Argyrios Tzouvelekis, MD, PhD
Associate Professor Adjunct of Medicine (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine)Cards
About
Titles
Associate Professor Adjunct of Medicine (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine)
Biography
Dr. Argyrios Tzouvelekis’s research focus is the mechanisms of pulmonary fibrosis, centering on the identification of prognostic biomarkers and the delineation of novel therapeutic targets, using advanced methodological tools, including microarray and miRNA platforms, nCounter (Nanostring) technology and animal models of lung fibrosis (ie bleomycin-induced). Dr. Tzouvelekis’s specialties are focused on the implementation of pioneering research technologies, such as microarrays, as well as the application of novel therapeutic interventions including stem cells. His main areas of expertise are Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Interstitial Lung Diseases. He currently enumerates 72 publications (67 in PubMed) in peer-reviewed scientific journals (with an overall of 1018 citations and a total H-index=19), more than 60 presentations and lectures in national and international conferences and 20 grants and honors, including European Respiratory Society a) Long Term Fellowship and b) Young Scientist Sponsorship and c) American Lung Association Senior Research Training Fellowship, d) an ERS/Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Research Fellowship.Dr Tzouvelekis is also the inventor of a therapeutic patent entitled “Inhaled or aerosolized delivery of thyroid hormone to the lung as a novel therapeutic agent in fibrotic lung diseases” OCR#6368 (the “Invention”), disclosed to Yale University. His research interests mainly focus on understanding the role of phosphatases and thyroid hormone signaling in the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis. He was trained in major aspects of translational medicine, including genomics and proteomics, as well as in molecular and cellular fibroblast biology.
Appointments
Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine
Associate Professor AdjunctPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Internal Medicine
- Kaminski Lab
- Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine
Education & Training
- MS
- DEMOCRITUS UNIVERSITY OF THRACE (2011)
- PhD
- DEMOCRITUS UNIVERSITY OF THRACE (2008)
- MD
- University of Crete (2003)
Research
Publications
2025
Investigational gene expression inhibitors for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Spagnolo P, Tonelli R, Mura M, Reisman W, Sotiropoulou V, Tzouvelekis A. Investigational gene expression inhibitors for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Expert Opinion On Investigational Drugs 2025, 34: 61-80. PMID: 39916340, DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2025.2462592.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosisGene therapyPulmonary fibrosisAssociated with tolerability issuesProgressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseaseEfficacy of gene therapyApplication of gene therapyTreatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosisLong-term clinical dataFibrosing interstitial lung diseaseFirst-line therapyImproved vector designInterstitial lung diseaseMitigate off-target effectsTolerated treatmentDismal prognosisClinical dataLung diseaseClinical studiesAssociated with poor qualityProfibrotic pathwaysTarget cellsTherapyFibrosisOff-target effectsStandard to Handheld: A New Wave in Thoracic Ultrasound and Patient Care—A Direct Comparison of Portable Handheld Against Standard in Thoracic Ultrasound
Halim D, Kelly A, Hayes J, Bennett K, Tzouvelekis A, Ampazis D, Sampsonas F. Standard to Handheld: A New Wave in Thoracic Ultrasound and Patient Care—A Direct Comparison of Portable Handheld Against Standard in Thoracic Ultrasound. Medicina 2025, 61: 313. PMID: 40005430, PMCID: PMC11857366, DOI: 10.3390/medicina61020313.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLevels of experienceNon-inferiorityPortable ultrasound deviceOverall image qualityLung pathologyUltrasound deviceInterquartile rangeRespiratory departmentThoracic ultrasoundAnatomical visualizationHandheld ultrasound devicePatient careImprove healthcareOperator's level of experienceNo significant differenceLikert scaleTrainee levelStatistically significant variablesDiagnostic accuracyClinical decisionsOverall perceptionOnline questionnaireClinical utilityMedian rateClinical settingDiagnosis, screening, and follow-up of patients with familial interstitial lung disease: Results from an international survey
Moen E, Prior T, Kreuter M, Wuyts W, Molina-Molina M, Wijsenbeek M, Morais A, Tzouvelekis A, Ryerson C, Caro F, Buendia-Roldan I, Magnusson J, Lee J, Morisett J, Oldham J, Troy L, Funke-Chambour M, Alberti M, Borie R, Walsh S, Rajan S, Kondoh Y, Khor Y, Bendstrup E. Diagnosis, screening, and follow-up of patients with familial interstitial lung disease: Results from an international survey. BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2025, 25: 59. PMID: 39901224, PMCID: PMC11792556, DOI: 10.1186/s12890-025-03532-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenetic testing methodsMultidisciplinary teamGenetic testingFamily historyInterstitial lung diseaseHistory of interstitial lung diseaseRecommended genetic testingScreening of first-degree relativesFamilial interstitial lung diseaseEvidence-based guidelinesGenetic screening of relativesScreening of relativesFirst-degree relativesCharacteristics of respondentsInternational surveyPathogenic genetic variantsScreening toolLung transplantationInsufficient evidenceLung diseaseConsensus statementGenetic variantsFollow-up of patientsStandard programRespondentsInfective Complications of Endobronchial Ultrasound-Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and Clinical Biomarkers: A Concise Review
Bosgana P, Ampazis D, Vlachakos V, Tzouvelekis A, Sampsonas F. Infective Complications of Endobronchial Ultrasound-Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and Clinical Biomarkers: A Concise Review. Diagnostics 2025, 15: 145. PMID: 39857029, PMCID: PMC11764001, DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15020145.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEndobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspirationInfective complicationsLung cancerInterventional pulmonology proceduresIncidence of lung cancerNeedle aspirationPrompt treatmentInfective pathologyRisk factorsClinical biomarkersRising incidenceComplicationsRising incidence of lung cancerCancerBiomarkersConcise reviewMediastinumIncreasing numberPatientsLungReviewClinicDiagnosis
2024
COVID-19 in pregnancy: Perinatal outcomes and complications
Akinosoglou K, Schinas G, Papageorgiou E, Karampitsakos T, Dimakopoulou V, Polyzou E, Tzouvelekis A, Marangos M, Papageorgiou D, Spernovasilis N, Adonakis G. COVID-19 in pregnancy: Perinatal outcomes and complications. World Journal Of Virology 2024, 13: 96573. PMID: 39722762, PMCID: PMC11551681, DOI: 10.5501/wjv.v13.i4.96573.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNeonatal intensive care unitIntensive care unitPregnant womenPerinatal outcomesGestational agePredictor of adverse fetal outcomesPregnant COVID-19 patientsOutcomes of pregnant womenCare unitAdverse fetal outcomesED presentationsPreterm delivery rateUnfavorable perinatal outcomesEmergency departmentRisk of severe coronavirus disease 2019Severe coronavirus disease 2019Invasive mechanical ventilationDelayed ED presentationsPredictors of hospitalizationFetal outcomesPreterm deliveryPerinatal morbidityCOVID-19 patientsClinical characteristicsTreatment modalitiesAssessment of Endothelial Function in Patients with COVID-19 Using Peripheral Arterial Tonometry
Moulias A, Koros R, Papageorgiou A, Katechis S, Patrinos P, Trigka-Vasilakopoulou A, Papageorgiou A, Papaioannou O, Akinosoglou K, Leventopoulos G, Tsigkas G, Tzouvelekis A, Davlouros P. Assessment of Endothelial Function in Patients with COVID-19 Using Peripheral Arterial Tonometry. Life 2024, 14: 1512. PMID: 39598310, PMCID: PMC11595729, DOI: 10.3390/life14111512.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPeripheral arterial tonometryEndothelial dysfunctionEndothelial functionCOVID-19 patientsCardiovascular complicationsArterial tonometryIncidence of thrombotic eventsAssessment of endothelial functionProportion of COVID-19 patientsProportion of patientsEvaluate endothelial functionFollow-up periodSix-month follow-upMonths post-dischargeCOVID-19-negativePrimary endpointSecondary endpointsNo significant differenceThrombotic eventsCardiovascular eventsPost-dischargeFollow-upLnRHIMatched controlsPatientsBeneficial Impact of Vaccination Against SARS-CoV-2 on the Mental Health of IPF Patients
Tomos I, Papaioannou A, Daniil Z, Dimeas I, Kirgou P, Gogali A, Tatsis K, Papanikolaou I, Tzilas V, Tzouvelekis A, Tsiri P, Steiropoulos P, Ntolios P, Xyfteri A, Antoniou K, Symvoulakis E, Haritou A, Maniati M, Kolilekas L, Antonogiannaki E, Apollonatou V, Kallieri M, Samaras K, Loukides S, Karakatsani A, Bouros D, Manali E, Papiris S. Beneficial Impact of Vaccination Against SARS-CoV-2 on the Mental Health of IPF Patients. Advances In Respiratory Medicine 2024, 92: 466-471. PMID: 39584853, PMCID: PMC11586964, DOI: 10.3390/arm92060042.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHospital Anxiety and Depression ScaleHospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scoresHistory of depressionDepression ScaleMental healthAnxiety and Depression ScaleIndependent of ageGlobal mental healthDepression Scale scoresLung function impairmentFunctional impairmentQuality of lifeWilcoxon signed rank testIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patientsIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosisCOVID-19Scale scoreDepressionAnxietyCOVID-19 pandemicAnxiety disordersSmokingFollowed-upHospitalRank testThe Clinical Utility of Pulmonary Function Tests in the Diagnosis and Characterization of Central Airway Obstruction: A Narrative Review
Ampazis D, Vlachakos V, Anagnostopoulos N, Tzouvelekis A, Sampsonas F. The Clinical Utility of Pulmonary Function Tests in the Diagnosis and Characterization of Central Airway Obstruction: A Narrative Review. Journal Of Clinical Medicine 2024, 13: 6299. PMID: 39518438, PMCID: PMC11546877, DOI: 10.3390/jcm13216299.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCorrigendum to “Practical guidance for the early recognition and follow-up of patients with connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease” [Autoimmunity Reviews - Volume 23, Issue 6, June 2024, 103582]
Guiot J, Miedema J, Cordeiro A, De Vries-Bouwstra J, Dimitroulas T, Søndergaard K, Tzouvelekis A, Smith V. Corrigendum to “Practical guidance for the early recognition and follow-up of patients with connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease” [Autoimmunity Reviews - Volume 23, Issue 6, June 2024, 103582]. Autoimmunity Reviews 2024, 23: 103641. PMID: 39369613, DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2024.103641.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDiaphragm ultrasound assessments in newly diagnosed patients with spinal-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Lykouras D, Spiliopoulos K, Veltsista D, Lagiou O, Sotiropoulou V, Karkoulias K, Chroni E, Tzouvelekis A, Sotiropoulou V. Diaphragm ultrasound assessments in newly diagnosed patients with spinal-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 2024, pa1665. DOI: 10.1183/13993003.congress-2024.pa1665.Peer-Reviewed Original Research