Edna Yamasaki

Professor Edna Yamasaki is the Head of the Department of Life and Health Sciences at the University of Nicosia's School of Sciences and Engineering, and serves as Vice Rector for Academic Affairs. Her career spans roles in academia, research, and administrative leadership. She holds a Medicine degree from Federal Fluminense University (Brazil), followed by MSc/PhD in Biophysics (Neurobiology) from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and postdoctoral training at institutions including Harvard Medical School (USA) and the University of Cyprus.

Her research focuses on nervous system development/degeneration, public health implications of climate change, and biomedical materials. Notable projects include the CYPHEW initiative (identifying Cyprus's heat-related health risks), polymer development for biological applications, and Erasmus+ programs promoting health-enhanced physical activity. She has contributed to environmental hydrodynamic modeling, health information systems evaluation (DIPSA framework), and disaster risk assessments for oil spills.

Her work bridges neuroscience, environmental science, and public policy. Recent studies highlight aging populations' health challenges and the impact of extreme weather on mortality and hospital admissions in Cyprus. She actively collaborates on EU-funded projects addressing work safety, healthcare informatics, and climate adaptation.

Professional milestones include coordinating interdisciplinary teams across multiple continents and transitioning between laboratory research to institutional leadership roles. Her leadership emphasizes fostering curiosity-driven research while addressing societal health challenges.