345. doi: 10.1159/000547369. Epub 2025 Jul 17. PMID: 40675135.
Varol SE, Cinar C, Burtecene N, Sahin S, Yildiz M, Barut K, Cokugras H, Firtina S, Kasapcopur O, Kiykim A. Patients With IgA Vasculitis and Kawasaki Disease Show Dysregulated Interferon Signature. Int J Rheum Dis. 2025 Jul;28(7):e70349. doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.70349. PMID: 40590520; PMCID: PMC12211545.
Gao YD, Wang ZJ, Ogulur I, Li SJ, Yazici D, Li XH, Pat Y, Zheng Y, Babayev H, Zeyneloglu C, Li YC, Ardicli S, Tian WQ, Ardicli O, Chen SW, Bu XT, Lu G, Chang LH, He Y, Guttman-Yassky E, Cabanillas B, Ozdemir C, Kiykim A, Shamji M, Nadeau K, Torres MJ, Akdis M, Akdis CA. The Evolution, Immunopathogenesis and Biomarkers of Type 2 Inflammation in Common Allergic Disorders. Allergy. 2025 Jul;80(7):1848-1877. doi: 10.1111/all.16620. Epub 2025 Jun 30. PMID: 40586319.
Shi LL, Xiong P, Yang M, Ardicli O, Schneider SR, Funch AB, Kiykim A, Lopez J, Akdis CA, Akdis M. Role of IgG4 Antibodies in Human Health and Disease. Cells. 2025 Apr 25;14(9):639. doi: 10.3390/cells14090639. PMID: 40358163; PMCID: PMC12071442.
Karaaslan BG, Demirkale ZH, Turan I, Aydemir S, Meric Z, Taskin Z, Kilinc OC, Burtecene N, Topcu B, Yucel E, Aydogmus C, Cokugras H, Kiykim A. Evaluation of T-cell repertoire by flow cytometric analysis in primary immunodeficiencies with DNA repair defects. Scand J Immunol. 2025 Feb;101(2):e70003. doi: 10.1111/sji.70003. PMID: 39967281; PMCID: PMC11836546.
Gemici Karaaslan B, Kiykim A, Burtecene N, Gokden M, Cansever MS, Hopurcuoglu D, Cengiz GN, Topcu B, Zubarioğlu T, Kiykim E, Cokuğras H, Aktuglu Zeybek AC. Amino Acid Metabolism and Immune Dysfunction in Urea Cycle Disorders: T and B Cell Perspectives. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2025 Mar;48(2):e70009. doi: 10.1002/jimd.70009. PMID: 39957310; PMCID: PMC11831096.
Gemici Karaaslan B, Rosain J, Bustamante J, Kıykım A. Interferon Gamma in Sickness Predisposing to Mycobacterial Infectious Diseases. Balkan Med J. 2024 Sep 6;41(5):326-332. doi: 10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2024.2024-8-18. Epub 2024 Aug 26. PMID: 39183693; PMCID: PMC11588913.
Satitsuksanoa P, van de Veen W, Tan G, Lopez JF, Wirz O, Jansen K, Sokolowska M, Mirer D, Globinska A, Boonpiyathad T, Schneider SR, Barletta E, Spits H, Chang I, Babayev H, Tahralı İ, Deniz G, Yücel EÖ, Kıykım A, Boyd SD, Akdis CA, Nadeau K, Akdis M. Allergen-specific B cell responses in oral immunotherapy-induced desensitization, remission, and natural outgrowth in cow’s milk allergy. Allergy. 2025 Jan;80(1):161-180. doi: 10.1111/all.16220. Epub 2024 Jul 11. PMID: 38989779; PMCID: PMC11724240.
Rosain J, Kiykim A, Michev A, Kendir-Demirkol Y, Rinchai D, Peel JN, Li H, Ocak S, Ozdemir PG, Le Voyer T, Philippot Q, Khan T, Neehus AL, Migaud M, Soudée C, Boisson-Dupuis S, Marr N, Borghesi A, Casanova JL, Bustamante J. Recombinant IFN-γ1b Treatment in a Patient with Inherited IFN-γ Deficiency. J Clin Immunol. 2024 Feb 16;44(3):62. doi: 10.1007/s10875-024-01661-5. PMID: 38363432; PMCID: PMC10873451.
Karaaslan BG, Turan I, Aydemir S, Meric ZA, Atay D, Akcay A, Sari AA, Hershfield M, Cipe F, Aksoy BA, Ersoy GZ, Bozkurt C, Demirkol YK, Ozturk G, Aydogmus C, Kiykim A, Cokugras H. Neurologic Status of Patients with Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase Deficiency Before and After Hematopoetic Stem Cell Transplantation. J Clin Immunol. 2023 Nov;43(8):2062-2075. doi: 10.1007/s10875-023-01585-6. Epub 2023 Sep 20. PMID: 37726596.
Skills
Head of the service of the Pediatric Infectious diseases, University Hospital center " Mother Teresa" Tirana, Albania
Gjeorgjina Kuli‑Lito is a Physician trained on Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa”, Tirana, Albania
Current Positions
Previous Leadership Roles
Education & Training
Selected Projects & Coordination Roles
Professional Memberships
Awards
Languages
Director of the Pediatric Ophthalmology Department, IASO Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
Dr. Jason Mantagos trained in Boston, USA, and after twenty‑five consecutive years of residence in Boston, he returned to Greece in 2022. Dr. Mantagos completed his undergraduate studies in Biology in 2000 (B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Biology) at Boston University, graduated from Boston University School of Medicine in 2004, and subsequently completed his residency in Ophthalmology at Boston University – Boston Medical Center. He then subspecialized in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus at Boston Children’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School during 2008–2009, under the guidance of distinguished faculty members including Dr. David Hunter, Dr. Linda Dagi, and Dr. Deborah Vanderveen.
From 2009 to 2021, Dr. Mantagos worked as a full‑time pediatric ophthalmologist at Boston Children’s Hospital. In 2009, he was appointed Instructor in Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, and in 2016 he was promoted to Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, a position he continues to hold. In 2018, he earned his PhD from the School of Medicine of the University of Patras. From 2015 to 2021, he served as Director of the Harvard Pediatric Ophthalmology Fellowship Program.
His teaching has been recognized and awarded as the best educational contribution to ophthalmology residents at Boston Children’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on strabismus, new virtual‑reality–based treatments for amblyopia, Stevens–Johnson syndrome, and retinopathy of prematurity. Dr. Mantagos has authored more than 50 scientific publications, has delivered numerous presentations at international conferences, and serves as a reviewer for multiple international scientific journals.
Dr. Mantagos’ clinical and research interests include retinopathy of prematurity, pediatric cataract, Stevens–Johnson syndrome, and strabismus in both children and adults. He is internationally recognized as an expert on the ocular manifestations of Progeria, a rare genetic premature‑aging disorder affecting approximately 350 children worldwide.
He is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Hellenic Ophthalmological Society, and the Hellenic Society of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.
In 2022, Dr. Mantagos assumed the Directorship of the Pediatric Ophthalmology Department at IASO Children’s Hospital, while continuing his teaching and clinical work at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Hon. Prof. Dr. med. Pediatrician – Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Head of the Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition Unit, 1st Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece at “Ahia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece
Prof. Alexandra Papadopoulou is a Pediatrician – Gastroenterologist and Head of the Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Unit of the 1st Department of Pediatrics of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens at “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital (website: www.gastroped.gr).
She specialized in Pediatric Gastroenterology (1991–1994) at the Institute of Child Health, University of Birmingham, UK, and completed an additional year of training at the Pediatric Gastroenterology Center in Vilnius, Lithuania. In 1998 she was awarded a PhD from the University of Birmingham, and in 2008 she was appointed Honorary Professor of Pediatrics at the State Pediatric Medical University of Saint Petersburg.
She has more than 100 publications in medical journals, over 150 conference presentations, and more than 300 invited lectures at international and Greek medical conferences and symposia. Five of her studies have received honorary distinctions.
She is Associate Editor of Frontiers in Pediatrics and Nutrients, a member of the Editorial Board of the journal Pediatrics of the Hellenic Pediatric Society, and a reviewer for numerous international scientific journals.
Since 1998 she has been a member of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN), on behalf of which she successfully organized international educational symposia and schools, including the 49th Annual ESPGHAN Meeting, attended by more than 4,000 participants from over 100 countries.
In 2011 she was elected a member of the ESPGHAN Gastroenterology Committee for the years 2011–2017, where she served as Education Secretary. From 2014–2017 she served on the ESPGHAN Public Affairs Committee, and in 2015–2016 she was a member of the ESPGHAN Council.
She contributed to the authorship of 23 international Clinical Practice Guidelines in Pediatric Gastroenterology, as well as the ESPGHAN European Training Curriculum in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (2014).
From 2017–2024 she served as a member of the National Nutrition Policy Committee of the Greek Ministry of Health. In 2018, following her proposal, the updated National Guidelines for the Introduction of Solid Foods were published, in collaboration with the National Breastfeeding Committee.
In 2020 she was appointed Coordinator on behalf of ESPGHAN for the first international Clinical Practice Guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases in children, in collaboration with the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN).
In 2024 she is the first author of the world’s first joint ESPGHAN–NASPGHAN Guidelines on Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases, and co–first author (with two others) of the updated ESPGHAN Guidelines on Eosinophilic Esophagitis.
In 2023 and 2024 she ranked 3rd on the list of the international independent organization World Scientist and University Rankings, among 50 Greek Professors of Pediatrics from 9 Greek Universities (and 2nd at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), based on citations over the last six years (5,923). Her international publications can be found on Google scholar:https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=dllhqWAAAAAJ&hl=el
Professor of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology & Nutrition, Istanbul, Turkey
Ender Pehlivanoglu, M.D. is a Professor of Pediatrics and currently the head of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology&Nutrition Clinics of Medicana Hospitals in Istanbul. He also teaches and practices at Istanbul Kent University.
Dr. Pehlivanoglu’s clinical interests cover a wide range of interventional gastroenterology patients. In addition to pediatric diseases, his expertise includes infant nutrition, pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and endoscopic procedures. Dr. Pehlivanoglu’s current research interests focus on the digestive diseases and Helicobacter pylori infection. He has been performing many studies to develop techniques for therapeutic endoscopy for all age groups of pediatrics including neonatal period. He had and continues to have leadership roles in landmark studies in his areas of his research interests recently in the field of gut microbiota, celiac disease and hepatic steatosis.
Dr. Pehlivanoglu received his medical degree from Aegean University School of Medicine Izmir in Turkey (1979), where he completed his internship and residency in Pediatrics. He also had his neonatology training at the Royal Postgraduate School of London (1985). He was then awarded fellowships by University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in division of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (1988). He has done many activities for World Health Organization. He returned to Istanbul and founded the first specialty training programme of Turkey in Marmara Medical Scool for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (1988). He became an associate professor of pediatrics at the same university (1989). He was appointed to Marmara University Scool of Medicine as a Professor of Pediatrics in 1994. He also founded Turkish Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition and became the president of the society for many years.
Dr. Pehlivanoglu is heavily involved in the training of young pediatricians and gastroenterologists. He has held several academic appointments including Instructor in pediatrics in several countries. He has authored or co-authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Pehlivanoglu has directed or co-directed many national and international symposiums and professional conferences worldwide, and has been an invited lecturer to many others. He is currently on the editorial board of several academic journals.
Dr. Pehlivanoglu is a member of European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN), American Society of Parenteral Enteral Nutrition, Mediterranean Medical Society, Turkish Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Turkish Pediatric Society and Mother&Baby Foundation.
Specialty Interests
ut microbiota&probiotics, pediatric endoscopy (diagnostic & therapeutic), esophageal dilatation techniques, Helicobacter pylori&digestive disorders, , caustic injury, celiac disease, gastrointestinal allergy, food intolerance, constipation, gastrointestinal motility, TPN, tube feeding, malnutrition, obesity, hepatic steatosis, gastroesophageal reflux, diarrhea, anorexia and abdominal pain.
Emeritus Professor of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA); Greece, Scientific Director of the Pediatric Gastroenterology Department, "MITERA" Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece
Prof. Roma has served at the 1st Department of Pediatrics of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA); Greece, having been elected through all academic ranks: Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Full Professor.
A graduate of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA); Greece, she trained in Pediatrics at the 1st Department of Pediatrics of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA); Greece she completed her subspecialty training in Pediatric Gastroenterology at the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London.
Upon returning from her fellowship, she organized and directed for 35 years the Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition Unit of the 1st Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens. Over these years, together with her colleagues, she managed approximately 150,000 children with gastrointestinal, hepatic, and nutritional disorders. Examples include hundreds of children with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, gastritis, Helicobacter pylori infection, chronic diarrhea, and thousands of children with constipation, gastroesophageal reflux, eosinophilic esophagitis, etc.
This unit became the first organized pediatric gastroenterology center in Greece, where young pediatric gastroenterologists were trained and where all modern diagnostic tools were introduced, including endoscopy, pH‑metry, manometry, and hydrogen breath testing. Dedicated outpatient clinics were established for gastroenterology, hepatology, and inflammatory bowel disease (colitis and Crohn’s disease).
Professor Roma was the first pediatric gastroenterologist in Greece to perform endoscopies in children and one of the pioneers in establishing Pediatric Gastroenterology as a subspecialty in the country.
She has taught gastroenterology and nutrition to thousands of medical students and pediatricians and has supervised dozens of doctoral theses.
She has served as:
She founded the Hellenic Society for Patients with Celiac Disease, where she continues to offer support whenever needed, as well as the Hellenic Society for Patients with Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease.
She participates in working groups and multicenter studies in Greece and abroad, and has been invited as a speaker or moderator at numerous national and international conferences.
Her research work spans all three fields of the subspecialty—gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition—and includes 120 international and 80 Greek publications.
Today, she is Emeritus Professor of Pediatric Gastroenterology and continues her research and teaching activities, as well as supervising doctoral theses at the 1st Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens.
In parallel, she is Scientific Director of the Pediatric Gastroenterology Department at “Mitera” Hospital, where children with gastrointestinal, hepatic, and nutritional disorders are treated and where endoscopic procedures are performed.
President, European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) Full Professor of Pediatrics, University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy
Professional Profile
Prof. Annamaria Staiano is a leading pediatric gastroenterologist with an extensive academic, clinical, and scientific career at the University of Naples “Federico II”. She currently serves as President of ESPGHAN and as Full Professor of Pediatrics in the Department of Translational Medical Sciences.
Clinical Roles
She has held continuous clinical appointments at the University Hospital “Federico II” since 1987, progressing from Assistant Physician to Senior Consultant. From 1993 to 2025, she directed the Specialist Unit of Pediatric Digestive Endoscopy and Motility, and from 2007 to 2025, she led the Regional Referral Center for Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
Scientific Contributions
Prof. Staiano is the author of approximately 300 publications in international journals, with an H‑index of 58 and over 10,000 citations, reflecting her major impact on pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition.
Education & Early Training
She completed her pediatric training at the University of Naples and undertook her hospital internship at the A. Cardarelli Hospital. She has been continuously involved in pediatric clinical practice and academic medicine since 1980.
Languages
Italian (native), English (written and spoken)
Prof. Emeritus of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Greece, Chair of the Greek National Vaccination Committee, Athens, Greece
Maria Papagrigorou–Theodoridou graduated with distinction from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in 1969. She specialized in Pediatrics at the 1st Department of Pediatrics of the University of Athens and completed postgraduate training, supported by an IKY scholarship, in Virology at the Institute of Child Health, University of London, Great Ormond Street. She received her subspecialty title in Infectious Diseases in 1996.
She was Head of the Infectious Diseases Department of the Pediatric AIDS Unit at “Agia Sophia” Children’s Hospital—which she founded—and served in this role until 2012. She served at the University of Athens for more than 35 years, progressing through all academic ranks from Lecturer to Full Professor.
Her lectures, presentations, and publications—both Greek and international—focus primarily on infections, vaccines, and AIDS.
She has been a member of the National Immunization Committee for over 20 years and has served as its Chair for the past five years.
Associate Professor in Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Todate, I am an Associate Professor in Genetics and lead the darkDNA group at the Genetics Laboratory of the Biotechnology Department, School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology of the Agricultural University of Athens. The main research interests of my group are related to Genetics, Evolution, Bioinformatics and the analysis of large, heterogeneous and multidimensional data in genetics. I teach the courses of Genetics, Genetics of Human Diseases, Computational-Translational Genetics and Genetics of Viruses in the undergraduate program of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens.
I am a medical biochemist with postgraduate, doctoral and postdoctoral studies in the eminent fields of genetics, epigenetics, evo-devo, gwas, medicinal chemistry, pharmacophore elucidation and drug discovery.
I am a passionate drug hunter. Besides AUA, I have been elected Research Director Investigator A’ level in Translational Precision Medicine at the URI, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens.
I have also been appointed as Aff Professor at the Informatics Department of the King’s College London. At the National Organization for Medicines (EOF) I am serving as the Vice President of the Greek HTA (Health Technology Assessment) Committee as well as the Representative of the of Greek HTA at the European Commission. Since 2022 I serve as the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Structural Bioinformatics . Finally, I am member of the FontInov International Research Network.
To date, I have published more than 250 original peer-reviewed articles, 10 ISBN books, 5 scientific patents and have been on the receiving end of numerous grants and awards.
Personal Website: darkDNA
Associate Professor of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Associate Professor in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology with extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of primary immunodeficiencies, pediatric allergic diseases, immune dysregulation disorders, and clinical research. Active investigator in national and international clinical studies, with a strong publication record in high-impact journals including Allergy, Journal of Experimental Medicine, Clinical Immunology, and Journal of Clinical Immunology. Experienced in translational immunology research, clinical trials, and academic teaching.
EDUCATION
Fellowship in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology / Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine / Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology / Completed: 2014
Residency in Pediatrics / Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine / Department of Pediatrics / Completed: 2009
Doctor of Medicine (MD) / Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine / Graduated: 2003
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
Associate Professor / Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology / 2022 – Present
Assistant Professor / Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Division of Pediatrics / 2018 – 2023
CLINICAL AND RESEARCH INTERESTS
CLINICAL TRIAL EXPERIENCE
Sub-Investigator- Phase III Study – Atopic Dermatitis / 2024
Sub-Investigator- Phase III Study – Adolescent Vitiligo / 2025
Investigator- Study to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of QGE031 in Adolescent Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria / International Multicenter Study / 2017–2021
Investigator – Immunological and Genetic Characterization of Immunodeficiency Patients with Lymphoproliferation / National Research Project / 2020–Present
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS