Seyed Mojtaba Ghiasi

CV

Academic Awards:

1. 1.       01/2015-06/2018: PhD (second PhD) in cellular and genetic medicine, BMI, UCPH, Denmark

PhD thesis: Molecular mechanisms of inflammatory and metabolic stress-induced dysfunction and apoptosis related to ER stress in pancreatic beta cells

Main supervisor/Mentor: Prof. Thomas Mandrup-Poulsen

Co-supervisors: Prof. Peter E. Nielsen, Prof. Henrik E. Poulsen; Project evaluator/Mentor: Prof. Jens Høiriis Nielsen

1. 2.       09/2008-03/2012: PhD (first PhD) in molecular genetics and immunology, NIGEB, Iran

PhD thesis: Evaluation of mouse systematic and mucosal immune responses to immunogenic epitopes of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus glycoprotein expressed in transgenic plants.

Main supervisor: Prof. Ali-Hatef Salmanian

Co-supervisors: Prof. Sedighe Zakeri and Prof. Dr. Sadegh Chinikar

1. 3.       1999-2002: MSc in cellular and molecular biology, Khatam Institute, Iran

Supervisor: Prof. Ali H. Salmanian

MSc thesis: Isolation, Characterization, Cloning of EPSPS Gene from Genome, cDNA, and site-directed mutagenesis to make glyphosate resistant crops

1. 4.       1995-1999: BSc in microbiology, Azad University, Iran

Three-year Internship: in medical laboratory, Qom, Iran

Professional/project managing & leading experience:

1. 11/2015-till now: Postdoctoral scientist; Prof. Ivana Novak, Bio Dpt, UCPH, Denmark
2. 04/2014-06/2018: Research Scientist/PhD Fellow (2^nd PhD); Prof. T. Mandrup-Poulsen, BMI, UCPH, Denmark
3. 01/2013-12/2013: Research Scientist; Prof. P. L. Andersen, SSI, Denmark
4. 04/2011-07/2011: Visiting Scientist; Prof. M. Lisby, UCPH, Denmark
5. 09-2008-03/2012: PhD Fellow (1^st PhD), Prof. A.H. Salmanian, NIGEB, Iran
6. 01/2007-04/2011: Research Scientist; Prof. S. Chinikar, Pasteur Institute, Iran
7. 07/2007-04/2011: Lab Manager & Supervisor (as afternoon side job): Prof. S. Mirdamadi, Laleh Hospital, Tehran, Iran
8. 01/2003-12/2005: Project Manager (Production line/QA/QC Manager); Prof. N. Maghsoudi, Rec Pharma, Iran
9. 04/2002-12/2002: Research Assistant; Prof. A.H. Salmanian, NIGEB, Iran

Grant recipients:

1. 2019: 1.52 Million DKK:  fellowship/research grant, Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF)
2. 2018: 1.2 Million DKK:  fellowship grant, Danish Diabetes Academy (DDA), dropped due to overlapped
3. 2018: 583K DKK: salary and research grant, The Carlsberg Foundation, dropped due to overlapped
4. 2017: 100K DKK; research grant, The Augustinus Foundation
5. 2015; 100K DKK; research grant, The Bjarne Jensen Foundation
6. 2015; 180K DKK; research grant, The Augustinus Foundation
7. 2014; 550K DKK; fellowship grant, Danish Diabetes Academy (DDA)
8. 2014; 650K DKK; fellowship and research grant, Zealand Pharma
9. 2008; 15K €; research grant, World Health Organization (WHO)
10. 2008; 40K US$; research grant, Pasteur Institute
11. 2007; 20K US$; research grant,  Center of Disease Control (CDC) of Iran

Selected project leading (National & International):

1. 2015-2018: the role of RNA decay pathways in metabolic/inflammatory beta cell damage, BMI, UCPH
2. 2015-2018: the role of inflammasome in pancreatic beta cell biology, BMI, UCPH
3. 2015-2018: the role of GRP94 chaperone in insulin biosynthesis, BMI, UCPH
4. 2014-2017: effect of Rotigaptide on pancreatic beta cell function and survival, Zealand Pharma-BMI, UCPH
5. 2013: evaluation of immune responses to recombinant viral vaccines, EU-FASTVAC project, SSI
6. 2009-2010: design, construction and functional assessment of a PhiC31/attB-attP based binary vector, NIGEB
7. 2008-2010: international Network for Capacity Building for the Control of Emerging Viral Vector Borne Zoonotic Diseases, EC-FP7, Pasteur Institute de Paris
8. 2008-2010: generation of transgenic plant expressing immunogenic epitopes of CCHF virus glycoprotein and evaluation of immunological response in laboratory animal, NIGEB
9. 2009: phylogeneic and serological determination of West Nile, Dengue Fever and Rift Valley Fever viruses, Pasteur Institute
10. 2008: expression and Immunogenicity evaluation of CCHF Virus Glycoprotein using Semliki Forest Virus and  Baculovirus Systems, Pasteur Institute

Current research

Recent Research Summary (04/2014-06/2018):

My current postdoctoral research (Nov 2018-Nov 2019) in the Prof. Ivana Novak Lab (Dept. of Biology, UCPH) has been focused on 1) development of a high-throughput reporter assay for monitoring extracellular ATP using genetically engineered ATP sensor on the cell membrane and 2) investigating the molecular mechanisms by which glucolipotoxicity causes ATP release into extracellular islet microenvironment using functional genomics and this FRET-based reporter assay in pancreatic beta cell, rodent and donated human islet live imaging. 

Within my PhD research (second) focused on understanding molecular mechanisms of inflammatory and metabolic damages in pancreatic beta cells from April 2014-June2018 in the Prof. Thomas Mandrup-Poulsen Lab (BMI, UCPH) and ended up to publications in the following areas of pancreatic beta cell biology:

1.            RNA metabolism in inflammatory and metabolic stresses

2.            Inflammasome complex contribution to dysfunction and death of pancreatic beta cells

3.            Pharmacological intervention of gap-junction modifying targets in pancreatic beta cells

4.            The role of chaperons in insulin folding

Past Research Summary (2007-2012):

Due to my post master experience in viral immunology and genetics with focusing on arboviruses and hemorrhagic fever viruses in Pasteur Institute (National Reference Lab and WHO collaborating center), I aimed in my PhD project (first PhD) to make a transgenic plant expressing CCHF Virus glycoprotein and develop an edible vaccine against the virus, thus I got expertise in humanizing transgenic plants for expression of viral glycoproteins and further study on viral immune responses.

Knowledge of languages

English :           Academic/General IELTS and TOEFL; Professional and outstanding

Danish:             upper Intermediate