Marina Sagnou

Personal Details

NAME: Marina Sagnou
DATE & PLACE OF BIRTH: 13/09/71-Athens
AGE: 29 SEX: Female
NATIONALITY: Greek MARITAL STATUS: Single
CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS: National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Institute of Chemistry, Bioorganic chemistry Lab, Ag. Paraskevi, 153 10, Athens, Greece.
Tel No.: + 301-650 36 54 Fax No.: + 301-651 17 66
HOME ADDRESS: 7, Marathonos street, Vrilissia, 152 35, Athens, Greece.
Tel No: + 301-683 30 85 / 576 13 74 Mobile No.: 093- 650 36 54

Education

1993-1998

University of Portsmouth, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s Building, White Swan Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2DZ.

PhD thesis of the title: «Rational design, synthesis and biological evaluation of prodrugs of the Pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine family of antitumour antibiotics». It involved the preparation of 13 novel anticancer prodrugs. The three year research has been financially supported by a scholarship from the Bodossakis Foundation, Athens and the bench fees have been covered by Cancer Research Campaign.

1990-1993

St. Mary’s College-College of University of Surrey, Twickenham.

BSc I class (Hons) in Biology/Chemistry. Final year projects: 1) The synthesis of steroid cisplatin analogues and the kinetic investigation of their binding with nucleosides; 2) Isolation and inhibition studies on the cytochrome P-450 from the yeast S. Cerevisiae.

1989-1990 M.I.S, Athens; A-levels in Biology, Chemistry, Physics.
 

Jan 2000-current

Senior Research Scientist

ZeinCRO Hellas, Melissia, Athens

Nov 1998-current

Postdoc position at the Bioorganic Lab of "Demokritos" involved in a government funded program (E.P.E.T II) on the "Development and use of biotechnological methods for Taxolâ production and related metabolites". Also dealing with drug design and synthesis
May 1997-July 1998 Working in the DNA repair laboratory of "Demokritos" for an EEC supported research program on «the effects of pesticides on the DNA of human populations». Experience in DNA damage and repair techniques such as «comet assay», chromosome abberation and micronuclei. Questionnaire setting and sample surveying is also a part of the project.
Oct 1997-current Hellanion-University of Portsmouth, Athens, Greece
Teaching Biological Chemistry as part of the Sport Science Course (1st year)
Oct 1993-Sep 1996 Practical work for the PhD; Experience in chemical design and synthesis of anticancer drugs and prodrugs and in vitro testing on cancer cell lines. HPLC monitoring of their metabolic fate and evaluation. Research and write-up supervision of a final year undergraduate project. Attendance of group meetings, informal presentations, journal updates and classes in Drug design and chemical mechanisms for drug synthesis

Oct 1996-Feb 1997

 Demonstration of undergraduate practical classes in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacy
Sep 1996-May 1997 Langstone Campus (QEQM), University of Portsmouth, Furze Lane, Portsmouth, PO4 8LW
Resident tutor in a campus of 450 students.
Jun 1992-Sep 1992 Full-time voluntary work in the analytical chemistry research laboratory of University of Surrey. Experience in AAS, GC, HPLC, ICP MS applied on the trace metal analysis of biological and environmental samples. Two poster presentations were the outcome of the research
1990-1995 Several part-time jobs in the catering industry (Mc Donald’s, St. Mary’s College, Fistful of tacos) and the Royal mail for extra financial support.
Computer skills
Through university, I explored the use of several packages and applications, such as Word for Windows, Microsoft excell, ChemWind, ChemDraw, PowerPoint, Hyperchem and Microcal Origin for the successful data handling and presentation of results in reports, projects, presentations etc. The use of Internet and electronic libraries for the collection of information was also essential part of my research experience.
Interests
Swimming (3rd winner in the Greek championship, member of the Greek team, captain of St. Mary’s College swimming team), reading poetry, novels and science, theatre (member of the drama society of Varvakios School of Athens), music, cooking, walking, meeting people and traveling.
Publications-Conferences
  • Sagnou, M. J, Couladouros, E. A. and Sivolapenko, G. B, "Benzoquinone and Naphthoquinone Derivatives with Biological Activity", patent application submitted.
  • Marina J.Sagnou, Philip W. Howard, Steven J. Gregson, Philip J. Burke, David E. Thurston, "Design and synthesis of novel pyrollobenzodiazepine (PBD) prodrugs for ADEPT Therapy", Bioorg. Med. Chem. Letts, in press (2000).
  • Marina J.Sagnou, Philip W. Howard, Steven J. Gregson, Philip J. Burke, David E. Thurston, "Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel pyrollobenzodiazepine (PBD) prodrugs", J. Med. Chem, in press (2000).
  • S. M. Piperakis, E.-E. Visvardis, M. Sagnou and A. M. Tassiou, (1998) Effects of smoking and ageing on oxidative DNA damage of human lymphocytes, Carcinogenesis , 19, 695-698.
  • M. Piperakis, E.-E. Visvardis, M. Sagnou and A. M. Tassiou, DNA damage in smokers’ lymphocytes; Poster presentation (European Environmental Conference, Toulouse, 1997)
  • E.-E. Visvardis, M. Sagnou, L. H. Margaritis and S. M. Piperakis, DNA repair and induction of apoptosis in PBMCs due to ionising radiation DNA damage; Poster presentation (Radiation Research Society Annual Meetuing, Luisville, USA, 1998).
  • E-E. Visvardis, S. M. Piperakis, M. Sagnou, V. Sophianopoulou, Th. Pataryas and L. H. Margaritis, Analysis at the single cell level of the DNA repair capacity and induction of apoptosis in normal and leukemic human lymphocytes under oxidative DNA damage; Poster presentation (Silver Jubilee FEBS Meeting, Denmark, July, 1998)
  • University of Portsmouth, "Novel Anticancer Agents: PDT/ADEPT Agents", patent application No. 98818731.3, 28/8/98; Financial support by Cancer Research Campaign Technology-UK
Referees
  • Prof. D. E. Thurtson, Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Portsmouth,School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, St. Michael’s building, White Swan Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT; Tel. +44-1705-84 35 98, +44-403-11 76 06

  • Dr. P. J. Burke, ADEPT programme Co-ordinator, Charing Cross Hospital, Dep. Of Medicinal Oncology, Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith; 0044-181-846 1413
  • Dr. D. Panagiotakos, Hellanion-University of Portsmouth, Course Director, Athens; Tel. 00301-330 3333 or 3305134
  • Dr. E. Couladouros, Assoc. Prof. Agricultural University of Athens, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Institute of Chemistry, Bioorganic chemistry Lab, Ag. Paraskevi, 153 10, Athens, Greece.
    Tel No.: + 301-650 36 54, Fax No.: + 301-651 17 66