Nikolaos Louros

Nikolaos Louros is an Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center, with dual affiliations to the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases (CAND) and the Department of Biophysics. He leads the Louros Lab, which focuses on protein misfolding, aggregation, and amyloid formation in neurodegenerative diseases. His research integrates AI-driven protein engineering with biophysical, structural, and cellular methods to develop novel therapeutics.

• B.S. in Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2011)
• MSc in Bioinformatics (2014)
• Ph.D. in Cell Biology and Biophysics, NKUA (2016)
• Postdoctoral training at VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Belgium

Dr. Louros' research centers on the molecular mechanisms of protein aggregation, particularly in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. His lab investigates amyloid polymorphism, heterotypic interactions, and the role of post-translational modifications like glycosylation in proteostasis. Using computational tools and experimental validation, his team aims to identify aggregation modifiers and design novel inhibitors.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on amyloid structure, calcium dysregulation, and therapeutic targeting. Key themes include tau and Aβ polymorphism, co-aggregation with proteins like Medin, and the use of AI to map aggregation-prone sequences. His work frequently appears in top-tier journals such as Nature, Science, Cell, and Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology.

• Pharmacological modulation of septins in Alzheimer’s models
• Medin-Aβ co-aggregation in vascular amyloid
• AI-guided mapping of amyloid sequence space
• Structural basis of tau polymorphism
• Therapeutic targeting of pathogenic tau seeds

Dr. Louros has not been listed with formal scientific awards in the provided text, but his publication record and leadership role indicate significant recognition. He is actively mentoring students and postdocs, as his lab is recruiting for Ph.D. candidates and research associates. The Louros Lab operates within the Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in neuroscience and biophysics.

The lab employs a hybrid, inquiry-driven approach, combining deep learning, protein engineering, and high-throughput experimentation. It maintains strong collaborative ties with leading institutions and researchers in the field of neurodegeneration and protein science.