Laertis Ikonomou, PhD

Dr. Ikonomou is an Associate Professor of Oral Biology in the School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo, SUNY. He received his PhD in Biochemical Engineering from the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium and did his postdoctoral training in Stem Cell and Developmental Biology at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the BU School of Medicine Pulmonary Center.

His major research interest are in the areas of pluripotent stem cell biology, developmental biology and stem cell engineering, with emphasis on lung and thyroid. In addition to his research, Dr. Ikonomou is involved in education and information activities regarding unproven and unregulated cell- & gene-based interventions. He is currently the Chair of the ISCT Presidential Task Force (PTF) of the Committee on the Ethics of Cell and Gene Therapy (ECGT) . Dr. Ikonomou is graduate faculty at the PhD Programs in Oral Biology and in Biomedical Sciences.