Name:  MARIA KANARIOU

Tell us about how you learned about JMF and World PI Week!

  • “Member” of WHO and IUIS meetings for Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases in the past.
  • “Contact Person” of JMF in Greece
  • IPOPI meetings
  • Medical Director of “ARMONIA” -  Patient Organization of Friends Patients with Primary Immonodeficiencies - Paediatric Immunologogy
  • Friendship with Vicki and Fred Modell !

Profession and Location: Head Director, Department of Immunology and Histocompatibility, Specialised & Referral Center for Primary Immunodeficiencies - Paediatric Immunology, “Aghia Sophia” Children’s Hospital, Thivon & Papadiamantopoulou Str, 115 27 Athens, Greece (Phones:  +306944675007, +302132013766)

What inspires you?

  • To understand the function of Immune System order to treat patients with Primary Immonodeficiency aetiologically.
  • The improvement of quality of life of patients’ with Primary Immunodeficiency and their families

What does World PI Week mean to you?

  • The increase of awareness for early diagnosis of Primary Immunodeficiencies
  • The improvement of quality of life of patients’ with Primary Immunodeficiency and their families.

What’s your favorite World PI Week memory?  I can speak only for events in Greece and my favorite one was a concert with Symphony Orchestra of Athens in 2011.

Favorite Expression: Awareness!  Test. Diagnose. Treat.

To Sum Up! I admire Vicki and Fred. As they say: ”their son,  Jeffrey, changed their lives forever, along with the lives of thousands of people he would never meet”.    I feel member of JMF community and I have memories of many of JMF important scientific symposia.   The celebration of 25th anniversary was the most significant one!