Leonidas A. Phylactou

Leonidas A. Phylactou serves as Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director of The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics (CING), Head of the Molecular Genetics, Function & Therapy Department, and Provost of the Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine.

His academic credentials include:

• BSc with first-class honors in Medical Biochemistry from the University of Birmingham (1992)
• PhD in molecular genetics/gene therapy from the University of Birmingham (1995)

His research program focuses on:

• Oligonucleotide-based therapy for Muscular Dystrophy
• Development of novel therapeutic delivery vehicles
• Exosomal and miRNA biomarkers in Myotonic Dystrophy
• Molecular mechanisms of inherited diseases

He established the Laboratory of Molecular Function and Therapy at CING in 1998 and assumed departmental leadership in 2005. As a founding figure of the Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine, he served as its first Dean and Acting Provost (2014-2015) before becoming permanent Provost in November 2015.

Prof. Phylactou advises postgraduate students and leads a research team of postdoctoral scientists. His work has secured funding from international sources and earned him editorial positions on Molecules and Pharmaceuticals journals.