Paris A. Skourides

Professor Paris A. Skourides carried out his undergraduate studies as a Fulbright Scholar at Brandeis University (Boston, USA), where he graduated summa cum laude with highest honors in Biochemistry. In this period, he was awarded the Nathan O. Kaplan Prize in Biochemistry and was selected as a Howard Hughes undergraduate fellow. He then joined The Rockefeller University (NY) where he carried out his PhD under the supervision of Dr A. Brivanlou. At Rockefeller he investigated the molecular basis of morphogenetic movements in Xenopus and developed biocompatible Quantum Dots and imaging applications in collaboration with the lab of Experimental Condensed Matter Physics of Dr. Libchaber.

He joined the University of Cyprus in 2004 where he established the Cell and Developmental Biology laboratory. His group’s research focuses on vertebrate development using Xenopus as a model, in particular seeking to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in generating the 3D organization of tissues and the roles of focal adhesion proteins and mechanotransduction in these processes. Additionally, research examines novel functions of adhesion proteins, for example their role in multiciliated cell development, with the discovery of the ciliary adhesion complex, and the contribution of aberrant function in pathogenetic processes in cancer.