We, the Poirazi Lab at IMBB-FORTH in Heraklion, Crete, are thrilled to announce an open PhD Student position! Join our DENDROLEAP project to explore dendro-inspired machine learning and computational neuroscience. This position focuses on optimizing learning in both biological and artificial systems. Key Research Areas: AI, Machine Learning, Brain-Inspired Computing, Neuronal Circuits. Location: Heraklion, Crete, […]

The renowned #BrainConferences are coming to Crete, Greece for the first time! This is a unique opportunity for young scientists in Greece and abroad to learn all about the Adaptive Mind from the best scientists in the field. You can find out more about the programme and registration here.

Interested in neuronal modeling? Now’s the perfect time to dive into it with our new DendroTweaks toolbox. We are hosting a hands-on tutorial at CNS*2025, co-organized with the Jaxley team. You’ll learn how to: – Build biophysical neuronal models from scratch – Explore and modify them using the interactive DendroTweaks GUI – Optimize and scale […]

A collaborative study between the Vassanelli and Poirazi Labs presented a new method for understanding functional connectivity in neuronal cultures. The study used Interventional Connectivity (IC) to probe neuronal activity in cultures grown on High-Density Multi-Electrode Arrays (HD-MEAs) and revealed that the network’s causal architecture can be reliably predicted from its spontaneous activity. This approach offers a practical method for analyzing neuronal networks and […]

We’re excited to share our latest collaborative study with the Losonczy Lab and Polleux Lab, led by Simone Tasciotti, that is now available on bioRxiv! 🔍 In this work, we tackle a central question in neuroscience: how do hippocampal neurons become selective for specific spatial locations? 📌 Using hyperdetailed reconstructions of individual CA1 pyramidal neurons, […]

Σας προσκαλούμε σε μια συζήτηση με τίτλο: «Γονίδια, εγκέφαλος και τεχνητή νοημοσύνη: Αλληλοεπιδράσεις και προοπτικές» την Τετάρτη 12 Μαρτίου 2025 στις 18:00, στην Αίθουσα Καστελλάκη του Επιμελητηρίου Ηρακλείου. Η Δρ. Παναγιώτα Ποϊράζη θα συντονίσει την εκδήλωση, ενώ ο Δρ. Σπύρος Χαυλής, μεταδιδακτορικός ερευνητής στο εργαστήριό μας, θα δώσει ομιλία σχετικά με τις ενεργειακές προοπτικές των […]

We are excited to share our latest research highlighted in Medical Xpress. Our collaborative work with Alcino Silva at UCLA, led by the brilliant Megha Seghal at Ohio State University sheds new light on the mechanisms of memory linking, which remained a mystery for years. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, reveals that localized dendritic plasticity […]

A new study published in Nature Neuroscience sheds light on the critical role of dendritic plasticity in linking memories.  Researchers found that when two events occur close in time, the brain tends to link them together using specific dendritic mechanisms.  This research demonstrates that linked memories activate the same dendritic segments and that new spine […]

Our latest publication demonstrates how incorporating the structure and sampling characteristics of dendrites into Artificial Neural Networks can lead to more efficient, powerful, and energy-saving AI systems. Specifically, a new type of dendritic ANNs can discriminate images accurately and robustly while using much fewer parameters. This new architecture has the potential to revolutionize various fields, from healthcare to […]

Η εκδήλωση του Συλλόγου Φίλων του ΙΤΕ, πραγματοποιήθηκε την Τετάρτη 13 Νοεμβρίου με θέμα “Τεχνητή νοημοσύνη, ευτυχία ή κατάρα;”. Στο πλαίσιο της εκδήλωσης αυτής έγινε η απονομή του βραβείου “Μιλτιάδη Καράτζη 2024” στην υποψήφια διδάκτορα, του Τμήματος Βιολογίας, Πανεπιστήμιο Κρήτης, Ιωάννα Πανδή, για την εξαιρετική της έρευνα στη διδακτορική της διατριβή την οποία εκπονεί στο […]

Dr. Yiota Poirazi was recently invited to an interview on the Theoretical Neuroscience Podcast hosted by Gaute Einevoll on July 16th, 2024. In this episode (Podcast #17: On Dendritic Function), Dr. Poirazi discusses her research on dendrites, their function, and their role in AI. The conversation delves into the complexities of how neurons process information […]

Dr. Yiota Poirazi has been the coordinator of the EIC Pathfinder project, NEUREKA. NEUREKA is now featured on the CORDIS website of the European Commission in the ‘Results in Brief’ section! This publication highlights the NEUREKA’s Consortium work on intelligent drug discovery using hybrid neural computing devices. NEUREKA’s innovative system combines living neurons with a […]

Dr. Yiota Poirazi was recently invited to speak at the 2nd Nature Conference on Neuromorphic Computing in Beijing! This prestigious conference, organized by Tsinghua University and Nature journals, brought together leading experts to explore the latest advancements in brain-inspired computing.

Dr. Poirazi and Prof. Garinis were the recipients of the 2024 FORTH Research Award, which is given to scientists working at the 10 FORTH institutes in recognition of their excellent research. The award was presented to Dr. Poirazi by Prof. Tavernarakis, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of FORTH during the 14th FORTH Scientific […]

Dr. Yiota Poirazi’s research group at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of FORTH has been awarded a prestigious grant co-funded by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) and the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (H.F.R.I.). The grant is part of the 5th Call of the “Science and Society” Action “Always strive for excellence […]

We’re excited to congratulate our PI, Dr. Yiota Poirazi, on becoming Secretary General of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies! We’re incredibly proud of her achievement and look forward to her continued success. Find out more about the new FENS leadership here.

We are thrilled to share the exciting news that Ioanna Pandi a highly talented Ph.D. candidate in our lab, recently received an ALBA travel award to attend the FENS Forum 2024, taking place on 25-29 June in Vienna, Austria. ALBA travel award is supported by the Chica and Heinz Schaller Foundation (CHS).  We also appreciate ALBA’s […]

We are overjoyed to congratulate two of the Ph.D. candidates in our lab for receiving travel grants for the 30th Meeting of the Hellenic Society for Neuroscience at the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos” in Athens. Both of them have been accepted to present their work on two different posters. Learn more about this […]