Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine
UNIverse - Public Research Portal

[FG] Papadopoulou Athina

Research Group Athina Papadopoulou

Research Focus

Neurology


Area of Research

  • Use of imaging methods (Optical Coherence Tomography, OCT and magnetic resonance imaging, MRI) to understand and quantify neurodegenerative processes in neuroimmunological diseases (esp. multiple sclerosis, MS)
  • Development of new markers (e.g. retinal ganglion cell layer, thalamic LGN) for neurodegeneration in visual pathway and CNS in general 
  • Multidisciplinary therapeutic approaches in MS (e.g., music therapy)
  • Migraine and central pain 


Approved Research Projects

  • 01/2020-01/2021 “Rückkehrer-Stipendium, Bereich Innere Medizin”, University Hospital of Basel
  • 01/2018-09/2019 “Trans-synaptic neurodegeneration in the visual pathway of patients with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder”; Advanced Mobility Grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation (project number: P300PB_174480)
  • 12/2017-12/2019 “Optical Coherence Tomography as a marker of cognitive impairment in Multiple Sclerosis”; Research Grant from the „Stiftung zur Förderung der gastroenterologischen und allgemeinen klinischen Forschung sowie der medizinischen Bildauswertung”
  • 07/2016-06/2017 “Optical Coherence Tomography as a marker of cognitive impairment in Multiple Sclerosis”; Research Grant from the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Society
  • 04/2014-03/2015 „Mechanisms of damage along the visual pathway in MS and their relation to clinical disability: a comprehensive study with OCT, VEP and advanced MRI“; University of Basel: „Förderung von Nachwuchsforschenden“


Collaborations

National Collaborations

  • Prof. K. Gugleta, Augenklinik, Universitätsspital Basel 
  • Prof. W. Ruppen, Schmerztherapie, Anästhesie, Universitätsspital Basel
  • Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB)

International Collaborations

  • Research Group of Prof. F. Paul, Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, DE
  • Research Group of Dr. A. U. Brandt, Neurology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, USAResearch Group of X. Montalban, Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia (Cemcat), Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona.
  • Prof. Till Sprenger, DKD Helios Klinik Wiesbaden, Department of Neurology, Wiesbaden, Germany 
  • IMSVISUAL Consortium (International Multiple Sclerosis Visual System Consortium)
  • MAGNIMS Network (Magnetic Resonance Imaging in MS) 


Ongoing Research Projects

  • Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) as a marker of cognitive and physical disability in multiple sclerosis
  • Associations of Optical Coherence Tomography with other imaging- and serum biomarkers in multiple sclerosis and in normal ageing
  • Serum NfL as predictor of neuroaxonal integrity in the retina and brain of healthy subjects: a longitudinal study
  • MUsic Therapy In Multiple Sclerosis (MuTiMS): a randomised, controlled-trial
  • Study of the visual pathway in patients presenting with a clinically isolated syndrome; a multicenter prospective study
  • Central post-stroke pain of thalamic origin: clinical and MRI-predictors