Curriculum vitae

First name/family name:Charalampos Tzoulis

ORCID ID:0000-0003-0341-5191

Born:27/12/1979

Gender:male

Website:

EDUCATION

2015Specialist in Neurology

2010PhD with title:“Clinical and molecular studies of disease caused by mutations of the mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma (POLG)”.Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway

2008FELASA-C certification for conducting research with laboratory animals.

2003Doctor of Medicine (MD),awarded “Cum Laude”. Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Medical University of Szeged, Hungary.

CURRENT AND PREVIOUS POSITIONS

2014-Current Consultant Neurologist.Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.

2013-CurrentResearch Leader and Principal Investigator.Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway.

2011-2013 Postdoctoral Fellow.Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospitaland Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway.

2008-2010 PhD Fellow.Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital and Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway.

2005-2013Clinical Resident in Neurology.Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.

ONGOING RESEARCH SUPPORT/FUNDING

2015-2017“Young Research Talents” Grant of the Norwegian Research Council (NFR)amounting to ~7,000,000 NOK (~840,000 Euro) over a period of three years (grant no: 240369/F20).

2015-2017Research Grant (“flerårigprosjekt”)from the Western Norway Regional Health Authority (Helse Vest), amounting to ~1,700,000 NOK (~200,000 Euro) over a period of three years (grant no: 911988)

2014- 2017Career Scholarshipof the Western Norway Regional Health Authority (Helse Vest)amounting to ~8,800,000 NOK (~1 million Euro) over a period of four years(grant no: 911903)

2015-2017TorbjørgHauge’s Grant For Research In Neurology (awarded x2) (400,000 NOK, ~40,000 Euro).

FELLOWSHIPSANDAWARDS

2011-2013Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Western Norway Regional Health Authority (Helse Vest), Norwayover three years.

2012“Meltzer Young Researcher Award” for outstanding scientific achievements, University of Bergen, Norway.

2011“Best PhD 2010 Award” of the University of Bergen, Norway.

2011“ForsbergsAulies Legacy Travel Grant”, University of Bergen, Norway.

2010“Young Researcher Award” of the Western Norway Regional Health Authority (Helse Vest), Norway.

2010“AagotGjertsens Legacy Grant”, University of Bergen, Norway

2008-2010PhD fellowshipfrom the Western Norway Regional Health Authority (Helse Vest), Norway over three years.

2008GlaxoSmithKline Research prize.

2006Award of the Norwegian Neurological Association for best scientific project presentation

SUPERVISION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS AND RESEARCH FELLOWS

I have supervised to completion two Master students at the University ofBergen, Norway. I currently supervise one Master student, five PhD students and two Postdoctoral Fellows at the Faculty of Biomedicine and/or the Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway

TEACHING ACTIVITIES

Regular teaching of medical students in clinical neurology,University of Bergen, Norway.Training of neurologists in neurogenetics and movement disorders, at national (Norway) and international courses and workshops.

INSTITUTIONALRESPONSIBILITIES

  • Examiner and committee member for the degrees of PhD and MSC, University of Bergen, University of Oslo, Norway, and The Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Regular supervision of pre-graduate thesis projects for medical students, University of Bergen, Norway
  • Teaching Neurogenetics and movement disorders at obligatory courses for the specialty of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

COMMISSIONS OF TRUST / MEMBERSHIPS

  • Reviewer for several international scientific journals including “Stroke”, “Neurology”, “Movement Disorders”, “Epilepsia”, “Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry”, “PLoS ONE”, “ActaNeuropathologica”, “European Journal of Human Genetics”.
  • Norwegian representative and Management Committee member of the “European network for the study of dystonia syndromes” under the European Cooperation In Science and Technology (COST) program, EEU.
  • Member of Young Leaders against Dementia and Neurodegeneration (JPND, Neurodegenerative Disease Research Network).
  • Board member of the European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS) Scientist Panel on Genetics & Metabolic Disorders and Panel on Translational Research.
  • Board member and Treasurer of the Norwegian Neuroscience Society, Norway (2013-2016).
  • Member of the Norwegian Medical Association, Norwegian Neurological Association, American Society for Human Genetics (ASHG), Mitochondrial Clinical & Research Network (MCRN), International Neurotoxin Association (INA)

RESEARCH PROFILE

I. Scholarly work and academic achievement: Since 2006, I conduct cutting-edge translational research in the fields of molecular genetics and neurodegeneration, with the patient in primary focus. I publish regularly in high impact, leading scientific journals and have been awarded several prestigious research fellowships, grants and awards. My research has made important contributions to the field by e.g. helping elucidate essential molecular pathways involved in PD-related neurodegeneration, such as the role of mitochondrial DNA homeostasis. II. Leadership ability and experience: I have experience supervising researchers at all levels (including MSc, PhD and Postdoc) and have demonstrated scientific independence and skills at building and leading my own research. After the end of my Postdoctoral period, I became an independent researcher and fueled a major research focus on genetics of neurodegeneration in Bergen. Since 2014, I lead my own research group: Translational Science in Neurodegeneration and Aging ( As a research leader, I have already secured major funding for my work from both the Western Norway Regional Health Authority and the Research Council of Norway (RCN). Notably I was among the first to receive a major Young Research Talent from RCN and my proposal received an excellent evaluation (7/7). I have recruited and consolidated national and international collaborations, which will support and promote the growth and development of PD research at the UiB.

III. Vision: I aim to use generate cutting-edge research and position myself for EEU funding including the ERC and JPND programs during the project period. My long-term ambition is to make a major contribution to understanding and treating PD and in the process develop a world-class research environment for aging and neurodegeneration in Bergen.

SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTION

I have generated numerous publications published in high impact, leading medical journals, including Brain (impact factor ~10), Annals of Neurology (impact factor ~11) and PNAS (impact factor ~10). Some of my latest work has revealed novel aspects of the mitochondrial contribution to neurodegeneration and has triggered great interest by the scientific community including extensive editorial comments (Tzoulis et al., Brain. 2013 Apr 26). My work has > 430 citations (H-index 10 in ISIS web of science).Senior authorship (PI role) is marked by underlying and an asterisk: “Tzoulis C*”

  1. B. Brakedal, Flønes I, Dölle C, Torkildsen Ø, Assmus J, Engeland A, Haugarvoll H and Tzoulis C*.Long-term use of glitazone antidiabetics is associated with reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease. Submitted JAMA Neurology, Aug. 2016.
  2. Dölle C, Flønes I, Nido G, Miletic H, Kristoffersen S, Lilleng KP, Larsen JP, Tysness OB, Haugarvoll K, Bindoff LA, and Tzoulis C*. Defective mitochondrial DNA homeostasis in the dopaminergic substantia nigra of patients with Parkinson’s disease.Under RevisionNature Communications, Sep 2016.
  3. Tzoulis C, Bindoff LA. Molecular genetics of DNA polymerase gamma-associated neurodegeneration. Encyclopedia of Life Sciences (eLS). In press, Sep 2016.
  4. Tzoulis C, Sztromwasser P, Johansson S, Gjerde IO, Knappskog P, Bindoff LA. PNKP Mutations Identified by Whole-Exome Sequencing in a Norwegian Patient with Sporadic Ataxia and Edema.Cerebellum. 2016 May 10.
  5. Talasila KM, Rosland G, Hagland H, Eskilsson E, Tran GT, Fritah S, Azuaje F, Atai N, Harter P, Mittelbronn M, Anderson M, van Noorden R, Niclou SP, Thorsen F, Tronstad KJ, Tzoulis C, Bjerkvig R, and Miletic H. The angiogenic switch leads to a metabolic switch in human glioblastoma.Neuro Oncol. 2016 Sep 3.
  6. Hikmat O, Tzoulis C, Knappskog PM, Johansson S, Boman H, Sztromwasser P, Lien E, Brodkorb E, Ghezzi D,Bindoff LA. ADCK3 mutations with epilepsy, stroke-like episodes and ataxia: a POLG mimic?Eur J Neurol. 2016 Apr 23.
  7. Tzoulis C*, Schwarzlmüller T, Biermann M, Haugarvoll K, Bindoff LA. Mitochondrial DNA homeostasis is essential for nigrostriatal integrity.Mitochondrion. 2016 May;28:33-7.
  8. Valadas A, Contarino MF, Albanese A, Bhatia KP, Falup-Pecurariu C, Forsgren L, Friedman A, Giladi N, Hutchinson M, Kostic VS, Krauss JK, Lokkegaard A, Marti MJ, Milanov I, Pirtosek Z, Relja M, Skorvanek M, Stamelou M, Stepens A, Tamás G, Taravari A, Tzoulis C, Vandenberghe W, Vidailhet M, Ferreira JJ, Tijssen MA.Management of dystonia in Europe: a survey of the European network for the study of the dystonia syndromes.Eur J Neurol. 2016 Jan 29.
  9. Flønes I, Sztromwasser P, Haugarvoll K, Dölle C, Lykouri M, Schwarzlmüller T, Jonassen I, Miletic H, Johansson S, Knappskog PM,Bindoff LA, Tzoulis C*.Novel SLC19A3 promoter deletion and allelic silencing in biotin-thiamine-responsive basal ganglia encephalopathy.PLoS One. 2016 Feb 10.
  10. Haugarvoll K, Bindoff LA, Tzoulis C*.Nigrostriatal degeneration sine parkinsonism.Brain. 2016 Jan 25.
  11. Flønes IH, Haugarvoll K, Sundal C,TzoulisC*.A woman in her 70s with chronic walking difficulties.TidsskrNorLaegeforen. 2015 Oct 20;135(19):1753-5.
  12. Bjørk MH, Gjerde IO,TzoulisC, Ulvik RJ, Bindoff LA.A man in his 50s with high ferritin levels and increasing cognitive impairment.TidsskrNorLaegeforen. 2015 Aug 25;135(15):1369-72.
  13. TzoulisC*, Schwarzlmüller T, Gjerde IO, Søfteland E, Neckelmann G, Biermann M, Haroche J, Straume O, Vintermyr OK. Excellent response of intramedullary Erdheim-Chester disease to vemurafenib: a case report.BMC Res Notes. 2015 Apr 30;8(1):171.
  14. Albanese A, Abbruzzese G, Dressler D, Duzynski W, Khatkova S, Marti MJ, Mir P, Montecucco C, Moro E, Pinter M, Relja M, Roze E, Skogseid IM, Timerbaeva S, Tzoulis C. Practical guidance for CD management involving treatment of botulinum toxin: a consensus statement.J Neurol. 2015 Apr .1
  15. Tzoulis C, Zayats T, Knappskog PM, Müller B, Larsen JP, Tysnes OB, Bindoff LA, Johansson S, Haugarvoll K. HTRA2 p.G399S in Parkinson disease, essential tremor, and tremulous cervical dystonia. Proc Natl AcadSci U S A. 2015 Mar 30.
  16. Tzoulis C, Kent, R. M, Robertson, A, etal.TRUDOSE pilot study: An evaluation of the dose of incobotulinumtoxinA and onabotulinumtoxinA for the clinical management of cervical dystonia and blepharospasm.Movement disorders. Vol 29, suppl-1. Pages: S531-S531.
  17. Tzoulis C, Tran GT, Coxhead J, Bertelsen B, Lilleng P, Balafkan N, Payne B, Miletic H, Chinnery PF, Miletic H, Bindoff LA.The molecular pathogenesis of POLG-related neurodegeneration.Ann Neurol. 2014 Jul;76(1):66-81.
  18. Tzoulis C, Kent R, Robertson A, MAltman J, Purdy C, Magar R. The Retrospective Evaluation of the Dose of IncobotulinumtoxinA and OnabotulinumtoxinA for the Clinical Management of Cervical Dystonia and Blepharospasm: TRUDOSE Pilot Study.Neurology April 8, 2014 vol. 82 no. 10 Supplement P7.065
  19. Sofou K, De Coo IF, Isohanni P, Ostergaard E, Naess K, De Meirleir L,TzoulisC, Uusimaa J, De Angst IB, Lönnqvist T, Pihko H, Mankinen K, Bindoff LA, Tulinius M, Darin N. A multicenter study on Leigh syndrome: disease course and predictors of survival.Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2014 Apr 15;9(1):52
  20. Wedding IM, Koht J, Tran GT, Misceo D, Selmer K, Holmgren A, Frengen E, Bindoff LA, Tallaksen CME, Tzoulis C. Spastic Paraplegia type 7 is associated with multiple mitochondrial DNA deletions.PLoS One. 2014 Jan 22;9(1):e86340
  21. Haugarvoll K,TzoulisC, Tran GT, Karlsen B, Engelsen BA, Knappskog PM, Bindoff LA. Myoclonus-dystonia and epilepsy in a family with a novel epsilon-sarcoglycan mutation.J Neurol. 2014 Feb;261(2):358-62.
  22. Tzoulis C, Johansson S, Boman H, Knappskog PM, Haukanes BI, Bindoff LA. Novel SACS mutations in a Norwegian family with autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Chaguenay identified by next generation sequencing.PLoS One. 2013 Jun 13;8(6):e66145
  23. Tzoulis C, Vedeler C, Haugen M, Storstein A, Tran GT, Gjerde IO, Biermann M, Schwarzlmüller T, Bindoff LA. Progressive striatal necrosis associated with anti-NMDA receptor antibodies.BMC Neurol. 2013 May 31;13:55.
  24. Tzoulis C, Tran GT, Schwarzlmüller T, Specht K, Haugarvoll K, Balafkan N, Lilleng PK, Miletic H, Biermann M, , Bindoff LA. Severe nigrostriatal degeneration without clinical parkinsonism in patients with POLG mutations.Brain. 2013 Aug;136(Pt 8):2393-404. doi: 10.1093/brain/awt103.
  25. Haugarvoll K, Johansson S, Tzoulis C, Haukanes BI, Bredrup C, Neckelmann G Boman H, Knappskog PM, Bindoff LA. MRI characterisation of adult onset α-methylacyl-coA racemase deficiency diagnosed by exome sequencing.Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases.2013, 8:1.
  26. BalafkanN, TzoulisC, MüllerB, HaugarvollK, TysnesOB, LarsenJP, Bindoff LA. Number of CAG repeats in POLG1 associated with Parkinson disease in the Norwegian population. Mitochondrion 2012 2012 Nov;12(6):640-3. doi: 10.1016/j.mito.2012.08.004.
  27. Tzoulis C, Bindoff LA. Acute mitochondrial encephalopathy reflects neuronal energy failure irrespective of which genome the genetic defect affects.Brain. 2012 Dec;135(Pt 12):3627-34.
  28. Tzoulis C, Gjerde IO, Søfteland E, Neckelmann G, Strøm E, Vintermyr OK, Sviland L, Biermann M. Erdheim-Chester disease presenting with an intramedullary spinal cord lesion.J Neurol. 2012 Jun.
  29. Tzoulis C, Tran GT, Gjerde IO, Aasly J, Neckelmann G, Rydland J, Varga V, Wadel-Andersen P, Bindoff LA. Leukoencephalopathy with brainstem and spinal cord involvement caused by a novel mutation in the DARS2 gene. J Neurol. 2012 Feb;259(2):292-6. doi: 10.1007/s00415-011-6176-9.
  30. Tzoulis C, Bindoff LA. Defining the mitochondrial POLG-related spinocerebellar ataxia and epilepsy in Norway. ACNR. 2011 Nov.
  31. Tzoulis C, Neckelmann G, Mørk SJ, Viscomi C, Moen G, Ersland L, Zeviani M,Bindoff LA.Localized cerebral energy failure in DNA polymerase gamma-associated encephalopathy syndromes.Brain. 2010 May;133(Pt 5):1428-37.
  32. Sanaker PS, Toompuu M, Hogan VE, He L, Tzoulis C, Chrzanowska-Lightowlers ZM, Taylor RW, Bindoff LA. Differences in RNA processing underlie the tissue specific phenotype of ISCU myopathy.BiochimBiophysActa. 2010 Mar 4
  33. Tzoulis C, Bindoff LA. The syndrome of mitochondrial spinocerebellar ataxia and epilepsy (MSCAE) caused by POLG1 mutations.ACNR. 2009 Feb.
  34. Gramstad A, Bindoff LA, Lillebø A, Tzoulis C, Engelsen BA. Neuropsychological performance in patients with POLG1 mutations and the syndrome of mitochondrial spinocerebellar ataxia and epilepsy.Epilepsy Behav. 2009 Jan 27.
  35. Tzoulis C, Bindoff LA. Serial diffusion imaging in a case of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). Stroke. 2009 Feb;40(2):e15-7.
  36. Tzoulis C, Denora PS, Santorelli FM, Bindoff LA. Hereditary spastic paraplegia caused by the novel mutation 1047insC in the SPG7 gene. J Neurol. 2008 Aug;255(8):1142-4. doi: 10.1007/s00415-008-0858-y.
  37. Engelsen BA, Tzoulis C, Karlsen B, Lillebø A, Laegreid LM, Aasly J, Zeviani M, Bindoff LA. POLG1 mutations cause a syndromic epilepsy with occipital lobe predilection. Brain. 2008 Mar;131(Pt 3):818-28.
  38. Tzoulis C, Bindoff LA. Correspondence on “MELAS associated with mutations in the POLG1 gene” by Deschauer et al. Neurology. 2007; 68: 1741-1742
  1. Sanaker PS, Aarhus M, Tzoulis C, Smievoll AI, Skeie GO. A 90-year-old woman with acute hemiparesis. 2006 Aug 10; Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen126(15):1933.
  1. Tzoulis C, Engelsen BA, Telstad W, Aasly J, Zeviani M, Winterthun S, Ferrari G, Bindoff LA. The spectrum of clinical disease caused by the A467T and W748S POLG mutations: a study of 26 cases. Brain. 2006 Jul;129(Pt 7):1685-92.
  2. Tzoulis C, Naess H, Thomassen L. Migrainous cerebral infarction in a previously healthy 93 year old female patient with no risk factors for stroke.Cephalalgia. 2006 Jul;26(7):894-5.

INVITED SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS

I have presented as an invited speaker at numerous national and international conferences and have chaired meetings, courses and workshops. Selected recent examples include:

  • Paris Dystonia Expert Meeting. January 28-30, 2016, Paris, France.
  • International Meeting on Spastic Paraparesis and Ataxias (SPATAX) June 23-25, 2016, Paris: "Lessons from mitochondrial ataxia: can cerebellar disruption counteract clinical parkinsonism?"
  • “Non Solo Parkinson” international conference on Parkinson’s disease, Ferrara 2016: “Truncal and limb dystonia in Parkinson’s disease”