Giorgos K. Sakkas

Giorgos K. Sakkas is an Associate Professor in Clinical Exercise Physiology at the University of Thessaly, Greece, within the School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences. He has held prior academic positions at Cardiff Metropolitan University (Professor in Lifestyle Medicine), the University of St Mark and St John (Associate Professor in Sport and Health Sciences), and the Center for Research and Technology Hellas (Research Associate Professor). His career spans clinical and academic roles in nephrology and exercise science, including project leadership at the University of Thessaly Faculty of Medicine and research work at the University of California San Francisco.

• University of Thessaly: Assistant/Associate Professor, 2005–present
• Cardiff Metropolitan University: Professor in Lifestyle Medicine, 2019–2024
• University of St Mark and St John: Associate Professor, 2016–2019
• University of California San Francisco: Research Assistant Endocrinologist, 2003–2005

Dr. Sakkas holds a BSc (Hons) in Physical Education and Sport Sciences from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, a PhD in Musculoskeletal Biology Research from Manchester Metropolitan University, and completed postdoctoral training at the University of California San Francisco. His research is centered on clinical exercise physiology, with a focus on chronic kidney disease, hemodialysis, sleep disorders, restless legs syndrome, muscle physiology, and lifestyle interventions. He investigates how exercise, nutrition, and behavioral strategies improve functional capacity, metabolic health, and quality of life in chronic disease populations.

His recent publications highlight trends in intradialytic exercise, sleep quality enhancement through relaxation and nutritional timing, sarcopenia in renal patients, and the metabolic effects of micronutrient supplementation. His work often involves randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews, contributing to evidence-based guidelines in nephrology and lifestyle medicine.

Dr. Sakkas has been principal investigator on multiple EU-funded research projects, including:

• Muscle Stress Relief (H2020, Grant 645648)
• ICI-THROUGH (H2020, Grant 645710)
• GI-Neu (FP7, Grant 324476)

He has supervised numerous research students and collaborators, particularly in Greece and the UK. His work has been published in high-impact journals such as Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, Nutrients, European Journal of Applied Physiology, and ASAIO Journal. He is also an active peer reviewer for journals including International Urology and Nephrology, PLOS ONE, and BMC Nephrology.

Dr. Sakkas is affiliated with the LiveLab research group (www.livelab.eu), where he contributes to interdisciplinary research on health, exercise, and sleep. His work integrates clinical, physiological, and behavioral approaches to improve patient outcomes in chronic disease management.