Dr Ioannis Kanakis
Associate Professor
Biography
Ioannis obtained his BSc (Hons) in Chemistry from the University of Patras, Greece. Following completion of an MSc in Applied Biochemistry – Biotechnology, he received his PhD in Clinical Biochemistry, studying the use of bone biochemical markers in cancer-induced bone disease. He then moved to the Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research (University of Manchester) and worked towards the evaluation of a new therapeutic for post-menopausal osteoporosis using rodent models. Ioannis also gained postdoctoral experience at the Institute of Life Course & Medical Sciences (ILCMS, University of Liverpool) investigating gene therapeutic approaches in osteoarthritis. He also studied the effects of intrauterine and postnatal nutritional programming on the development of the musculoskeletal system exploring the epigenetic regulation with focus on microRNAs. He has established collaborations with ILCMS and is an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Liverpool. Ioannis started his post as a Senior Lecturer at the Chester Medical School in 2021 and promoted to Associate Professor in 2023.
Teaching and Supervision
Ioannis has many years of experience in teaching Clinical Biochemistry and associated diseases. He is the Programme Lead for MSc Diabetes and interim Lead for MSc Respiratory Medicine. He is the Module Lead for a number of Modules across all levels. He has supervised more than 70 undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations and is also a supervisor for PhD students at the Chester Medical School and the University of Liverpool. Ioannis acts as External Examiner for PhDs and MRes at Liverpool and MMU in Manchester. He holds a PGCert and is also the Deputy PGR Tutor at the Chester Medical School and is also the Module Lead for the MSc Dissertation module.
Research and Knowledge Exchange
Ioannis’s research interests focus on the development and application of biomarkers for the diagnosis of various diseases and the follow-up of patients under treatment by the use of different techniques. He is an expert in musculoskeletal biology with publications concerning a variety of age-related pathologies, mainly osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and skeletal muscle deterioration. Ioannis has also a solid knowledge and has published original articles on the role of extracellular matrix macromolecules in bone metastasis. He has developed strong national and international collaborations with the Institute of Life Course & Medical Sciences in Liverpool, National University of Ireland Galway, University of East Anglia and University of Cambridge to study the role of maternal diet on the skeletal muscles and bones in the offspring. In particular, he explores the epigenetic regulation of the musculoskeletal system during development as well as in ageing with special interest in microRNAs. Ioannis established strong collaborations with the Countess of Chester and Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt NHS Trusts and jointly conduct clinical studies in diabetic bone disease. Ioannis has published more than 40 original research articles, reviews and book chapters with more than 1,300 citations having an h-index of 17.