Bio

Ioannis Zabetakis, after having obtained his B.Sc. in Chemistry in the University of Athens, he spent 8 eight years in UK where he studied for a PhD in Food Science in the University of Leeds, did post-doctoral research on alkaloids in the University of Durham and worked as a Lecturer of Food Chemistry in the University of Leeds. During his lectureship in Leeds, he studied towards a MEd in Food Science.

In 2001, he moved to Greece (national service 2001-03) where he held Academic positions as a Lecturer, Assistant and Associate Professor of Food Chemistry in the University of Athens (2003-2015). In Athens, he developed an independent research stream on the cardioprotective properties of food lipids and on ways to create novel feeds and functional food with improved activities against inflammation and cardiovascular diseases.
In 2015, he joined University of Limerick (UL) as a Lecturer in Food Lipids and he was the Head of the department (HoD) of Biological Sciences in UL (September 2018-August 2023: 5 year term). Since 2020, he is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Food Chemistry.

During his term as HoD, he studied towards a professional diploma on “Strategic Leadership” in UL.

As HoD, Ioannis was instrumental in developing a new MSc course (MSc in Functional Foods and Product Development).
https://www.ul.ie/gps/courses/functional-foods-and-product-development-msc
Also, a number of successful recruitments of Faculty staff was achieved and the numbers of students pursuing studies in the Department of Biological Sciences (both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels) increased considerably.

Patents
Co- Inventor of a World Patent, ‘Production Method of Fish Feed Enriched with Polar Lipids and Method to Enrich Farmed Fishes’, WO2014122571 (A1)
Co- Inventor of a European Patent, ‘Production Method of Fish Feed Enriched with Polar Lipids and Method to Enrich Farmed Fishes’, EP2953478 (A1)

Invention disclosure
“Novel Food-Grade Extraction and Food-Grade Counter Current Distribution techniques for isolating bioactive Polar Lipids with in vitro and ex vivo anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic properties, from salmon products/by-products, in order to be used for the development of novel food-supplements and nutraceuticals/bio-pharmaceuticals according to EFSA, FSAI and EU legislations and directives” (UL, 2019).

While working at the University of Athens, Ioannis worked as a Lead Auditor and a consultant in the food sector [HACCP and ISO22000 (food safety) and ISO9001 (food quality)].

Since joining UL, Ioannis has been collaborating with a number of Irish companies on producing a novel nutraceutical against cardiovascular diseases (he holds the IP rights on formulating this novel extract from salmon) and also studying the cardioprotective properties of Irish products (milk, yoghurt, cheese, tea, beers). In collaboration with Rockfield Ltd, his team produced a novel yoghurt drink with strong anti-thrombotic activities [in vitro (in the lab) but also ex vivo (tested in healthy volunteers)].

Ioannis has published >110 peer-reviewed articles (Scopus h-index 36) and also three books (two as editor) on marine oils, cardiovascular diseases and functional foods, including dairy.
His latest monograph on inflammation and cardiovascular diseases is in press (Cambridge Scholars Publishing).
He has also worked as parents’ representative at the Board of Management (BOM) at St Munchin’s College in Limerick for 3 years (2021-2024).

Summary of research activity
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and related diseases (e.g. stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are the leading causes of death in the world. CVD alone cause 17M deaths in the world and 10k in Ireland, respectively, on an annual basis. Statins do nor lower the cardiovascular risk and also, they have strong negative side-effects, i.e, 50% of people on statins develop diabetes type-2 after 5 years of being on statins.
Ioannis is passionate on developing novel functional feeds, foods and nutraceuticals to help prevent or tackle CVD. This is the underlying reason why Ioannis has dedicated his research since 2000 on the impact of foods against CVD.
Since 2016, in Ireland, he has developed strong collaborations with food and nutraceutical companies and through them, he has developed two products, one nutraceutical supplement and a novel yoghurt drink, derived from ovine milk with both products having TRL 7.

In UL, Ioannis developed two research themes:
1. developing a new nutraceutical against CVD, using organic salmon, sourced in Ireland, in collaboration with Life’s2good (with the generous support of EI) and
2. studying the cardioprotective properties of dairy (bovine, ovine and caprine) – in collaboration with Irish dairy Industries. On this front, Ioannis has assessed the anti-thrombotic activities of polar lipids present in milk and yoghurt. Also, in collaboration with Rockfield Ltd with the financial support of EI, his team developed a novel yoghurt drink with strong anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic properties.
Ioannis has a particular interest on studying the properties of bovine milk using milk from grass-fed animals.

He has also a strong interest in valorising side-streams of food, animal and fish sectors of the food industry in order to produce novel animal and fish feeds with strong functionalities against inflammation.
During his posting in the University of Athens, he developed two patents in valorising olive pomace as a functional ingredient of fish feeds. In Ireland, he has developed strong collaborations with aquaculture and dairy companies and he is particularly interested in producing a novel nutraceutical and a new functional dairy product (e.g., yoghurt drink) with strong bioactivities against inflammation and the onset of CVD. His focus is also on valorising apple pomace and spent grain towards novel functional feeds and foods.
Food industry is facing many challenges and one of the main ones is how to render more sustainable the production of foods and feeds. Since 2010, Ioannis’ work is also dedicated on sustainability and food security and valorising side-streams is a strong way achieving these two targets, as shown at his publications below. By doing so, Ioannis believes that it is feasible achieving two targets at the same time, one on the sustainability front and the other one on the front of functional feeds and foods.