George Kollias is a biologist, Member of the Academy of Athens, Professor of Experimental Physiology at the Medical School of the University of Athens and Director of the Immunology Division at the Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", where he served as President and Scientific director from 2002-2010. Dr. Kollias has pioneered genetic approaches to study the function of cytokine signaling in animal models of human diseases, with specific focus on Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF). His lab is renowned for proof of principle preclinical studies that led to the development of anti-TNF therapies for rheumatoid arthritis and for advancing knowledge on molecular and cellular mechanisms driving chronic inflammation and autoimmunity (e.g. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Multiple Sclerosis). Dr. Kollias has published over 150 primary research articles in peer-reviewed journals and more than 40 reviews and commentaries (>25.000 citations, h-index of 71 Source: Google Scholar). His laboratory is supported by several competitive grants from the European Commission and national sources, as well as by the pharmaceutical industry.  He was recently awarded an Advanced grant from the European Research Council (ERC) to study the role of mesenchymal cells in intestinal tissue homeostasis and pathophysiology.  

 Genetic approaches to study the function of cytokine signaling in animal models of human diseases, with specific focus on Tumor Necrosis Factor