Nikos Koufos

Education & Academic Titles 

• Medical Practice License in Greece, 2003. 

• Pulmonary Fellowship, 1st University Pulmonary Clinic of Athens, “Sotiria Chest Hospital”, Greece (2007 – 2012) 

• PhD thesis: Presented on May 2015, Title: «Modulation of angiogenic and immunologic parameters in non small cell lung carcinoma patients pre- and post- chemotherapy treatment», National Kapodistrian Medical University of Athens, Pathophysiology Department. Under the guidance of Professors: N. Tsavaris MD, A. Tzioufas MD, C. Moutsopoulos MD. 

• United States Medical License – Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, ID: 0-843-274-2 

• Specialization in modern interventional endoscopic techniques for diagnosing and treating respiratory diseases at:  

1. 1. Bronchoscopy & Interventional Pulmonology Unit, 1st University Pulmonology Clinic of Athens,  (Unit Director: Professor G. Stratakos).
   2. Interventional Pulmonology Unit, Pulmonary Department, “Lahey Hospital & Medical Center”, Burlington, Massachusetts (Unit Director: Assoc. Professor Carla Lamb).
   3. Interventional Pulmonology Unit, University Hospital of Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain (Unit Director: Assoc. Prof. Antoni Rosell). Institut d’investigacio biomedica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL). Collaboration with the Computer Vision Center (CVC), Universitat Autonóma de Barcelona (UAB).

• Official Trainer of the European and World Association of Interventional Pulmonology (EABIP & WABIP). 

• Certified Bronchoscopy Trainer by Bronchoscopy International™. 

Doctoral Thesis 

• PhD from the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, with “Excellent” distinction, on the topic: “Angiogenic and Immunological Parameters in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Before and After Chemotherapy Administration”. Department of Pathophysiology, under the supervision of: Assoc. Prof. N. Tsavaris, Prof. A. Tzioufas, and Prof. H. Moutsopoulos. (2015) 

Professional Experience 

• Scientific Director, Bronchoscopy & Interventional Pulmonology Unit, Metropolitan Hospital, Athens (2020-2024). 

• Scientific Collaborator, Interventional Pulmonology Unit, 1st University Pulmonology Clinic of Athens, “Sotiria” Hospital, Athens (2016-2024). 

• Scientific Collaborator, Pulmonology Clinic, “Agios Loukas” Hospital, Thessaloniki (2022-2023). 

• Consultant Pulmonologist, Mediterraneo Hospital, Glyfada, Athens (2016-2020). 

• Scientific Collaborator and Specialist Trainee, Interventional Pulmonology Unit, University Hospital of Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain (2015-2016). 

• Research Collaborator, Institut d’investigacio biomedica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL). Collaboration with the Computer Vision Center (CVC), Universitat Autonóma de Barcelona (UAB) (2015-2016). 

• University Fellow (Scholarship by the Medical University of Athens), Interventional Pulmonology Unit, 1st University Pulmonology Clinic, “Sotiria” Hospital, (2013-2015). 

• Research Scholar, Pulmonology Clinic and Interventional Pulmonology Unit, “Lahey Hospital & Medical Center”, Burlington, Massachusetts, (2012-2013). 

Teaching Experience 

• Certified Bronchoscopy and Interventional Pulmonology Techniques Trainer by Bronchoscopy International™. 

• Trainer in the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Training Program for Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) – 1st University Pulmonology Clinic of Athens, (2021-2024). 

• Trainer in the World Association for Bronchoscopy and Interventional Pulmonology (WABIP) Training Programs, (2013-2019). 

• Co-founder of the Hellenic Training Association of Interventional Pulmonology (HTA-IP), recognized for its scientific and educational work. 

• Participated as a Trainer, Speaker, and Chairperson in international seminars and conferences organized by the Hellenic Thoracic Society (HTS), the Hellenic Society of Chest Diseases (HSCD), the European Respiratory Society (ERS), and the European and World Association of Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (EABIP, WABIP). 

Awards & Distinctions 

• Best Imaging Award for Educational Video at the World Congress of Bronchoscopy and Interventional Pulmonology, World Association of Bronchoscopy and Interventional Pulmonology (WABIP), Florence, 2016. 

• Certified Bronchoscopy and Interventional Pulmonology Techniques Trainer by Bronchoscopy International™. 

• Certified Trainer for the Training Programs of the World Association of Bronchoscopy and Interventional Pulmonology (WABIP). 

Publications 

Books: 

• Greek translation of “Essential Bronchoscopist” by H. Colt and S. Murgu. Paperback – September 14, 2015. 

• Greek translation of “The Essential cTBNA Bronchoscopist: Conventional Transbronchial Needle Aspiration” by H. Colt and S. Murgu. Paperback – September 14, 2015. 

• Greek translation of “Clinical Tuberculosis” by Peter D. Davies, Peter Barnes, and Stephen B. Gordon, 4th edition. 

• Co-author of a chapter in the multi-author book “Clinical Pulmonology”, Broken Hill Publishers, 2023. 

• Co-author of a chapter in the e-book of the 2nd University Pulmonology Clinic, Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, (2024). 

Medical Journal Publications:

I. Greek: 

• Koufos N., Melissinos C. “Effect of gradual weight loss on pulmonary function tests and airway hyper-responsiveness.” Pneumon J. April 2007; vol 19, (1b), p.247. 

• Koufos N. “Inhaled corticosteroids in patients with diabetes mellitus.” Diabetes J. Sep-Oct 2011, 23:42-43. 

• Emmanouil F., Koufos N., Koulouris N., Alchanatis M., Stratakos G. “Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction: effectiveness and safety of the technique.” Pneumon J, March 2011, 24(4):430-444. 

• Bakakos P., Travlos A., Koufos N. “Genetic and Environmental factors and airway diseases.” Pneumon J Dec. 2012, 25(1):58-63.

II. International:

• Gil D., Ortiz R.M., Sánchez C., Rosell A., on behalf of the SENSA team. “Objective Endoscopic Measurements of Central Airway Stenosis: A Pilot Study.” Respiration 2018;95:63–69. 

• Stratakos G., Vitsas V., Koufos N., Zissis C., Emmanouil P., Koulouris N. “Post-pneumonectomy and post-lobectomy syndromes: case series and review of the literature.” Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. 2017 May 18;87(1):810. 

• Stratakos G., Palamidas A., Koufos N., Zisis C. “Complete Postobstructive Lung Atelectasis Due to Malignant Central Airway Obstruction Does Not Exclude Curative Chance.” Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2016 Summer;28(2):603-605. 

• Koufos N., Michailidou D., Xynos ID., Tomos P., Athanasiadou K., Kosmas C., Tsavaris N. “Modulation of peripheral immune responses by paclitaxel-ifosfamide-cisplatin chemotherapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.” J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2013 Dec;139(12):1995-2003. doi: 10.1007/s00432-013-1514-1. 

• Stratakos G., Gerovasili V., Dimitropoulos C., Giozos I., Filippidis FT., Gennimata S., Zarogoulidis P., Zissimopoulos A., Pataka A., Koufos N., Zakynthinos S., Syrigos K., Koulouris N. “Survival and Quality of Life Benefit after Endoscopic Management of Malignant Central Airway Obstruction.” J Cancer. 2016 Apr 25;7(7):794-802. doi: 10.7150/jca.15097. 

• Koufos N., Syrios I., Michailidou D., Xynos ID., Lazaris A., Kavantzas N., Tomos P., Kakaris S., Kosmas C., Tsavaris N. “Distinct patterns of angiogenic factor expression as a predictive factor of response to chemotherapy in stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer patients.” Mol Clin Oncol. 2016 Oct;5(4):440-446. 

Memberships in Scientific Societies, Organizations, and Institutions 

• Hellenic Thoracic Society (HTS) 

• Hellenic Society of Chest Diseases (HSCD) 

• Hellenic Training Association of Interventional Pulmonology. 

• World Association of Bronchoscopy and Interventional Pulmonology (WABIP). 

• European Association of Bronchoscopy and Interventional Pulmonology (EABIP).