Zannis Vassilis
Vassilis I. Zannis received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from UC Berkeley, USA.
He is presently Professor of Medicine/Biochemistry and Director of Molecular Genetics at Boston University School of Medicine.
His research interests include apolipoprotein gene regulation in vivo, the role of apoA-I and apoE in lipid homeostasis and the biogenesis of HDL, and the role of apoE in Alzheimer's disease.
Graduate Education
Degree Discipline University Year of Award
PhD Biochemistry UC Berkeley 1975
Postdoctoral Training
1975-1977 Dept. of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
1977-1978 Dept. of Chemistry, MIT, Cambridge
1978-1979 Metabolism Div., Children's Hosp. & Dept. Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston
Academic Appointments
1979-1982 Research Associate, Metabolism Div. & Dept. Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Fellow of The Medical Foundation, Inc., Boston
1982-1984 Assistant Professor, Pediatrics-Biochem., Dept. Pediatrics, Harvard Med. Sch., Boston
1984-1987 Assoc. Prof. Medicine/Biochemistry, BUSM, Director, Molecular Genetics,
1986-pres Professor of Biochemistry, Univ. of Crete Medical School, Crete, Greece
1987-pres Prof. Medicine/Biochemistry, BU School of Medicine, Director, Molecular Genetics,
Hospital Appointments
Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Boston
Major Awards and Honors
1983-1986 Established Investigator Award of the American Heart Association
Major Memberships, Offices and Committee Assignments in Professional Societies
1981, American Chemical Society; 1981, Fellow, Council on Arteriosclerosis, American Heart Association; 1983, American Society of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Biology; 1997, American Society of Gene Therapy; 1999, European Atherosclerosis Society; 1999, Hellenic Society of Lipidiology and Atherosclerosis (President, 2004-2006)
Editorial Boards
2000-2002 Current Opinion in Lipidology
Evaluation of International Research Projects
1985-2003, NIH ad hoc Committee Member; 1986/1987, EPET; 1993/1998, European Union grants; 1999-2004, American Heart Association
Invitations to International Meetings and Conferences
Participant on an average of 3 meetings per year.
General Research Area
Molecular genetics of apolipoproteins and lipoproteins in relation to atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease
Research Interest and Ongoing Research:
- Elucidation of the structure-functions of human apoA-I and apoE in vivo using transgenic and gene transfer methodologies. Role of apoA-I in the biogenesis and the functions of HDL. Role of apoE in cholesterol and triglyceride homeostasis in the circulation. Role of apoE in lipid homeostasis in the brain, and the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
Transcriptional regulation of the apoA-I, apoCIII and apoA-IV gene cluster in vivo using antisense and transgenic methodologies and adenovirus-mediated gene transfer.
Research Publications
Total number of original articles in peer-reviewed journals: 160
Total number of reviews and book chapters: 47
Total number of citations: ~6,000
Average Impact Factor: ~6
