Dr Bill Giannakopoulos

Dr Bill Giannakopoulos is a Clinical Academic Senior Lecturer at the St George & Sutherland Clinical School located at St George Hospital, Kogarah.

Research Interests:
Systemic lupus erythematousus (SLE) is the prototypical autoimmune disease. Patients have a significant risk of death at a young age attributed to thrombosis, and infection related to immunosuppression. My research interests span the areas of basic science and clinical epidemiology, looking at understanding the contributing factors to the elevated risk of thrombosis in the SLE setting, and developing novel laboratory tests which will allow clinicians to accurately risk stratify patients at high risk of thrombosis and death. This has major clinical implications for preventative treatment strategies. My group's major focus is specifically on the pathophysiolgical mechanisms by which antiphospholipid antibodies, which have a high prevalence in the SLE setting are associated with elevated risk of thrombosis. We are also actively exploring the pathogenic mechanisms, using novel murine models of SLE, to understand how antiphospholipid antibodies are generated, and why they are closely linked with the autoantibodies more typical of SLE.

Broad Research Areas:
Arthritis / Rheumatology, Immunology, Inflammation, Lipids, Cardiology and Vascular Disease

Qualifications:
BSc(Med) MBBS PhD

Society Memberships & Professional Activities:
Fellow of The Royal Australian College of Physicians, Member of the Australian Rheumatology Association

Specific Research Keywords:
Autoimmune Disease, Animal Models, Vascular Biology, Thrombosis, Cardiology and Vascular Disease