Ms. Theodora Chatzilygeroudi is an intern doctor specializing in hematology, with a PhD in “Investigation of Epigenetic Markers, such as Fetal Hemoglobin (HbF), and the Epigenetic Landscape in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) Receiving Demethylation Therapy.”
As part of her scholarship in the United States, she explored the role of HbF transcriptional modifiers—key players in hematopoiesis and cancer—through gene editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 system in leukemia cell lines, and investigated the control of growth, clonogenicity, and drug sensitivity.
“The IKY-Fulbright experience was much more than a scholarship! This six-month period has been a landmark in my growth, both as a researcher and as an individual. At Johns Hopkins University, under the guidance of Assistant Professor Theodoros Karantanos, I had the opportunity to learn cutting-edge technologies in a mentorship-rich environment and delve deeper into the translational aspects of my research. Thinking outside the box to find answers to research questions, as well as evaluating and presenting our results, are just a few of the skills I developed during this time. Returning home, I am ready to carve my own path with an enriched mindset and vision. Thank you, IKY-Fulbright, for such a unique experience.”