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Greek Australian, John Kokkinos, creates world-first human pancreatic cancer model

Andriana Simos
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Greek Australian, John Kokkinos, creates world-first human pancreatic cancer model

Greek Australian, John Kokkinos, is part of a team of medical researchers at the University of New South Wales who have made a world-first breakthrough in the fight against pancreatic cancer.

The multi-disciplinary team, led by cancer biologist Associate Professor Phoebe Phillips, have successfully grown a complete human pancreatic tumour model in a petri dish.

Kokkinos, who is a UNSW Scientia PhD student and the son of Father Dimitrios Kokkinos from St John Greek Orthodox Church in Parramatta, was challenged by Associate Professor Phillips to create the model when he first embarked on his PhD. He tells The Greek Herald that the process was a challenging one, but worth it in the end.

“A similar model has been done in prostate and breast cancer by some researchers at the University of Adelaide many years ago. Once I received the challenge from my supervisor, I began to research the model and even visited the lab in Adelaide to learn the technique,” Kokkinos tells The Greek Herald.

A/Prof. Phoebe Phillips and John Kokkinos. Photo: UNSW.

“After that, I returned to my lab to try and implement it in pancreatic cancer. It took a lot of trial and error but eventually, we found the right technique and the final protocol that we can now use routinely.”

Game-changer in pancreatic cancer:

The model, which is grown from pancreatic cancer tumours taken from patients during surgery, is particularly significant as it stays in tact for 12 days and offers a complete view of the tumour.

“In pancreatic cancer, other researchers have tried doing something similar but they can only grow the pieces of tumour for two to three days maximum,” Kokkinos explains.

“With our model, we’ve confidently shown now that we can go up to 12 days and maintain the whole tumour architecture. That architecture is what’s really the game-changer in pancreatic cancer… as we can very closely study the biology of these cells and hopefully, this will lead us to new insights into how pancreatic tumours grow and spread around the body.”

Kokkinos adds that the benefit of this longevity is there is a greater potential for testing the effect of different chemotherapy drugs on the cancer, and offering personalised treatments to patients in the future.

The multi-disciplinary team has successfully grown a complete human tumour model in a petri dish. Image: Scientific Reports.

“The other factor that’s really important and exciting for us, is the potential to test different chemotherapy drugs on each individual tumour that we’re growing, determine which drug the tumour responds to and then feed that back to the clinicians,” Kokkinos says.

“If that all works out, it’ll be a really nice way to personalise treatment for each individual patient rather than just throwing a cocktail of drugs at the patient, hoping one of them will work.”

‘Being Greek Australian is a driving force in everything I do’:

Creating such a successful model is no small feat for someone who is only 24 years of age. With that said, we just had to ask what inspired Kokkinos to become involved in the medical field in the first place.

“Being Greek Australian has been a real driving force in everything that I do in life, not just research. What drives me in research is a commitment and dedication to serve mankind and I think alot of that comes down to that spirit of filotimo,” Kokkinos says.

“And then another factor for me is having seen our grandfathers and forefathers, how they persevered through their challenges and fought for their country and faith. I think it’s our duty as third and fourth generation Greek Australians to take on this spirit of courage and perseverance and translate it into the challenges we face today.”

And how exactly does Kokkinos plan to use this brave spirit himself? To continue his research in pancreatic cancer and one day, study postgraduate medicine.

“The first test for our team now is to see whether our model can predict a response to chemotherapy, which will take a bit of time to do. But if that’s successful and we get enough funding, we can start a clinical trial,” Kokkinos explains.

“And after my PhD, I’m still considering doing postgraduate medicine because I think… to be able to do research and at the same time, deal with the patients themselves and help them with our research, is something that excites me and I hope to be able to do that in the future.”

A strong goal from a young Greek Australian who has a very bright future ahead of him.

Victoria’s Greek community kick-start 1821 celebrations with liturgy and march

Andriana Simos
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Victoria’s Greek community kick-start 1821 celebrations with liturgy and march

The Greek Orthodox District of Northcote in Victoria held its first event on Sunday to commemorate the 200-year anniversary of Greek Independence.

Held at The Transfiguration of the Lord Greek Orthodox Church in Thomastown, the commemoration event began with a Divine Liturgy by The Archipiscopical Vicar for the District of Northcote, The Very
Reverend Archimandrite, Fr. Evmenios Vasilopoulos.

This was followed by a special doxology service and an official march, led by a drum band, from the church grounds to the nearby church hall.

Participating in the march were local Greek school students, people from the church’s youth groups, and representatives from local Greek and Cypriot organisations, including the Hellenic Community of Whittlesea, the Cyprus Community of the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne, and the Choir of the Hellenic Community of Whittlesea.

“The pinnacle of the march was a reenactment of the oaths sworn by members of the Filiki Eteria,” Reverend Father George Frangos tells The Greek Herald.

Following the reenactment, about 130 attendees were treated to lunch in the church hall, as well as a keynote speech by Father Frangos on the influence of Mount Athos and the Athonias Ecclesiastical Academy on Greek Independence.

“It was a fantastic event enjoyed by all. Especially under the current circumstances, it was quite good to see people out and celebrating such a historic event,” Father Frangos says.

Remembering bouzouki master, Giorgos Zampetas.

The Greek Herald
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Remembering bouzouki master, Giorgos Zampetas.

Giorgos Zampetas is a well-known Greek composer and bouzouki master. We take a look back at his life achievements.

Early Life:

Zampetas was born on January 25, 1925 in Athens. He took his first bouzouki lessons from his father, who was a barber.

From 1950, he began working professionally in popular centers, until eventually entering the discography in 1953.

Giorgos Zampetas was born on January 25, 1925 in Athens. 

Musical career:

In 1959, Manos Hadjidakis made Zampetas a “soloist” in his compositions. 

Zampetas later “embroidered” the songs of Theodorakis, Xarchakos, Plessa, Markopoulos, Markea, Kapnisi and many other composers. 

He also wrote songs with Pythagoras, Kayanta, Pretenteri, Papadopoulos, Tzefroni, Bakogianni and Papagiannopoulou, while he collaborated closely with the leading lyricist Charalambos Vassiliadis-Tsanta, the poet Dimitris Christodoulou and Alelos.

Legacy and Death:

Zampetas’ assets include more than 250 songs. Most of them became hits, including Father sit down wisely, Romios loved Romia, Stalia-stalia and The fifty. 

With his songs, a whole generation of singers emerged: Tolis Voskopoulos, Marinella, Dimitris Mitropanos, Vicky Moscholou, Stamatis Kokotas, Doukissa and others.

Zampetas died on March 10, 1992, at the age of 67, in the Sotiria Hospital of Athens. He was survived by family in Greece, as well as extended family members throughout the Greek diaspora.

Source: San Simera.

Hundreds of jobs on the line as Greek Australian company goes into administration

The Greek Herald
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Hundreds of jobs on the line as Greek Australian company goes into administration

SA Structural, one of Australia’s biggest structural steel manufacturers, has fallen into administration, according to The Advertiser.

The collapse of the Greek Australian-owned business has triggered fears hundreds of people in Adelaide’s north will lose their job. It has also left several major projects in limbo, including the South Australian Government’s $715m Gawler train line electrification project.

It is understood close to 200 employees are affected by the company’s collapse, while amounts owed to creditors are yet to be revealed.

SA Structural was established by Adelaide businessman Michael Mangos in 2003, providing structural steel for mining projects, infrastructure works, shopping centres, schools and hotels.

FULL STORY: The Advertiser.

Sophie Cotsis MP wants answers after taxpayers charged for Liberal Party election polling

The Greek Herald
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Sophie Cotsis MP wants answers after taxpayers charged for Liberal Party election polling

NSW Labor is calling for an investigation into the use of taxpayers’ money to survey attitudes to the Government ahead of the 2019 State Election.

The inappropriate use of taxpayer funds came to light in the latest NSW Auditor General report into Government Advertising.

The report also found the agency of Service NSW breached its own procurement policies by directly negotiating with one supplier for an advertising campaign that was ultimately worth $5 million.

It prompted the Shadow Minister for Better Public Services, Sophie Cotsis, to write a letter to the NSW Attorney General, warning of the ramifications for democracy.

“This is very concerning. The NSW Liberals used a public Government agency like Service NSW right before the 2019 election to conduct polling on attitudes toward the NSW Government,” Ms Cotsis said.

“According to the Auditor General’s report, Service NSW breached NSW Government procurement rules with a rushed campaign that may have misled people about their eligibility for rebate schemes.

“Instead of obtaining quotes from multiple suppliers, the Government agency, Service NSW, negotiated directly with a single advertising company and directed them to start work on the campaign before it had been formally approved.

“This is why I am calling for the Department of Communities and Justice to investigate.”

Ms Cotsis has also written to the NSW Electoral Commission.

Greece’s #MeToo movement: Sailing coach arrested for raping 11-year-old athlete

Andriana Simos
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Greece’s #MeToo movement: Sailing coach arrested for raping 11-year-old athlete

A Greek sailing coach, who admitted on Friday that he had what he called a “consensual relationship” with an 11-year-old athlete, was arrested on the island of Samos on Sunday.

The arrest warrant was issued by the First Instance Prosecutor in Athens, Nikos Stefanatos, after he reportedly carried out preliminary investigations over the weekend and received the testimonies of the now 21-year-old sailing athlete and her parents.

The coach will now be charged with aggravated rape, repeated seduction and misconduct.

READ MORE: Sofia Bekatorou prepares to give deposition on Wednesday over sex abuse allegation.

The “relationship” became public knowledge on Friday, when the accused revealed on television that he had an affair with the athlete when she was 11.

The 38-year-old coach, who was fired after his “relationship” became known, said that he “wanted to marry” the girl.

READ MORE: Olympic gold medalist Sofia Bekatorou claims she was sexually assaulted by official.

“I can not accept the word ‘rape’, because rape I believe is something that happens against the will of the other. When there is something reciprocal, I do not think there is rape,” the coach told Greek journalist, Nikos Evaggelatos.

“On the contrary, my feelings had manifested and we had agreed that when she grows up a little more we will get married.”

Sofia Bekatorou kick-start’s Greece’s #MeToo movement:

Bekatorou made the sexual abuse allegation on Thursday January 14, 2021 while speaking at an online event organised by the Ministry of Culture and Sport. Photo: AP Photo/Herbert Knosowski, file.

This latest arrest is one of the first to come after Greek Olympian Sofia Bekatorou publicly revealed that she had been sexually assaulted last week.

In a heartbreaking statement, given during an online conference aimed at protecting children and young people in sports, Bekatorou detailed the assault she suffered at the hands of an important figure involved with the Hellenic Sailing Federation.

The news came as a shock as Bekatorou’s allegations brought to the surface a taboo issue that plagues not only the sports world, but Greek society as a whole. Many claim she started what is now known as Greece’s #MeToo Movement.

READ MORE: #MeTinSofia: Wave of support to Olympian sailing star after sex abuse revelation.

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Australia ahead of February roll out

Andriana Simos
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Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Australia ahead of February roll out

The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has today been provisionally approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

The TGA said following a thorough and independent review of Pfizer’s submission, it was decided the vaccine met the high safety, efficacy and quality standards required.

The provisional approval is for individuals 16 years of age and older. Two doses will be required, at least 21 days apart.

Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, said the TGA approval was an important step in the fight against COVID-19.

READ MORE: COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Australia brought forward to February.

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has been approved by the TGA. Photo: Forbes / Photonews via Getty Images.

“I welcome the TGA’s approval of the Pfizer vaccine, with our own Australian experts finding it is safe, effective and of a high standard,” the Prime Minister said.

“Our priority has always been to keep Australians safe and protect lives and livelihoods. Today’s approval is another big step forward for our community, particularly in the protection of our most vulnerable people.”

The Government continues to work with Pfizer on the final date of delivery of vaccines, noting that Pfizer has experienced some temporary production delays from its European manufacturing plant as it ramps up production to meet extraordinary global demand.

READ MORE: Greek CEO of Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective.

The Government’s latest advice remains that the first doses of Pfizer are expected to arrive and be rolled out in late February.  Final dates will be confirmed by Pfizer shortly and are subject to shipping and distribution. 

In Australia, the vaccine will be rolled out in five phases over the coming months and, over time, will involve more than 1,000 vaccination administration sites.

As the rollout begins across 30 – 50 hospital sites, people who need protection the most will get the vaccine first. This includes aged care and disability care residents and workers, frontline health care workers, and quarantine and border workers.

Greek special forces team up with US army for first-of-its-kind military exercise

The Greek Herald
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Greek special forces team up with US army for first-of-its-kind military exercise

Troops from the Hellenic Army’s 596th Airmobile Battalion and the United States’ 5th Battalion and 101st Aviation Regiment, executed Eddie’s Odyssey, a first of its kind, joint training mission on Velopoula Island from January 14 to 20.

In a photo made available over the weekend, it is clear that the seven-day joint training exercise went smoothly, without any hiccups.

“This exercise was really built from the ground up,” Lt. Col. Anthony Marston, 1st battalion commander, told Business Insider.

Three US Army AH-64E Apache attack helicopters over Velopoula Island in the Aegean Sea, January 14, 2021. Photo: US Army National Guard/Staff Sgt. Garrett L. Dipum.

“We had some time on our calendar and at the company level there were folks who were interested in doing over-water training and some live-fire exercises. Working with the Greeks, we were able to plan Eddie’s Odyssey, an air-assault and deliberate attack exercise.”

According to Business Insider, the training exercise encompassed transporting troops, aerial coverage operations and providing medical evacuation capabilities to Greek special operations forces (SOF).

“These training exercises give the opportunity to both sides to exchange knowledge and experiences that can take place in various conditions,” a Greek SOF second lieutenant told the media outlet.

“The keys to a mission rely on detailed planning, standard operation procedure and training. This event between Greek SOF and US aerial platforms enhances the interoperability between those NATO members.”

The two partner forces also used the training opportunity to practice their medical evacuation capabilities off of the island.

In order to fly over the Aegean Sea and execute Eddie’s Odyssey, pilots and flight crews from the 101st had to conduct specialised “dunker training,” provided by the Hellenic navy, on how to react if a helicopter unexpectedly goes down in the water.

A US Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter participates in Eddie’s Odyssey in the Aegean Sea, January 14, 2021. Photo: US Army National Guard/Sgt. Renee Seruntine.

“One of the great things about being here in Greece is that our Hellenic partners have a vast experience with over water flight ,” Marston said.

“Interoperability wise, we are not only teaching them our gold book standards and how we do air assault planning and deliberate attacks, we are also learning a tremendous amount from our 1st Aviation Brigade Hellenic partners, both from their attack helicopters and their Chinooks,” Marston said.

“Through that, we not only get how to do over water flight, but now we know how to plan together, how to establish command and control together, and come up with tactics we wouldn’t necessarily think of if we were just training at home.”

Source: Business Insider.

Five things we Greeks love about Australia

The Greek Herald
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Five things we Greeks love about Australia

I think Greeks have been to enough Australia Day barbeques to know that true-blue Aussie culture is unrivalled among anywhere in the world. A core value of mateship and the wealth of opportunity the land brings makes it a place all Greeks can safely call home.

While Australia is a special country in its own right, what are the values that make Greeks particularly fall in love with it?

A Greek restaurant in every city

Let’s be real. We all know the first thing we Google when we land in another Australian city is, “are any Greek restaurants nearby?” And more often then not, there usually is.

When vacationing to other parts of Australia, Greek restaurants can sometimes feel like a net of safety. Luckily, rural NSW towns like Woy Woy make sure you can enjoy the comfort of Greek food anywhere in Australia.

For an even richer sense of Greek culture, the aroma of baklava and galaktoboureko on Lonsdale Street in Melbourne makes everyones food senses tingle. Even less populated Australian capitals, like Perth and Darwin, boast over 15 Greek restaurants combined.

‘Mateship’

Brothers in arms are brothers for life. The Australian value of mateship is one of the most important features of Australia culture. A value that Greeks understood well when they first arrived in the united country.

One of the first things Greeks are taught when they grow up is that family outranks everything. Yet, when they came to Australia they learned that your mates become the newest addition to your family. Greeks have taken this on in all aspects of life, embracing newfound non-Greek friends as those who ‘wish they were Greek’.

Australian beaches

Greek beaches vs Australian beaches. To very different experiences, both magical. Greeks may get a a rude awakening when they first arrive in Australia and find out the rough shores of the pacific ocean are a lot tougher than the calm Mediterranean sea.

Despite the change in water current, Australian beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world. Almost 50,000 kilometres of coastline linked by over 10,000 beaches, the crystal white sand is the perfect place to enjoy a nice family picnic.

Land of opportunity

A part of Australia that Greeks, to this day, remain thankful for. When journeying to Australia’s coastal shores, Greeks had no idea what to expect. What they found was a land filled with opportunity for wealth, happiness and prosperity.

Greeks landed on Australian shores not speaking the language, not understanding the etiquette and not knowing where to go. Yet Greeks didn’t need to speak english to understand they needed to dig their heels in and work harder than Australian locals. It’s from this that Greeks learned the wealth of opportunity that was present in the golden country, earning a newfound respect for a new land they now called home.

Multicultural community

Greeks, Italians, Vietnamese, Indians… the list goes on! The one thing that makes Australian culture the most special in the world is the embracement of multiculturalism. Greeks weren’t the first foreign nation to come to Australia, and they certainly aren’t the last. Just as Australians learned to accept Greeks in their community, Greeks pass this tradition on to other arriving communities, embracing the foreign food and language with open arms.

This aspect of Australian culture has similarly opened up new possibilities unforeseen when Greeks first arrived. The Welcome Wall on Sydney’s Darling Harbour recognises the impact Greeks have had on multiculturalism, while Greek community centres ensure this impact continues to grow and prosper.

Insight or Perspective: What are our associations doing to keep our language alive?

The Greek Herald
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Insight or Perspective: What are our associations doing to keep our language alive?

By Eleni Elefterias

Well, for the most part not much.

Apart from the two big organisations, The Greek Orthodox Community of NSW and the Greek Archdiocese of NSW who both offer Greek language classes mostly after school in most Sydney areas, other smaller associations do nothing.

The GOC and the Archdiocese have been offering classes for around 50 years. A great contribution and though their offerings may not be perfect they have helped many people of my generation learn and excel in Greek. 

However, we cannot expect these organisations to take all the responsibility for the preservation of the Modern Greek language in Australia.

Many students, do not attend Greek school at all. 

Few take it up at university level and of those who do, a common statement we hear year in year out is that “no-one bothered to teach us” and  “I just want to learn to be able to speak with my yiayia or papou.” 

We used to have three universities in NSW offering Modern Greek and in the 80’s they were jam packed with students who benefitted greatly. We took part in Greek theatrical performances and Greek concerts and the culture was flourishing.

Sydney University was given a big grant from a wealthy sponsor in the 70’s, Sir Nicholas Laurantos, the Chair of Byzantine and Modern Greek was created. This made it possible to provide many opportunities to the students to not only learn Greek but use it in useful ways. 

Christos Georgiou, whom I studied Greek with and who was a close friend, was responsible for starting the movement and getting sponsorship to start the Modern Greek Faculty at Macquarie University in the early 80’s. 

More on what the associations can do next week.

READ MORE: Insight or Perspective: Keeping the Greek language alive

*Eleni Elefterias-Kostakidis is a teacher of Modern Greek and University lecturer. 

Read Eleni Elefterias’ column ‘Insight or Perspective’ in Greek, every Saturday in The Greek Herald’s print edition or get your subscription here.

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