Eleftherios Diamandis

Dr. Diamandis currently serves as Division Head of Clinical Biochemistry at Mount Sinai Hospital and Biochemist-in-Chief at the University Health Network and is Professor & Head, Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 

His research activities evolve around discovery and validation of cancer biomarkers, proteomics, mass spectrometry and translational research. 

Dr. Diamandis received his B.Sc. in Chemistry, Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry and M.D. from the University of Athens, Greece and a Diploma in Clinical Biochemistry from the University of Toronto, Canada. He is a Certified Clinical Chemist by the Canadian Academy of Clinical Biochemistry and the American Board of Clinical Chemistry. 

Dr. Diamandis is a Member of 45 Journal Advisory Scientific and Editorial Boards, including:

• The Journal of Biological Chemistry
• Cancer Research
• Molecular Cancer Research
• Journal of Clinical Oncology
• Clinical Chemistry
• Journal of Proteome Research

He has received numerous awards from both national and international organizations - see Publications and Awards below.

Dr. Diamandis has more than 43,000 lifetime citations and an H-index of 105. He has published 108 review papers, 531 research papers and co-authored 4 books and 39 book chapters. He is the inventor of 28 issued and 21 pending patents and supervised 20 MSc. and 28 PhD. theses.

The Provincial Government of Ontario noted in their document Ontario’s Innovation Agenda (2010) that "Ontario is home to one of the most highly-published and highly-cited biomarker researchers in the world, Dr. Eleftherios P. Diamandis of the University of Toronto."

Research Synopsis

Research interests

1. Kallikrein Biology and Pathophysiology
2. Proteomics
3. Tumor Markers
4. Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis and Metastatic Progression
5. Translational Research
6. Cancer Therapeutics
7. Male Infertility
8. Pathobiology and Biomarkers of Autoimmune Diseases
9. Neurodegeneration

From the point-of-view of human disease research, our major interest is cancer, but other diseases including neurodegeneration, inflammation and skin disorders are also of interest. Our laboratory integrates basic, cell biology and translational research under one roof.

Our laboratory has recently cloned numerous novel genes, in particular those that belong to the kallikrein gene family.

The kallikreins are a group of related serine proteases, clustered in tandem on human chromosome 19q13.4

Our research interests related to kallikreins include the following:

1. Kallikrein gene structure and transcriptional regulation.
2. Kallikrein protein function and enzymology.
3. Discovery of physiological pathways involving kallikreins (including enzymatic cascades).
4. Identification of physiological substrates for kallikreins.
5. Kallikrein gene rearrangements in cancer.
6. Kallikreins as diagnostic and therapeutic targets.
7. Kallikreins and Proteinase-Activated Receptors (PARs)

To achieve these goals we develop innovative tools for kallikrein research such as recombinant proteins, monoclonal antibodies, immunological and molecular assays and immunohistochemical procedures. Also, through our collaborators, we use fluorogenic combinatorial libraries and phage-display technology to delineate kallikrein substrates and function. More recently, we are using mass spectrometric techniques to discover novel kallikrein targets and inhibitors.

We have access to large biorepositories of biological fluids, tissues and nucleic acids, which are invaluable in our efforts to identify novel cancer biomarkers and new ways for diagnosing and monitoring human disease. An international group of investigators is working closely with us by providing valuable clinical material for translational research. 

Translational Research

Some of our translational research interests include:

1. Identification of potential clinical applications of kallikreins (diagnostic markers, therapeutic targets, predictors of prognosis and therapeutic response
2. Involvement of kallikreins in non-malignant diseases (neurodegeneration, skin diseases, etc.)
3. Identification of non-kallikrein biomarkers that could be used for diagnosis, therapy and monitoring of cancer and other diseases.

Cancer Therapeutics

We are using high-throughput technologies to screen candidate drug molecules from large chemical libraries. Recently, we screened libraries such as Spectrum, Prestwick and LOPAC and identified members of the cardiac glycoside family as potential anti-cancer agents. Our efforts to identify therapeutic molecules which could act either alone, or in a synergistic way, against cancer are continuing.

Male Infertility

In collaboration with Dr. Keith Jarvi from the Murrray Koffler Urologic Wellness Centre, we are delineating the proteomes of seminal plasma and associated fluids in our efforts to identify biomarkers of infertility and urological diseases such as prostate cancer. In collaboration with Dr. Alex Zlotta, we are studying genomic, proteomic and transcriptomic signatures of prostate cancer.

Pathobiology and Biomarkers of Autoimmune Diseases

In collaboration with Dr. Dafna Galdman and Dr. Vinod Chandran, Professors at the Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Center for Prognostic Studies in the Rheumatic Diseases, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, we are conducting proteomic studies to identify novel biomarkers of autoimmune and rheumatic diseases including psoriasis, psoriatic arthritics, systemic lupus erythematosus, etc.

In such studies, we also collaborate with Drs. Morley Hollenberg, University of Calgary and Dr. Martin Steinhoff, Center for the Neurobiology of Digestive Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, USA

Neurodegeneration

One research interest of the ACDC Laboratory is identification of biomarkers of early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease. Some of our local and international collaborators on this project include Dr. Anthony Lang, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network and Dr. Ana-Maria Simundic, University Hospital "Sestre Milosrdnice", Zagreb, Croatia.

The Diamandis Lab

The Advanced Center for the Detection of Cancer (ACDC Lab) is the research laboratory of Dr. Eleftherios P. Diamandis and is located in Suite m6-201, 60 Murray Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 3L9.

Our research group consists of approximately 20 to 25 members, including:

• 10 to 12 Graduate Students working towards a Doctoral or Masters Degree
• 3 to 5 Post-Doctoral Fellows
• 4 to 5 Research Technologists
• 2 to 4 Undergraduate Students or volunteers.

Our Graduate Students and Post-Doctoral Fellows are registered with the Graduate School of the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.

Our laboratory focus is on basic and translational research related to cancer and other diseases. 

We use genomic, molecular, proteomic, immunological and other techniques to achieve our goals, working with cells, animal models and humans. 

We are focusing on discovery of better ways to diagnose, monitor, and treat cancer, especially endocrine-related cancers such as those of the ovary, breast and prostate.

We offer excellent space and other facilities, advanced instrumentation, computers and everything else that is necessary for leading-edge research. We collaborate with a large number of international investigators. Our laboratory is well funded.

The Laboratory Director promotes creativity, independence and supports a collaborative environment through weekly research meetings, daily discussions and participation at national and international conferences.

The Laboratory strives to create a pleasant and collegial environment and promotes extracurricular activities, including sports, music, an annual summer barbeque and social events.

Selected Publications

Cretu D, Liang K, Saraon P, Batruch I, Diamandis EP, Chandran V. Quantitative tandem mass-spectrometry of skin tissue reveals putative psoriatic arthritis biomarkers. Clin Proteomics 2015;12:1.

Dorn J, Bronger H, Kates R, Slotta Huspenina J, Schmalfeldt B, Kiechle M, Diamandis EP, Soosaipillai A, Schmitt M, Harbeck N. OVSCORE A validated score to identify ovarian cancer patients not suitable for primary surgery. Oncol Letters 2015; 9:418-424.

Korbakis D, Prassas I, Brinc D, Batruch I, Krastins B, Lopez MF, Diamandis EP. Delineating monoclonal antibody specificity by mass spectrometry. J Proteomics 2015;114:115-24.

Karagiannis GS, Musrap N, Saraon P, Treacy A, Schaeffer DF, Kirsch R, Riddell RH, Diamandis EP.  Bone morphogenetic protein antagonist gremlin-1 regulates colon cancer progression. Biol Chem 2015;396:163-83.

Florentinus-Mefailoski A, Soosaipillai A, Dufresne J, Diamandis EP, Marshall JG.  An enzyme-linked immuno-mass spectrometric assay with the substrate adenosine monophosphate. Anal Bioanal Chem 2015;407:1119-30.

Taylor DW, Ahmed N, Parreno J, Lunstrum GP, Gross AE, Diamandis EP, Kandel RA. Collagen Type XII and Versican are present in the early stages of cartilage tissue formation by both redifferentating passaged and primary chondrocytes.  Tissue Eng Part A 2015;21:683-93

Lennox GK, Eiriksson LR, Reade CJ, Leung F, Mojtahedi G, Ferguson SE, Murphy J, Diamandis EP, Kulasingam V, Bernardini MQ. Effectiveness of the risk of malignancy index and the risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm in a cohort of women with ovarian cancer: does histotype and stage matter? Int J Gynecol Cancer 2015; 25:809-14.

Korbakis D, Brinc D, Schiza C, Soosaipillai A, Jarvi K, Drabovich AP, Diamandis EP. Immunocapture-selected reaction monitoring screening facilitates the development of ELISA for the measurement of native TEX101 in biological fluids. Mol Cell Proteomics 2015;14:1517-26

Grober E, Garbens A, Božović A, Kulasingam V, Fanipour B, Diamandis EP. Accuracy of testosterone concentrations in compounded testosterone products. J Sex Med 2015;12:1381-8.

Musrap N, Tuccitto A, Karagiannis GA, Saraon P, Batruch I, Diamandis EP. Comparative proteomics of ovarian cancer aggregate formation reveals an increased expression of calcium-activated chloride channel regulator 1 (CLCA1). J Biol Chem 2015;290:17218-27

Yu Y, Prassas I, Dimitromanolakis A, Diamandis EP. Novel biological substrates of human kallikrein 7 identified through degradomics. J Biol Chem 2015;290:17762-75

Rotondo F, Di Ieva A, Kovacs K, Cusimano MD, Syro LV, Diamandis EP, Yousef GM. Human kallikrein 10 in surgically removed human pituitary adenomas. Hormones (Athens) 2015;14:272-9

Di Meo A, Rotondo F, Kovacs K, Cusimano Md, Syro Lv, Di Ieva A, Diamandis EP,  Yousef GM. Human kallikrein 10 expression in surgically removed human pituitary corticotroph adenomas: An immunohistochemical study. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2015;23:433-7

Korbakis D, Prassas I, Dimitromanolakis A, Davis GJ, Barber E, Reckamp KL, Blasutig I, Diamandis EP.  Serum LAMC2 enhances the prognostic value of a multi-parametric panel in non-small cell lung cancer. Br J Cancer Supp 2015;113:484-91

Drucker KL, Gianinni C, Decker PA, Diamandis EP, Scarisbrick IA. Prognostic significance of multiple kallikreins in high-grade astrocytoma. BMC Cancer 2015;15:565

Martínez-Morillo E, Childs C, Prieto García B, Álvarez Menéndez FV, Romaschin AD, Cervellin G, Lippi G, Diamandis EP. Neurofilament medium polypeptide (NFM) protein concentration is increased in CSF and serum samples from patients with brain injury. Clin Chem Lab Med 2015;53:1575-84.

Duffy MJ, Sturgeon C, Barak V, Molina R, Hayes DF, Diamandis EP, Bossuyt P. Validation of new cancer biomarkers: A position statement from the European Group on tumor markers. Clin Chem 2015; 61:809-820

Dukic L, Simundic AM, Martinic-Popovic I, Kackov S, Diamandis A, Begcevic I, Diamandis EP. The role of human kallikrein 6, clusterin and adiponectin as potential blood biomarkers of dementia. Clin Biochem 2016;49:213-218

Dorn J, Yassouridis A, Walch A, Diamandis EP, Schmitt M, Kiechle M, Wang P, Drecoll E, Schmalfeldt B, Loessner D, Kotzsch M, Magdolen V. Assessment of kallikrein-related peptidase 5 (KLK5) protein expression in tumor tissue of advanced ovarian cancer patients by immunohistochemistry and ELISA: correlation with clinical outcome. Am J Cancer Res 2016;6:61-70

Appointments

Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health of the Sciences (2012)

Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2011)

Member of the Royal Society of Canada (2008)

Corresponding Member of the Academy of Athens, Greece (2005)

Honours and Awards

The JJ Berry Smith Award for Doctoral Supervision, University of Toronto, Canada (2014)

CCSC Award for Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Chemistry (2014)

The Carl Joliff Award for Lifetime Achievement in Clinical and Diagnostic Immunology (2013)

Senior Sustained Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award, Faulty of Medicine, University of Toronto (2013)

Excellence in Biomedical Research Nemitsas Prize in Medical Sciences, Takis and Louki Nemitsas Foundation (2010)

The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC)/Abbott Award for Significant Contributions to Molecular Diagnostics (2009)

Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Biochemistry Award from the Ontario Society of Clinical Chemists (OSCC) (2008)

The Morton K. Schwartz Award for Significant Contributions in Cancer Research Diagnostics from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) (2007)

Frey-Werle Commemorative Gold Medal from the Frey-Werle Foundation (2007)

Annual Education Excellence Award of the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists (2003)

Abbott Award from the International Society for Oncodevelopmental Biology and Medicine (ISOBM) (2002)

Miriam Reiner Award from the Capital Section of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (2001)

Distinguished Scientist Award, National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB) (2000)

Van Slyke Award, the New York Metro Section of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (1999)

American Association for Clinical Chemistry Award for Outstanding Contributions to Clinical Chemistry in a Selected Area of Research (1999)

Distinguished Scientist Award, Clinical Ligand Assay Society (CLAS) (1999)

Excellence in Teaching Award, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Toronto (1997)

Annual Research Excellence Award of the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists (1995)

American Association for Clinical Chemistry Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievements by a Young Investigator (1985)