Speaker

Dr. Apostolos Vantarakis born in Patras, Greece in 1967 and is Greek national. He received his B.Sc. in 1990 in Biology from University of Patras, Greece, M.Sc. in 1991 in Genetic Toxicology from University College of Swansea, Wales, U.K, and Ph.D in 1998 in Public Health from University of Patras. He is a Professor in the Public Health Department of Medical School of the University of Patras, Greece. He was an Assist. Professor in the Laboratory of Hygiene and Environment Protection at the Department of Medicine at the Democritus University of Thrace, Greece from June 2004 till October 2008.He has published more than 125 peer reviewed articles, and 2 chapter in books as well as he has translated three books in Epidemiology. He has participated (with announcements) in more than 120 international and more than 120 Greek conferences 40 invited lectures in International and Greek Conferences. His research has focused on the impact of microbiological quality of environment (water, air, soil) as well as food microbiological quality to Public Health and caution of outbreaks. Current research areas include development of molecular methods for the detection and identification of waterborne and foodborne viruses as well as the risk assessment of the water and food quality as it concerns the human health. Also, the last 10 years, he works with vulnerable groups (disabled persons, migrants, Roma) in various research projects.He has been teaching in undergraduate and postgraduate level in various fields such as Public Health, Clinical Specialties, Applied Public Health, infectious Diseases. He was a member of Board of International Association of Food and Environmental Virology (FEV) and a member of International Epidemiological Association (IEA). He has large experience on competitive research projects, national and European. During the last decade, he participated in more than 40 research projects, while he was the group partner in three European research projects. He is the Director of a postgraduate Course in Public Health in Medical School, University of Patras and Epidemiology in Open Hellenic University. He has supervised 10 PhD theses, while now he supervises 8 master’s thesis and 7 PhD theses.