Zisis Kozlakidis

Zisis Kozlakidis is a Senior Lecturer in Biobanking and Cryobiology at the Medical School, Central South University, and a Visiting Lecturer in Infectious Diseases at St George’s Medical School, University of London. He serves as Head of Laboratory Services and Biobanking at the World Health Organisation (IARC) since 2018, leading initiatives in biobanking standards, genomics-based diagnostics, and infrastructure development in Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). His roles include editorial positions at Innovations in Digital Health, Diagnostics and Biomarkers (Editor-in-Chief) and Frontiers Medicine - Section Infectious Diseases (Associate Editor).

• Executive M.B.A., Cass Business School, City University (2013-2015)
• PhD in Microbiology, Imperial College London (2001-2005)
• BSc Genetics, University of Leeds (1998-2001)

His research spans biobanking ethics, infectious diseases, digital health, and global health infrastructure. Key contributions include international standards development (ISO TC276: Biotechnology), capacity building in LMICs, and pandemic response strategies. His work addresses virology, microbiota analysis, and data-driven healthcare policies.

Recent publications highlight trends in public health leadership, virology, digital health, and biobanking. Subfields include SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics, cancer risk stratification, microbiome biomarkers, and pandemic preparedness.

• 2018 UK Healthcare Innovator Award
• 2017 CASMI Fellow, UK Academy of Medical Sciences
• 2016 UCL Knowledge Exchange Champion
• 2015 Fellow of the Linnean Society
• 2013 Daniel Turnberg Fellowship

Kozlakidis oversees WHO initiatives in biobanking, genomics, and LMIC infrastructure, with roles in ISO standards, BBMRI-ERIC, and the Lancet Oncology Commission on sub-Saharan Africa. He co-chairs the EOSC ‘Upskilling Countries’ Taskforce and serves on ISO/TC276: Biotechnology.