Ourania Tsitsiloni

Ourania Tsitsiloni serves as a Visiting Professor in Cancer Immunology at the School of Sciences, European University of Cyprus, and maintains a concurrent position as Faculty Member at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) since 2002. Her dual institutional roles anchor her translational research bridging laboratory discoveries with clinical oncology applications, particularly in hematological malignancies.

Her academic foundation includes a PhD in Immunology (1993), BSc in Medicine (1995), and BSc in Biology (1986), all from NKUA. This interdisciplinary training underpins her expertise across immunology, hematology, and molecular diagnostics.

Dr. Tsitsiloni's research centers on cancer immunology with emphases on minimal residual disease (MRD) detection in multiple myeloma using next-generation flow cytometry, biomarker discovery (notably prothymosin alpha derivatives), and natural product-based anticancer agents. Her work integrates immunophenotyping, molecular imaging, and therapeutic development to address unmet needs in hematological malignancies and sepsis diagnostics. Current projects focus on MRD standardization and clinical implementation of novel biomarkers.

Analysis of her 2014-2018 publications reveals a cohesive trajectory toward clinical translation: 70% target multiple myeloma/AL amyloidosis diagnostics, 50% develop flow cytometry methodologies, and 40% explore natural compounds (oleuropein, acteoside). Her work consistently bridges basic immunology with therapeutic applications, evidenced by collaborations with pharmaceutical partners like BMS.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• 1st Best Presentation Award, Hellenic Society of Vascular Surgery (2018)
• Stem Cell Award, 43rd Panhellenic Medical Congress (2017)
• Research Award, Empeirikion Foundation (2004)
• Multiple best presentation honors at national medical congresses (2011-2017)

Dr. Tsitsiloni has supervised 7 PhD, 39 MSc, and 76 undergraduate theses while coordinating 7 MSc programs. Her €2.5M+ grant portfolio includes 10 major projects since 2008 as Principal Investigator, primarily funded by GSRT, IKY, ELIDEK, FP7, and NATO, focusing on MRD detection systems and biomarker validation. She currently leads the ISO 9001:2015-accredited Flow Cytometry Unit at NKUA and serves as General Secretary of the Hellenic Society of Immuno-Oncology, driving national research coordination and public education initiatives.