George Altankov
ICREA & Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Spain
Biography
George Altankov is ICREA Research Professor in the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia. He is a well- recognized scientist in the field of cell-biomaterials interaction and ECM organization. He got his MD in 1974 in Varna Medical Institute, Bulgaria, where also accomplished his PhD (1984). In 1991-1993 he made his postdoc in Southwestern Medical School at Dallas performing studies on the molecular mechanisms of cell adhesion. During his subsequent work in the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (1985-2005) he grew up to full professor, head of department and deputy Director of the Institute of Biophysics in Sofia. His studies, performed in close collaboration with GKSS Research Center (Germany), were among the first highlighting that tissue compatibility of materials is strongly dependent on the ability of cells to reorganize surface associated matrix proteins, such as fibronectin, vitronectin, fibrinogen and collagen. Other lines of research that boosts his reputation in tissue engineering and nanomedicine are the pioneering studies on the integrin dynamic, cellular interaction with synthetic membranes, nonofibers design for guiding the cellular behaviour. His studies resulting in more than 100 publications in peer reviewed journals and books that are frequently cited.