Theodoros Androutsakos | Viral hepatitis | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Theodoros Androutsakos | Viral hepatitis | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Theodoros Androutsakos (b. 30 Aug 1979, Athens 🇬🇷) is an esteemed internist & hepatologist, currently serving as an Academic Scholar at the Department of Pathophysiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens 🏥. With rich clinical, teaching, and research experience across Greece, Sweden 🇸🇪, and the USA 🇺🇸, his work focuses on liver diseases, autoimmune pathologies, and internal medicine. Fluent in English, Swedish & French 🌍, he is also the Head of multiple hepatology outpatient clinics and collaborates with Centers of Excellence for rare diseases. Passionate about education, he teaches medical, nursing, pharmacy, and dentistry students. 🧑‍🏫

Profile

Education 🎓

Dr. Androutsakos completed his secondary education at the 2nd High School of Paleo Faliro, Athens 📚. He earned his MD from NKUA (1998–2004), followed by rotational clinical training and medical licenses in Greece 🇬🇷 and Sweden 🇸🇪. He pursued internal medicine residencies in Sweden and at ‘Laiko’ Hospital, Athens. In 2014, he undertook a visiting scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh 🧬. He earned his PhD (NKUA) in 2020 on “HIV and the Liver” with distinction 🎓. He is certified in liver transient elastography (2024) and is fluent in English, Swedish, and French. His training blends European and American clinical perspectives 🏥🌐.

Experience 👨‍🏫

Dr. Androutsakos began his clinical path as a Rural GP in Lesvos (2005–2006) and Military Physician in Athens (2006–2007) 💂‍♂️. He completed residencies in Sweden 🇸🇪 and Athens 🇬🇷, and since 2015, he’s an Academic Scholar at NKUA’s Department of Pathophysiology. He leads the outpatient hepatology clinics for general and immunocompromised patients and contributes to Rare Disease Centers, including EuroBloodNet 🧬. He’s a principal investigator in international clinical trials (semaglutide, FGF-21 analogs) and lectures widely in undergraduate and postgraduate programs 📖. His dual role as educator and hepatologist positions him at the heart of Greek academic medicine 👨‍⚕️📚.

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

🎖️Dr. Androutsakos was awarded his PhD with Grade: Excellent by the Medical School of NKUA for his dissertation on “HIV and the Liver” 🎓. His international fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh (2014) marked a pivotal research milestone 🌍. He leads nationally recognized hepatology clinics for rare diseases and is a designated specialist for liver elastography (2024) 📊. His affiliations with Centers of Excellence (Rare Systemic Autoimmune Diseases & Hemoglobinopathies) and the EuroBloodNet network reflect his prestige in hepatology 🔬. His contributions to academic medicine and clinical research continue to earn peer recognition and institutional trust 🏆.

Research Interests 🔬

Dr. Androutsakos focuses on hepatology, particularly Metabolic-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), autoimmune liver conditions, and HIV-related liver pathology 🧪. He is involved in Phase 2 & 3 clinical trials on semaglutide and FGF-21 analogs, targeting inflammation and fibrosis in NASH 🌱. His lab experience includes roles at NKUA and the University of Pittsburgh 🔬. He lectures on advanced liver pathophysiology and drug-induced liver injury and explores epigenetics, neuromodulation, and immunometabolism in liver diseases 🧠. Through translational research and clinical application, he aims to redefine liver diagnostics and therapeutics for rare and common hepatic conditions globally 🌍💡.

Publications 
  • AndroutsakosT, DimitriadisK, KoutsompinaML, VassilakisKD, PouliakisA, FragoulisGE. Hepatitis B reactivation in PsA patients: an SLR and meta-analysis for IL-17, IL-23 and JAK inhibitors. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2024 Aug 17:keae445. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keae445. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39153010.

 

  • Efe C, Lytvyak E, Eşkazan T, Liberal R, Androutsakos T, Turan Gökçe D, Terziroli Beretta-Piccoli B, Janik M, Bernsmeier C, Arvaniti P, Milkiewicz P, Batıbay E, Yüksekyayla O, Ergenç I, Arıkan Ç, Stättermayer AF, Barutçu S, Cengiz M, Gül Ö, Heurgue A, Heneghan MA, Verma S, Purnak T, Törüner M, Akdogan Kayhan M, Hatemi I, Zachou K, Macedo G, Drenth JPH, Björnsson E, Montano-Loza AJ, Wahlin S, Higuera-de la Tijera F. Efficacy and safety of infliximab in patients with autoimmune hepatitis. Hepatology. 2024 Sep 6. doi: 10.1097/HEP.0000000000001089. PMID: 39250458.

 

  • Zachou M, Nifora M, Androutsakos T, Katsaras G, Varytimiadis K, Zoumpouli C, Karantanos P, Lalla E, Mpetsios G, Panoutsakou M, Stoica R, Thermou D, Mavrogenis G, Ntikoudi E, Nikiteas N, Sougioultzis S, Kalaitzakis E, Kykalos S. Results of the COLDWATER randomized controlled trial: enhanced performance of underwater cold snare polypectomy for colorectal polyps 5-10 mm, independent of endoscopist experience. Ann Gastroenterol. 2024 Jul-Aug;37(4):466-475. doi: 10.20524/aog.2024.0889. Epub 2024 Jun 14. PMID: 38974083; PMCID: PMC11226736

 

  • Androutsakos T, Politou M, Boti S, Pittaras T, Kontos A, Kordossis T, Pouliakis A, Panayiotakopoulos G. Prevalence and Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency in a Cohort of Greek HIV-Infected Individuals: A Prospective, Single Center, Observational Study. Curr HIV Res. 2024;22(4):240-248. doi: 10.2174/011570162X302844240605104855. PMID: 38874038

 

  • Androutsakos T, Tsantzali I, Karagiannakis DS, Flevari P, Iakovou D, Pouliakis A, Kykalos S, Doris S, Xyla V. Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with Hepatitis C Infection-Reversibility after HCV Eradication: A Single Center Study. Viruses. 2024 Mar 28;16(4):522. doi: 10.3390/v16040522. PMID: 38675865; PMCID: PMC11054011

 

  • Katelani S, Fragoulis GE, Bakasis AD, Pouliakis A, Nikiphorou E, Atzeni F, Androutsakos T. HBV reactivation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with anti-interleukin-6: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 Oct 23;62(SI3):SI252-SI259. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead243. PMID: 37871924; PMCID: PMC10715785

 

  • Androutsakos T, Dimitriadis K, Revenas K, Vergadis C, Papadakis DD, Sakellariou S, Vallilas C, Hatzis G. Liver Biopsy: To Do or Not to Do – A Single-Center Study. Dig Dis. 2023;41(6):913-921. doi: 10.1159/000533328. Epub 2023 Aug 23. PMID: 37611545