School of Health Sciences - Dionyssis S. Ithakissios
1999 Distinguished Alumnus

After earning a B.S. in pharmacy in 1965, Dr. Ithakissios began work on a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry through a fellowship from the Greek Atomic Energy Commission at the University of Athens. He received his doctorate in 1969, and earned a Ph.D. in bionucleonics from Purdue in 1973. That same year, he began a five-year position as senior radiochemist with the 3M Nuclear Medical Laboratory.

After receiving his first Ph.D. in 1969, began his long-term involvement with the organization now known as The National Center for Scientific Research (NSCR) "Demokritos," the multidisciplinary research center established by the Greek Parliament in 1958 as a branch of the Greek Atomic Energy Commission to promote nuclear research and development in Greece for peaceful purposes. Its reactor was donated by the U.S. Government as part of the program "Atoms for Peace." Today, the scientific activities of the Center are carried out in eight institutes concentrated in the areas of energy; new materials, solid state physics, and microeletronics; informatics and telecommunications; health; environment; and cultural heritage.

Dr. Ithakissios started his career with NCSR "Demokritos" as laboratory supervisor of the radioisotope department from 1969-71, and resumed his work with the organization from 1979-83 as research director of the radioimmunochemistry laboratory. From 1989-94, he was the director of the radioisotopes/radiodiagnostic products institute and a board member. In 1996, he assumed the directorship of the organization.

A registered pharmacist, Dr. Ithakissios also is a professor of pharmaceutical technology and radiopharmacy at the University of Patras School of Pharmacy, a position he has held since 1983.

His research interests include system engineering and technologies for sustained-release systems (polymers, nanoparticles, microspheres, and liposomes) and optimal delivery or targeting of drugs, along with design and development of immunoassay methodologies, radiopharmaceuticals, and pharmacokinetics. He is the author of two textbooks and has published more than 180 abstracts and articles in international journals. In addition, 14 students have successfully presented their Ph.D. theses under his supervision.

Dr. Ithakissios is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, The New York Academy of Sciences, the U.S.A. Society of Nuclear Medicine, the European Nuclear Medicine Society, the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, the Clinical Ligand Assay Society, the International Pharmaceutical Federation, and several Greek scientific societies. Honorary society membership includes Sigma Xi (for research), Rho Chi (for Pharmacy), and Phi Lambda Upsilon (for Chemistry). He has had fellowships with both the Green and French Atomic Energy Commission and with the Purdue Research Foundation.

He is chairman of the board or member of several national and international academic or scientific committees for research, health, radiation protection, journals, pharmaceooeia, and education, as well as president or member of several Greek social societies.

Dr. Ithakissios and his wife, Xanthia Papaeliou, have three daughters, Fotini, Constantina, and Eliana.