Georgakis Lab | ISD Research

Cardiovascular disease and stroke represent the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Despite major progress in understanding the etiology of cardiovascular disease, its burden is still rising. Our work is motivated by a pressing need to optimize cardio- and cerebrovascular health with the development of precise and personalized preventive strategies. We use large-scale and multi-dimensional data from epidemiological studies and human biobanks (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, imaging) and apply bioinformatic tools to inform such strategies. We have a special focus on atherosclerosis, one of the most common causes of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Our goals include: (i) the discovery of disease-modifying drug targets for novel therapeutic and preventive strategies against cardiovascular disease, (ii) the deeper molecular and cellular phenotyping of cerebrovascular pathologies, (iii) the discovery of in vivo biomarkers of cerebrovascular disease activity, and (iv) the development of personalized risk stratification tools for patients with or at risk for cerebrovascular disease.

Research Focus

Discovery of drug targets for cardiovascular disease

Using human genetic data as our starting point, we bridge different multiomics levels with causal inference methods, such as Mendelian randomization, in order to dissect mechanisms leading to cardiovascular disease. Our vision is to inform the development of disease-modifying treatments for atherosclerosis and other cerebrovascular pathologies by triangulating the results from human genetics with data from epidemiological studies, human biobanks, and experimental models.

Deeper molecular phenotyping of atherosclerosis

Using human samples, we apply novel high-throughput techniques, such as single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics to deeper characterize atherosclerosis lesions at higher resolution. For this purpose, we recently developed the AtherOMICS biobank, which involves the collection of atherosclerotic plaque samples from patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Our vision is to detect disease processing signatures with diagnostic and therapeutic relevance.

Discovery of in vivo personalized biomarkers

The third key area of exploration involves the discovery of novel readouts of cerebrovascular disease presence and activity. We bridge data from high-throughput molecular technologies in human samples with imaging technologies, such as CT and MRI, as well as with multiomics analyses of peripheral blood samples, in order to detect in vivo phenotypes of disease activity. Our vision is to use such in vivo biomarkers as endpoints in clinical trials testing disease-modifying treatments.

Cerebrovascular disease is highly heterogeneous, as is the predisposition of individuals to it depending on their genetic profiles and lifestyles. Over and over again, we see that the one-size fits all approaches we apply in the clinic do not equally work for all. We aim to develop efficient risk stratification tools by applying approaches that range from the development of polygenic risk scores in the general population to deploying deep learning methods in imaging studies of stroke patients. Our vision is to identify individuals that might benefit from specific preventive or therapeutic approaches.

Publications

Team

Roya Batool, M.Sc. / Technical Assistant

I am originally from Pakistan and completed my Bachelor in Biosciences there. Pursuing further studies, I gained admission to the Master’s program at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Germany. There, I worked as a student research assistant and tutor in biochemistry and biotechnology for two years. While I enjoyed preparing bachelor’s students for molecular biology lab practices, I discovered a stronger interest in molecular biomedicine research. I joined the CURE-3D Lab at University Hospital Düsseldorf, where I completed an internship and Master thesis in area of cardiovascular diseases. In 2024, I joined research groups of Professor Bernhagen and Dr. Georgakis as a technical assistant. I am excited about gaining knowledge in modern technologies and applying my experiences for a meaningful cause. In my leisure time, I enjoy experimenting with recipes, writing blogs and reading books.

Paulo Alabarse, Postdoc

I am a biologist with a Master's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology, PhD in Medicine from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and a double degree PhD from the University of Birmingham (UK). I have previously worked (over 5 years) as a post-doctoral at the University of Sao Paulo and the University of California. I joined Dr. Georgakis' research group in 2023 to work on atherosclerosis and stroke as part of the AtherOmics project that aims to build a biobank, dissect the cell population, and molecular basis of the atherosclerosis plaque, focusing on single-nuclei RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, as well as correlate our findings with imaging (histology and MRI). My personal interest is to help society with remarkable findings to improve overall health and longevity. In my free time I like to practice kung fu, dance tango and study chess.

Nicola Bragazi, Postdoc

I am a medical doctor specializing in Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics at Genoa University in Italy. I also hold a PhD in Biophysics from Marburg University in Germany. My career has taken me across Italy and Canada, where I have focused on mathematical and statistical modeling of diseases, particularly in infectious and cardiovascular contexts. In late 2024, I joined Dr. Georgakis' research group to advance studies in genetics, multiomics, and risk prediction modeling for cardiovascular diseases, with a particular emphasis on stroke. In my spare time, I enjoy studying languages and immersing myself in literature.

Philip Melton, Clinician Scientist

Originally from Canada, I first joined the Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research in 2018 to pursue my MD thesis under the supervision of Prof. Arthur Liesz. My doctoral research focused on the persistence of metabolomic and metagenomic alterations to the gut-brain axis after ischemic stroke in both patients and murine models. After completing medical school in 2023 I joined the ISD as a clinician scientist and am researching the role of circulating monocytes on the development of secondary mortality after stroke. I joined the AG Georgakis in 2024 to initiate a new clinical trial targeting post-stroke vascular inflammation.

Murad Omarov, PhD student

I earned my Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology. While working on my bachelor's thesis, which focused on mobile genetic elements in plant genomes, I was introduced to bioinformatics and developed a keen interest in it. Subsequently, I pursued a master's degree in computational biology, where I became fascinated by the application of machine learning in human disease research. In early 2023, I joined Dr. Georgakis' research group as a PhD student. My project aims to identify novel biomarkers of subclinical atherosclerosis using computer vision and machine learning techniques. In my free time, I enjoy playing guitar, traveling, exploring science beyond my field, and watching movies.

Anushree Ray, PhD student

I hold dual Masters' degrees in Biology from University of Mumbai and Epidemiology from Utrecht University, and I leverage my expertise in both disciplines for my ongoing research. I have joined ISD in 2023 as a PhD student. My work in Dr. Georgakis' research group focuses on unraveling cell-specific immune mechanisms across various stroke subtypes through the analysis of multi-omics data. Beyond my research, I am passionate about my work as scientific editor and am deeply committed to science communication and writing.

Lingling Xu, PhD Student

I studied veterinary medicine for my bachelor's degree and life science informatics for my master's degree. After my master thesis, whose topic is drug repositioning with knowledge graph, I joined a biotech company to identify drug targets for cardiovascular diseases with transcriptome data. Three years working experience in industry made me think about the gap between academia prototypes and commercial applications. Currently I'm working on the topic 'Vascular aging as a contributor to cerebrovascular diseases' to pursue a doctor's degree. With public cohort data from UK Biobank and NAKO, machine learning and deep learning methods will be applied to predict 'vascular age' for participants and then GWAS will applied to find responsible genetic loci for vascular aging.

Lanyue Zhang, PhD Student

I am from China and pursued my studies in Clinical Medicine at Jilin University, where I earned both a Bachelor's degree in Medicine and a Master's degree in Neurosurgery. In 2023, I was awarded the 4-year LMU-CSC scholarship and joined Dr. Georgakis' research team as a PhD candidate. My research focuses on identifying novel biomarkers for atherosclerosis using omics data and machine learning techniques. Outside the lab, I enjoy reading, playing badminton, and snowboarding.

Yingle Li, PhD Student

I have completed my medical and master's studies in Neurology at the Southern Medical University of China in 2023. I joined LMU Munich and the ISD a PhD in 2024. I work with neuroimaging data and my current research focus is on atherosclerosis imaging for assessing stroke risk and offer novel insights into stroke prevention. In am enjoying the motivating environment at the Georgakis lab. Outside of research, I like running having recently completed a full marathon in 3 hours and 41 minutes.

Luka Zivkovic, Clinician Scientist

Born and raised in Munich, I enrolled at LMU Medical School in 2016, where I am currently completing the internship year to obtain my medical licensure. I joined the lab in 2023 after working on my MD thesis under the supervision of Martin Dichgans. My research interests revolve around how white blood cells – in particular macrophages – propel inflammation in atherosclerosis. I believe that insights into pro-inflammatory signaling pathways in concert with harnessing genomic, proteomic, histological and imaging data will open new avenues for the detection and prevention of cerebrovascular disease. To that end, I contribute to the design and operation of the AtherOMICS biobanking project. To relax and recover, I love cooking at home and supporting my favorite basketball clubs, along with playing recreational matches with friends on the outdoor court.

Marek Konieczny, MD

I am originally from Poland and earned my degrees in Clinical Psychology and Molecular Neurosciences from the University of Groningen, graduating in 2015. Following this, I completed my PhD with a focus on Neuroimaging of small vessel disease at the ISD in 2020. In 2023, I graduated from medical school at TU München. Currently, while working in the pharmaceutical industry, I have joined Marios Georgakis group at the ISD to explore the genomic architecture of circulating cytokines and inflammatory pathways, particularly as potential drug targets for autoimmune diseases.

Julian Louma, MD student

I am a 5th year medical student at the LMU Munich and I joined the lab in October 2024 for pursuing my medical doctorate. My main field of work lies in the AtherOMICS study and focuses on expanding the biobank and investigating the histology of the human atherosclerotic plaque. In my project I mainly explore the histopathological features of carotid plaques through manual segmentation and subsequently the clinical implications of the collected data. Apart from my work in the lab I enjoy winter sports like skiing and find great interest in fashion and design.

Panagiotis Zangas, MD student

I am originally from Greece and I completed my medical studies in Thessaloniki in July 2024. I moved to Munich in October 2024 to start a clinical internship in the Neurology Department of the LMU University Hospital. In January 2025 I joined Dr. Georgakis’ lab to gain research experience in the field of cerebrovascular diseases und to pursue my goal of becoming a clinical scientist. Currently my work is focused on detecting drug targets for cerebral small vessel disease using insights from human genetic analyses. I am also involved in the recruitment of patients, as well as collection and processing of blood and plaque samples for the AtherOMICS biobanking project. In my free time I enjoy running, playing basketball and reading books.

The PI

Marios Georgakis, Principal investigator

I am a clinician-scientist interested in the development of next-generation therapeutics and diagnostics for cardiovascular disease. The overarching goal of our research is to use the big data produced by modern technologies to inform novel preventive strategies for cardiovascular disease. We are focused on (1) the discovery of novel drug targets by integrating omics data for cardiovascular pathologies and (2) the development of AI tools for deeper cardiovascular phenotyping.

Personal data:

Marios Georgakis, MD, PhD

Date of birth: October 31, 1991

Place of birth: Lefkada, Greece

Positions and employment:

2022-: Junior Group Leader, Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, LMU Munich, Germany

2022-: Visiting scientist, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA

2019-: Neurology resident physician, Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research and Department of Neurology, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany

2021-2022: Postdoctoral research fellow, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital & Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Boston, MA, USA

2020-2021: Postdoctoral researcher (clinician-scientist), Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research & Neurology Department, LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany

2017-2020: Doctoral researcher, Institute for Stroke and Dementia, University Hospital, LMU Munich

2015-2019: Doctoral researcher, Department of Epidemiology, Medical School, University of Athens

2016-2017: Master thesis student, Lab of Neurodegenerative diseases, Bio-academy of Athens (BRFFA)

2015-2017: Research assistant, Department of Women’s Health, Uppsala University

2013-2015: Undergraduate research fellow, Department of Epidemiology, Medical School, University of Athens

Education

2019-today: Clinical Residency in Neurology, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany

2017-2020: Doctoral studies (Ph.D.) in Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), LMU Munich, Germany

2015-2019: Doctoral studies (D.Sc.) in Epidemiology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

2015-2017: Master studies (M.Sc.): Molecular Physiology (Neurosciences), National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

2009-2015: Medical studies (M.D.): Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

Honors:

2023: Emmy Noether Independent Group Leader Award, German Research Foundation (DFG)

2023: Early Career Achievement Award, “CHARGE” Consortium

2023: Fellow of the Hertie Network of Excellence in Clinical Neuroscience

2023: Clinician-Scientist Fellow of the Excellence Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy)

2021-2022: Walter-Benjamin Fellowship for postdoctoral research by German Research Foundation (DFG)

2021: ̈CHARGE ̈ Meritorious Abstract Award, Seattle, WA, US

2019: Best Oral Presentation at Meeting of International Stroke Genetics Consortium, St. Louis, MI, US

2019: Best Poster award at European Stroke Organization Conference (ESOC 2019), Milan, Italy

2018-2020: Scholarship for Doctoral studies by the Onassis Foundation

2018-2019: Research Grant for Doctoral studies by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

2015-2017: Scholarship for Master studies by the Bodossaki Foundation

2010-2015: Scholarship for Medical studies by the Antonios Papadakis legacy

2008: Third Award by Greek Mathematical Society in national “Euclid” exams

Lab

AtherOMICS Biobank

We have established and operate a biobank of human atherosclerotic plaque samples. The biobank includes plaque and peripheral blood samples from patients undergoing carotid and femoral endarterectomy in collaboration with the Vascular Surgery department of the LMU University Hospital (Prof. Dr. Tsilimparis & Dr. Rantner), as well as intracranial vessel samples from patients donating their brain post mortem in collaboration with the Neurobiobank Munich (NBM, Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research). The sample collection is coupled with a comprehensive patient data collection including demographics, clinical information, laboratory results, and imaging studies. The goals of the biobank include: (i) the deep phenotyping of human atherosclerosis, (ii) the development of novel in vivo diagnostics for atheroprogression, and (iii) the discovery and validation of novel therapeutic targets for atherosclerosis.