Career Path Opportunities
‘Challenges for young researchers’
Career Path Opportunities ‘Challenges for young researchers’
Career Opportunity as a Post-doctoral Fellow(PD)
Sofoklis Koudounas
I come from Cyprus, a small island in the Eastern Mediterranean. I completed my PhD in Health Sciences at the University of Southampton investigating the mechanisms leading to incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD), a painful complication in older adults. During an international conference, I learned about the GNRC and contacted Prof Sanada to do research at the GNRC. My research theme is related to the pathophysiology by which urine and bacteria cause IAD.
Research conducted at GNRC
Last year, my research focused on clarifying the effects of urine on bacteria
responsible for urinary infections, a risk factor for IAD. My research findings have been
presented at the 49th conference of the Japanese Society for Wound Healing (JSWH), in
which I was also nominated for the Research Encouragement Award, and have also
been accepted as a poster presentation at an international conference.
Current research
I am currently conducting an animal study to elucidate the histopathological
mechanisms by which urine and bacteria lead to IAD. My aim is to establish the first
IAD model for patients with urinary incontinence and investigate the skin physiology
following exposure to urine and bacteria.
Future outlook
My plan is to apply the knowledge and skills I have learned at the GNRC to continue
nursing science research, publish more articles and apply for research funding to
achieve my ultimate goal of gaining a university position. I would also like to establish
international collaborations between my previous research group and the GNRC, to
come together, generate new ideas, do research and guide novel prevention strategies
for skin damage to improve the QoL of older adults.
Accomplishments
SPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up. Grant Number 19K24194.
Incontinence-associated dermatitis by infected urine: biological mechanisms and prevention
strategies.
- Koudounas S, Mugita Y, Minematsu T, Nakagami G, Weller C, Sanada H. Does the presence of bacterial urinary infection contribute to the development of incontinence-associated dermatitis? A scoping review. J Tissue Viability. 2021;30(2):256-61.
- Koudounas S, Bader D. L, & Voegeli D.. Knowledge gaps in the etiology and pathophysiology of incontinence-associated dermatitis: a scoping review. J Wound Ostomy Cont., 2020;47(4):388-95.
- Koudounas, S., Abbas, S., & Voegeli, D. The Effect of Absorbent Pad Design on Skin Wetness, Skin/Pad Microclimate, and Skin Barrier Function: A Quasi-experimental Open Cohort Study. J Wound Ostomy Cont. 2020;47(5):497-506.
- Koudounas S., Bader D.L., & Voegeli D. Elevated skin pH is associated with an increased permeability to synthetic urine. Journal of Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nursing (in press)
