معرفی
Dr. Panos Zanos is an Assistant Professor of Neuropharmacology at the Department of Psychology, University of Cyprus, where he leads the Translational Neuropharmacology Lab. His research focuses on drug repurposing for brain diseases, particularly using ketamine metabolites for depression and opioid use disorders. Dr. Zanos has established himself as a leading figure in developing rapid-acting antidepressants with minimal side effects.
Dr. Zanos's academic journey includes:
- BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry (2010)
- Ph.D. in Neuropharmacology (2013) from the University of Surrey, U.K.
- Five years of postdoctoral training
- Instructor position at University of Maryland (2018)
- Assistant Professor at Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland (2019-2021)
Dr. Zanos's research spans multiple disciplines with a primary focus on neuropharmacology, particularly ketamine and its metabolites as rapid-acting antidepressants. His laboratory pioneered Cyprus's first drug-interventional clinical trial, repurposing ketamine for treating opioid use disorders. His interdisciplinary approach integrates in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo rodent models with bioinformatics methodologies to investigate neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases, as well as neuropsychiatric disorders. His work on (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine has led to clinical trials in collaboration with the National Institute of Mental Health (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04711005).
Analysis of Dr. Zanos's recent publications (2024-2025) reveals a strong focus on ketamine metabolites for treating opioid use disorders, alternative Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis mechanisms beyond amyloid theory, and comorbid conditions like Type II Diabetes and neuropsychiatric disorders. His work demonstrates an interdisciplinary approach that bridges neuroscience, pharmacology, bioinformatics, and clinical psychology to address complex brain disorders.
Dr. Zanos has secured over €2.5 million in competitive grant funding from national and international sources. His research has been published in prestigious journals including Nature, Nature Neuroscience, Molecular Psychiatry, and Biological Psychiatry, accumulating over 7,450 citations with an h-index of 35.
As Principal Investigator, Dr. Zanos leads a dynamic interdisciplinary research team organized into three units: Translational Neuropharmacology, Clinical Neuropsychopharmacology, and Systems Bioinformatics. His lab's groundbreaking work on ketamine metabolites has positioned his research for phase II clinical trials, demonstrating high translational potential. The lab also investigates oxytocin's role in addiction and receptor interactions in mental health conditions, contributing significantly to our understanding of depression and substance use disorders.
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