Scientific Program 2025
Saturday 8 March 2025
Opening
10.30
Welcome – Introduction
Erietta Kourkoulou Latsis
President A Promise to Animals
Nikolaos Arkadopoulos
Professor, President of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Key lecture
Does a plant-based diet have a positive effect on cancer treatment?
Evangelos Filopoulos
President of the Hellenic Cancer Society, Breast Surgeon, Former Director of the
Breast Clinic at the General Cancer Hospital “Agios Savvas”
Session 1
Moderators:
Michalis Nikolaou MD, MSc, PhD
Pathologist – Oncologist, Attending Physician A of the 1st Pathology – Oncology Clinic and Scientific Head of the Home Care Unit of G.A.O.N.A.
Constantia Papalla
Radiotherapeutic Oncologist, Director of the Radiotherapy Oncology Clinic,
G.A.O.N.A. “Agios Savvas”
11.00
Debunking the myths about dietary protein
Maria Kontou
Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology,
University of Thessaly
Questions/Answers
11.30
Pathogenic links between dietary factors, cancer cell metabolism, oncogenesis and immune function with opportunities for clinical application
Despina Handolias MBBS (Hons), MD, FRACP
Medical Oncologist
Questions/Answers
12.00
The effect of nutrition on biochemical markers and signaling pathways
Christina Papi
Medical Doctor, specialist in haematology
Questions/Answers
12.30
Redefining menopause with the power of plant-based nutrition
Vasiliki Skalafouri
Obstetrician, Surgeon – Gynecologist, Head of Vegan Maternity Department
Care “Iaso”
Questions/Answers
13.00
Living with Diabetes: the plant-based diet as a cure
Stavros Bousboulas, Pathologist-Diabetologist
Director of the 3rd Pathology Clinic & Diabetic Centre of Nikaia Hospital, Piraeus
Questions/Answers
13.30 - 14.30 Lunch break
Session 2
Moderators:
Savvas Efkarpidis
Obstetrician – Gynaecologist
George Haritakis
M.D., Ph.D., Cardiologist, HeartMath Trainer
14.30
Environmental pollutants and liver cancer: The protective role of plant-based diet
Lida Hatzi, MD, PhD
Professor, School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
Questions/Answers
15.00
The Interaction of the gut microbiome with plant-based diet and ιts role in the presence of diseases and neoplasms in humans
Dimitris Karapiperis, M.D. – FEBG
Gastroenterologist – Specialist in Interventional Endoscopy, Consultant at “Sismanoglio – Amalia Fleming”
Questions/Answers
15.30
How does the plant-based diet affect the cardiometabolic risk? What’s new in the literature?
Katerina Spyridaki, MD. Ph.D.
Pathologist, Attending Physician B΄ General Hospital Sismanoglio,
Amalia Fleming N.M.
Questions/Answers
16.00
Recent data on the development and nutrition of children who follow a vegetarian and vegan diet
Katerina Demetriou
Pediatrician-Neonatologist
Questions/Answers
16.30
Nutrition, cellular aging and cancer
Konstantinos Evaggelou
Associate Professor of Histology – Embryology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Questions/Answers
17.00
Nutritional messages and carcinogenesis. Dietary patterns and prevention
Paraskevi Alexandrou, MD, MSc, Ph.D
Medical Pathologist, Director of NHS, 1st Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy, Athens Medical School, University of Athens
Questions/Answers
17.30 Discussion and Conclusions
Sunday 9 March 2025
Opening
14.30
Welcome – Introduction
Erietta Kourkoulou Latsis
President A Promise to Animals
Evangelos Filopoulos
President of the Hellenic Cancer Society, Breast Surgeon, Former Director of the
Breast Clinic at the General Cancer Hospital “Agios Savvas”
Key lecture
The importance of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of various diseases
George Haritakis, M.D. Ph.D.
Cardiologist, HeartMath Trainer
Moderators:
Christos Panopoulos
MD, PhD, Oncologist – Pathologist, Doctor of the University of Athens, Director of the Oncology Department of the Athens Euroclinic
George Haritakis
M.D., Ph.D., Cardiologist, HeartMath Trainer
Session Ι: Medical Knowledge
15.00
Optimal food choices to help prevent and manage cancer
Despina Handolias,, MBBS (Hons), MD, FRACP
Medical Oncologist
15.20
The Role of Plant-Based Diets in Reducing Chemical Exposures: a Pathway to Healthier Living
Leda Hatzi,, MD, PhD
Professor, School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
15.40
Discovering the Role of the Vegan Diet in Preventing Carcinogenesis
Alexandra Korovila
Resident Physician in Radiation Oncology, MD, GNA “Alexandra”
16.00
The impact of nutrition on human and planetary health
Maria Kontou, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology,
University of Thessaly
Questions/Answers
13.30 - 14.30 Lunch break
Session ΙΙ: Views of Nutritionists
17.10
Plant-based nutrition: From theory to practice
Konstantinos Koutsikas
Dietitian – Nutritionist, M.Sc. Clinical Nutrition
17.30
The preventive role of nutrition in menstrual disorders and women’s health
Niki Martimianaki
Nutritionist – Nutritional Therapist (MSc, UK) specializing in hormonal disorders
Questions/Answers
Section ΙΙΙ: Personal Experiences
18.00
My diet my cure, a personal story from illness to cure
Marilena Manoura
Lawyer, poet
18.20
From Generation to Generation: The Road to a Plant-based Way of Life
Iphigenia Alexandra Bakella
Founder Genesis Hellas