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USD 75 /hr

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Hire Dr. Dimitrios K.

United States

USD 75 /hr

Neuroscientist / Project Lead / Medical Writer / Consultant

Profile Summary

I am a scientist with a passion for translating bench therapies to the bedside. My career has focused on identifying novel therapeutic targets, biomarker discovery, and re-purposing drugs for new disease indications in preclinical and human studies. I've cultivated independent and successful collaborations, publicized my discoveries through publication, and contributed to a variety of research projects ranging from inflammation, neurotoxicity, and pain, to biomarkers, sedatives, and cancer in my capacity as a scientist, writer, or as a statistician. ● Strong project, time management, and communication skills, having led and collaborated on several basic and clinical projects leading to 12 peer-reviewed publications: 5 as primary author/writer, and one research study (VA I21-RX003170). ● Specialties: Project leadership, Medical writing, Scientific & literature review, Collaboration, Data management, Statistics, Grant writing, Publication planning & development, Due diligence, Technology assessment, Public speaking, Research animal welfare regulation, Laboratory safety, Molecular & cell biology, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Assay development. ● Subject Expertise: Alcohol, Bladder pain, Biomarker discovery, Cell death, Inflammation, Neurodegeneration, and Toxicity. ● Publications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/dimitrios.kouzoukas.1/bibliography/public/

Subject Matter Expertise

• ★ Immunoassay
• ★ Neurochemistry
• ☆ Biostatistics
• ☆ Biochemical Assays
• ☆ Neuroscience
• ☆ Neuropharmacology
• ☆ Pain Management
• ☆ Alcohol Abuse Treatment

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting
• Data & AI
• Product Development

Work Experience

Research Health Scientist

Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital

April 2019 - Present

Global Scholar (Intelligence Analyst)

PreScouter, Inc

April 2018 - Present

Research Assistant Professor

Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

December 2016 - March 2019

Research Associate

Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

August 2015 - November 2016

Postdoctoral Scholar

University of Kentucky

August 2012 - June 2015

Graduate Research Assistant

University of Iowa

January 2006 - December 2010

Education

Ph.D. (Interdisciplinary Studies - Neurobiology )

University of Iowa

- December 2010

B.S. (Biology & Psychology)

Loyola University Chicago

- May 1997

Certifications

• Certification details not provided.

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Kouzoukas DE, Schreiber JA, Tajuddin NF, Kaja S, Neafsey EJ, Kim HY, Collins MA(2019). PARP inhibition blocks alcohol-induced neurodegeneration and neuroinflammatory cytosolic phospholipase A2 elevations . Neurochemistry international.

(2019). MIF mediates bladder pain, not inflammation, in cyclophosphamide cystitis .

Kouzoukas, D.E., Schreiber, J.A., Tajuddin, N.F., Kaja, S., Neafsey, E.J., Kim, H.-Y., Collins, M.A.(2019). PARP inhibition in vivo blocks alcohol-induced brain neurodegeneration and neuroinflammatory cytosolic phospholipase A2 elevations . Neurochemistry International. 129.

Ma, F., Kouzoukas, D.E., Meyer-Siegler, K.L., Hunt, D.E., Leng, L., Bucala, R., Vera, P.L.(2019). MIF mediates bladder pain, not inflammation, in cyclophosphamide cystitis . Cytokine: X. 1. (1).

Pedro L. Vera, David M. Preston, Robert M. Moldwin, Deborah R. Erickson, Behzad Mowlazadeh, Fei Ma, Dimitrios E. Kouzoukas, Katherine L. Meyer-Siegler, Magnus Fall(2018). Elevated Urine Levels of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in Inflammatory Bladder Conditions: A Potential Biomarker for a Subgroup of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome Patients . Urology. 116. p. 55--62. Elsevier {BV}

Dimitrios E. Kouzoukas, Ramesh C. Bhalla, Nicholas J. Pantazis(2018). Activation of cyclic {GMP}-dependent protein kinase blocks alcohol-mediated cell death and calcium disruption in cerebellar granule neurons . Neuroscience Letters. 676. p. 108--112. Elsevier {BV}

Fukushiro-Lopes, D.F., Hegel, A.D., Rao, V., Wyatt, D., Baker, A., Breuer, E.-K., Osipo, C., Zartman, J.J., Burnette, M., Kaja, S., et al.(2018). Preclinical study of a Kv11.1 potassium channel activator as antineoplastic approach for breast cancer . Oncotarget. 9. (3). p. 3321-3337.

Kouzoukas, D.E., Bhalla, R.C., Pantazis, N.J.(2018). Activation of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase blocks alcohol-mediated cell death and calcium disruption in cerebellar granule neurons . Neuroscience Letters. 676. p. 108-112.

Henry, R.G., Raybould, T.P., Romond, K., Kouzoukas, D.E., Challman, S.D.(2018). Clonidine as a preoperative sedative . Special Care in Dentistry. 38. (2). p. 80-88.

Vera, P.L., Preston, D.M., Moldwin, R.M., Erickson, D.R., Mowlazadeh, B., Ma, F., Kouzoukas, D.E., Meyer-Siegler, K.L., Fall, M.(2018). Elevated Urine Levels of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in Inflammatory Bladder Conditions: A Potential Biomarker for a Subgroup of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome Patients . Urology. 116. p. 55-62.

(2018). Clonidine as a preoperative sedative . Special Care in Dentistry.

Pedro L. Vera, David M. Preston, Robert M. Moldwin, Deborah R. Erickson, Behzad Mowlazadeh, Fei Ma, Dimitrios E. Kouzoukas, Katherine L. Meyer-Siegler, Magnus Fall(2018). Elevated Urine Levels of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in Inflammatory Bladder Conditions: a Potential Biomarker for a Subgroup of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome Patients . Urology.

(2017). Macrophage migration inhibitory factor mediates protease-activated receptor 4-induced bladder pain through urothelial high mobility group box 1 . Physiological reports.

Ma F, Kouzoukas DE, Meyer-Siegler KL, Westlund KN, Hunt DE, Vera PL, BMC physiology, 2017, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 6, 2017 .

(2017). Disulfide high mobility group box-1 causes bladder pain through bladder Toll-like receptor 4 . BMC Physiology.

(2017). Preclinical study of a Kv11.1 potassium channel activator as antineoplastic approach for breast cancer . Oncotarget.

Ma, F., Kouzoukas, D.E., Meyer-Siegler, K.L., Hunt, D.E., Leng, L., Bucala, R., Vera, P.L.(2017). Macrophage migration inhibitory factor mediates protease-activated receptor 4-induced bladder pain through urothelial high mobility group box 1 . Physiological Reports. 5. (24).

Ma, F., Kouzoukas, D.E., Meyer-Siegler, K.L., Westlund, K.N., Hunt, D.E., Vera, P.L.(2017). Disulfide high mobility group box-1 causes bladder pain through bladder Toll-like receptor 4 . BMC Physiology. 17. (1).

Ma, Fei, Kouzoukas, Dimitrios E., Meyer-Siegler, Katherine L., Hunt, David E., Leng, Lin, Bucala, Richard, Vera, Pedro L.(2017). Macrophage migration inhibitory factor mediates protease-activated receptor 4-induced bladder pain through urothelial high mobility group box 1 . Physiological Reports. 5. (24). p. e13549--n/a.

Fei Ma, Dimotrios E. Kouzoukas, Magnus M. Fall, Robert Moldwin, David M. Preston, Deborah R. Erickson, Barbara Kahn, Katherine Meyer-Siegler, Pedro L. Vera(2016). {MP}72-01 {URINE} {LEVELS} {OF} {MACROPHAGE} {MIGRATION} {INHIBITORY} {FACTOR} {ARE} {INCREASED} {IN} {PATIENTS} {WITH} {BLADDER} {INFLAMMATION} . The Journal of Urology. 195. (4). p. e952. Elsevier {BV}

Dimitrios Kouzoukas, Fei Ma, Katherine Meyer-Siegler, Karin Westlund, David Hunt, Pedro Vera(2016). {MP}28-14 {PROTEASE}-{ACTIVATED} {RECEPTOR} 4 {INDUCES} {BLADDER} {PAIN} {THROUGH} {DISULFIDE} {HIGH} {MOBILITY} {GROUP} {BOX}-1 {ACTING} {ON} {RECEPTORS} {FOR} {ADVANCED} {GLYCATION} {ENDPRODUCTS} . The Journal of Urology. 195. (4). p. e376. Elsevier {BV}

Kouzoukas, D.E., Ma, F., Meyer-Siegler, K.L., Westlund, K.N., Hunt, D.E., Vera, P.L.(2016). Protease-activated receptor 4 induces Bladder pain through high mobility group box-1 . PLoS ONE. 11. (3).

Fei Ma, Dimotrios E. Kouzoukas, Magnus M. Fall, Robert Moldwin, David M. Preston, Deborah R. Erickson, Barbara Kahn, Katherine Meyer-Siegler, Pedro L. Vera(2016). MP72-01 URINE LEVELS OF MACROPHAGE MIGRATION INHIBITORY FACTOR ARE INCREASED IN PATIENTS WITH BLADDER INFLAMMATION . The Journal of Urology. 195. (4). p. e952.

Kouzoukas DE, Ma F, Meyer-Siegler KL, Westlund KN, Hunt DE, Vera PL, PloS one, 2016, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. e0152055 .

Kouzoukas, D.E., Ma, F., Meyer-Siegler, K.L., Westlund, K.N., Hunt, D.E., Vera, P.L.(2016). Protease-activated receptor 4 induces Bladder pain through high mobility group box-1 . PLoS ONE. 11. (3).

Dimitrios E. Kouzoukas, Katherine L. Meyer-Siegler, Fei Ma, Karin N. Westlund, David E. Hunt, Pedro L. Vera, Praveen Thumbikat(2015). Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Mediates {PAR}-Induced Bladder Pain . {PLOS} {ONE}. 10. (5). p. e0127628. Public Library of Science ({PLoS})

Dimitrios E. Kouzoukas, Katherine L. Meyer-Siegler, Fei Ma, Karin N. Westlund, David E. Hunt, Pedro L. Vera(2015). {MP}21-17 {MACROPHAGE} {MIGRATION} {INHIBITORY} {FACTOR} {MEDIATES} {PROTEASE} {ACTIVATED} {RECEPTOR}-{INDUCED} {BLADDER} {PAIN} . The Journal of Urology. 193. (4). p. e239. Elsevier {BV}

Dimitrios E. Kouzoukas, Katherine L. Meyer-Siegler, Fei Ma, Karin N. Westlund, David E. Hunt, Pedro L. Vera(2015). Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Mediates {PAR}-Induced Bladder Pain . {Plos} {One}. 10. (5). p. e0127628.

Dimitrios E. Kouzoukas, Katherine L. Meyer-Siegler, Fei Ma, Karin N. Westlund, David E. Hunt, Pedro L. Vera(2015). {MP}21-17 {MACROPHAGE} {MIGRATION} {INHIBITORY} {FACTOR} {MEDIATES} {PROTEASE} {ACTIVATED} {RECEPTOR}-{INDUCED} {BLADDER} {PAIN} . The Journal of Urology. 193. (4). p. e239.

Kouzoukas, D.E., Meyer-Siegler, K.L., Ma, F., Westlund, K.N., Hunt, D.E., Vera, P.L.(2015). Macrophage migration inhibitory factor mediates PAR-induced bladder pain . PLoS ONE. 10. (5).

Kouzoukas, D.E., Li, G., Takapoo, M., Moninger, T., Bhalla, R.C., Pantazis, N.J.(2013). Intracellular calcium plays a critical role in the alcohol-mediated death of cerebellar granule neurons . Journal of Neurochemistry. 124. (3). p. 323-335.

Kouzoukas, Dimitrios E., Li, Guiying, Takapoo, Maysaam, Moninger, Thomas, Bhalla, Ramesh C., Pantazis, Nicholas J.(2013). Intracellular calcium plays a critical role in the alcohol-mediated death of cerebellar granule neurons . Journal of Neurochemistry. 124. (3). p. 323-335.

Kouzoukas, D. E., Li, G., Takapoo, M., Bhalla, R., Pantazis, N. J.(2008). Nitric oxide ameliorates alcohol-induced neuronal death in cerebellar granule neuron cultures by modulating intracellular calcium release . Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 32. (6). p. 43A.

Kouzoukas, Dimitrios Elias, Li, Guiying, Takapoo, Maysam, Bhalla, Ramesh, Pantazis, Nicholas J.(2008). Nitric oxide (NO) signaling modulates intracellular calcium Ca2+ (i) and prevents alcohol-induced neuronal death in cerebellar granule cell (CGN) cultures . Faseb Journal. 22.

Kouzoukas, D. E., Li, G., Takapoo, M., Bhalla, R., Pantazis, N. J.(2008). A rapid alcohol-induced rise in intracellular calcium may be an early step leading to the death of cerebellar granule neurons in culture . Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 32. (6). p. 44A.

Robinson, R.G., Paradiso, S., Mizrahi, R., Fiedorowicz, J.G., Kouzoukas, D.E., Moser, D.J.(2007). Neuropsychological correlates of normal variation in emotional response to visual stimuli . Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 195. (2). p. 112-118.

Kouzoukas, D., Li, G., Pantazis, N. J.(2007). Contrasting effects of calcium and nitric oxide (NO) signaling on alcohol-induced neuronal death: Calcium enhances while no reduces death . Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research. 31. (6). p. 101A.

Robinson, R.G., Paradiso, S., Mizrahi, R., Fiedorowicz, J.G., Kouzoukas, D.E., Moser, D.J.(2007). Neuropsychological correlates of normal variation in emotional response to visual stimuli . Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 195. (2). p. 112-118.