Presently, the Zanos lab is comprised of:

1 Senior Researcher
1 Research Associate
6 postdoctoral researchers (including 4 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellows)
2 Ph.D. students
4 Research Assistants

We invite you to explore the profiles of each of our dedicated members below!

Dr. Anna Onisiforou, BA, BSc, MSc, MSc, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist

Head of the Systems Bioinformatics Unit

Dr. Onisiforou holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Natural Sciences with direction in Biology and Chemistry, a M.Sc. in Medicinal Chemistry, and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. She also holds a B.A. (Hons) in Accounting and Finance and a M.Sc. in Finance and Financial Law.

Her current research work is centered on the investigation of microbial pathogenesis in neurodegenerative diseases. Meanwhile, her ongoing project involves a human clinical trial, where she examines ketamine-induced changes in EEG activity, gene expression, and treatment response in patients dealing with comorbid opioid addiction and depression.

Research Interests: Her research interests include neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases, with a particular focus on the role of microbial organisms in their development. She specializes in the development and application of computational methods, such as multi-omics analysis and network-based approaches. Currently, she is integrating her computational expertise with experimental methods in the fields of addictions and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Selected Publications:

Onisiforou, A., Charalambous, E., Zanos, P. Shattering the Amyloid Illusion: The Microbial Enigma of Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis—From Gut Microbiota and Viruses to Brain Biofilms. Microorganisms. 2025, 13(1), 90. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13010090
Onisiforou, A., Zanos, P. One path, two solutions: Network-based analysis identifies targetable pathways for the treatment of comorbid type II diabetes and neuropsychiatric disorders, Computational & Structural Biotechnology Journal, 2024, 23, 3610-3624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csbj.2024.10.011
Onisiforou, A., Zanos, P. From viral infections to Alzheimer’s Disease: Unveiling the mechanistic links through Systems Bioinformatics. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2024, In Press.
Onisiforou, A., Christodoulou, P., Zamba-Papanicolaou, E., Zanos P., Georgiou P. Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Sex-Specific Patterns in the Hippocampus in Alzheimer’s Disease. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2024, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2024.1345498.
Michael, A.*, Onisiforou, A.*, Georgiou, P., Koumas, M., Mammadov, E., Zanos, P. (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine facilitates extinction and prevents emotional impairment and stress-induced reinstatement in morphine abstinent mice. bioRxiv (2023), 12.07.570550. * Equal Contribution. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.07.570550.
Onisiforou A., Zanos P. From Viral Infections to Alzheimer’s Disease: Unveiling the Mechanistic Links Through Systems Bioinformatics. bioRxiv (2023), 12.05.570187. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.05.570187.
Christodoulou C*, Onisiforou A*, Zanos P, Zamba-Papanicolaou E. Unraveling the transcriptomic signatures of Parkinson’s Disease and Major Depression using single-cell and bulk data. Frontiers Aging Neuroscience (2023) 15: doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1273855. *Equal Contribution. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1273855.
Onisiforou A, Spyrou GM. Systems Bioinformatics Reveals Possible Relationship between COVID-19 and the Development of Neurological Diseases and Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Viruses (2022) 14:2270. https://doi.org/10.3390/v14102270.
Onisiforou A, Spyrou GM. Immunomodulatory effects of microbiota-derived metabolites at the crossroad of neurodegenerative diseases and viral infection: network-based bioinformatics insights. Frontiers in Immunology (2022) 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.843128.
Onisiforou A, Spyrou GM. Identification of viral-mediated pathogenic mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases using network-based approaches. Briefings in Bioinformatics (2021) 22. https://doi.org/10.1093/bib/bbab141.

Contact info:

E-mail: onisiforou.anna@ucy.ac.cy

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3380-7356

Dr. Andrea Georgiou, BSc, MSc, Ph.D.

Research Associate, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow

Andrea holds a B.Sc. in Molecular Biology & Genetics from Democritus University of Thrace, Greece, an M.Sc. in Human Molecular Genetics from Imperial College London, United Kingdom, and a Ph.D. in Medical Genetics from The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Cyprus

Her current research focuses on exploring genetic and molecular therapeutic targets for smoking addiction through drug repurposing Mendelian Randomization methodologies. Additionally, she is actively involved in other epidemiological research projects that investigate neurological and psychiatric diseases, as well as other complex traits and their underlying biological mechanisms.

Research Interests: Her research interests intersect genetics, epidemiology, drug repurposing and biostatistics, with a central focus on advancing our understanding of complex diseases, particularly within the realm of neuropsychiatric conditions, and the interplay of genetic and environmental determinants. Over the years, she has actively engaged in a diverse array of projects, spanning genetic epidemiology investigations involving mendelian randomization, polygenic risk scores, and genome- and protein-wide association analyses for complex diseases, including neurodegenerative and cardiovascular conditions. Her work also encompasses conducting observational studies that entail participant recruitment. She is deeply passionate about unraveling the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to complex health issues and leveraging this knowledge to shape public health interventions and inform medical practices.

For more information please visit:

https://www.ucy.ac.cy/onisilos/wp-content/uploads/sites/169/2023/12/A.G-ONISILOS-MSCA-COFUND-FELLOW.pdf

Selected Publications:

Georgiou A, Voskarides K, Zanos P, Chatzittofis A. Investigating the shared genetic basis and causal relationships between mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue inflammation and psychiatric disorders. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2024, In Press. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1379922
Georgiou A, Zagkos L, Markozannes G, Chalitsios CV, Asimakopoulos AG, Xu W, Wang L, Mesa-Eguiagaray I, Zhou X, Loizidou EM, Kretsavos N, Theodoratou E, Gill D, Burgess S, Evangelou E, Tsilidis KK, Tzoulaki I. Appraising the Causal Role of Risk Factors in Coronary Artery Disease and Stroke: A Systematic Review of Mendelian Randomization Studies. J Am Heart Assoc. 2023 Oct 17;12(20):e029040. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.122.029040.
Georgiou A, Georgiopoulos G, Delialis D, Maneta E, Masci PG, Neophytou O, Tsiachris D, Evangelou E. The causal relationship between average alcohol consumption and risk of atrial fibrillation: a Mendelian randomization study, Circulation: Genomic and Precision Medicine, 2023 May 16:406–408. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCGEN.122.003766.
Chalitsios CV, Georgiou A, Bouras E, Evangelou E, Gill D, Tsilidis KK, Tzoulaki I. Investigating modifiable pathways in psoriasis: A Mendelian randomization study. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2023 Mar;88(3):593-601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2022.11.010.
Wang L, Zhang X, Meng X, Koskeridis F, Georgiou A, Yu L, Campbell H, Theodoratou E, Li X. Methodology in phenome-wide association studies: a systematic review. J Med Genet. 2021 Nov;58(11):720-728. https://doi.org/10.1136/jmedgenet-2021-107696.
Vlachos GS, Kosmidis MH, Yannakoulia M, Dardiotis E, Hadjigeorgiou G, Tzoulaki I, Georgiou A, Sakka P, Anastasiou CA, Stefanis L, Scarmeas N. Dementia Incidence in the Elderly Population of Greece: Results From the HELIAD Study. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2021 Jan-Mar 01;35(1):48-54. https://doi.org/10.1097/WAD.0000000000000407.
Georgiou A, Ntritsos G, Papadimitriou N, Dimou N, Evangelou E. Cigarette Smoking, Coffee Consumption, Alcohol Intake, and Risk of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: A Mendelian Randomization Study. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2021 Jan 19;27(2):162-168. https://doi.org/10.1093/ibd/izaa152.
Georgiou A, Demetriou CA, Christou YP, Heraclides A, Leonidou E, Loukaides P, Yiasoumi E, Pantziaris M, Kleopa KA, Papacostas SS, Loizidou MA, Hadjisavvas A, Zamba-Papanicolaou E. Genetic and Environmental Factors Contributing to Parkinson’s Disease: A Case-Control Study in the Cypriot Population. Front Neurol. 2019 Oct 17;10:1047. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2019.01047.
Georgiou A, Demetriou CA, Heraclides A, Christou YP, Leonidou E, Loukaides P, Yiasoumi E, Panagiotou D, Manoli P, Thomson P, Loizidou MA, Hadjisavvas A, Zamba-Papanicolaou E. Mitochondrial superclusters influence age of onset of Parkinson’s disease in a gender specific manner in the Cypriot population: A case-control study. PLoS One. 2017 Sep 6;12(9):e0183444. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0183444.

Contact info:

Email: georgiou.andrea@ucy.ac.cy

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4214-3678

Markos Apostolakis, BSc, MSc, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Markos holds a B.A. in Philosophy, Pedagogy & Psychology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece, an M.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom, and an M.Sc. in Cognitive Science from Ruhr University of Bochum, Bochum, Germany. He also earned a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Cyprus, Cyprus.

His current research work focuses on objective markers of emotion regulation abilities in elementary school-aged children. His research covers a wide range of areas, including emotion reactivity, threat learning, and attention, and utilizes EEG, psychophysiology, and fNIRS. Meanwhile, he is investigating brain responses to distress in nicotine and opioid addiction.

Research Interests: His research interests revolve around emotion processing, aversive conditioning/threat learning, and self-regulation mechanisms in healthy adults, particularly within a neurodevelopmental context. He designs and implements multimodal experimental assessments, such as simultaneous EEG and psychophysiology, employing a wide range of methods to investigate biomarkers, endophenotypes, and behavioral correlates. These investigations cover emotional and non-emotional cognitive functions under emotional stress. Currently, he is extending his research into the field of addictions and addictive behavior, focusing on cognitive-emotional function during withdrawal and related brain/body derivative measures.His primary expertise lies in Electroencephalography (EEG) and psychophysiological methods, including Electrodermal and Cardiac activity. Additionally, he has a keen interest in brain imaging (Near Infrared Spectroscopy), Virtual Reality, and psychometrics.

Selected Publications:

Apostolakis M.,, Theodorou M., Neophytou K., Panayiotou G. Measuring social phobia symptoms in a community sample of adolescents: An examination of the psychometric properties of the SPAI-23. Frontiers in Psychology (2022). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1002221.

Contact Info:

E-mail: apostolakis.markos@ucy.ac.cy

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5069-8929

Dr. Andria Michael, BSc, MSc, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow

Andria holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Biomedical Science from the University of Surrey, Guildford, UK, an M.Sc. in Cancer from University College London (UCL), London, UK, and a Ph.D. in Biology from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany.

Her current research is dedicated to unraveling the mechanisms underlying affective behavioral symptoms, particularly depression and anxiety, which often manifest after prolonged abstinence from opioids. She is currently focused on examining the efficacy of rapid-acting antidepressants in alleviating the maladaptive behaviors that emerge during prolonged opioid abstinence.

Research Interests: Her research interests are centered around neuro-regeneration, with a specific focus on the roles of angiogenesis and immunology in this complex process. She is particularly interested in exploring the involvement of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF-A) in the context of neuro-regeneration and synaptic plasticity. Her goal is to understand how fluctuations in VEGF-A levels might impact the onset of various neurodegenerative diseases, as well as conditions such as depression and opioid addiction.

Selected Publications:

Préau, L., Lischke, A., Merkel, M., Oegel, N., Weissenbruch, M., Michael, A., Park, H., Gradl, D., Kupatt, C., le Noble, F. Parenchymal cues define Vegfa-driven venous angiogenesis by activating a sprouting competent venous endothelial subtype. Nature Communications, 2024, 15:3118. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47434-x
Michael, A.*, Onisiforou, A.*, Georgiou, P., Koumas, M., Mammadov, E., Zanos, P. (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine facilitates extinction and prevents emotional impairment and stress-induced reinstatement in morphine abstinent mice. bioRxiv (2023), 12.07.570550. * Equal Contribution. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.07.570550.
Wehner, D., Tsarouchas, M.T, Michael, A., Hasse, C., Weidinger, G., Reimer, M.M., Becker, T., Becker, C.G. Wnt signaling controls pro-regenerative Collagen XII in functional spinal cord regeneration. Nature Communications. 8: 126 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-00143-0.

Contact Info:

Email: michael.andria@ucy.ac.cy

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8193-8423

Dr. Alexis Panutsopulos, BSc, MSc, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow

Alexis is a postdoctoral researcher currently working in the field of developmental biology and neurodevelopmental disorders. He holds a PhD in Molecular Biology and Ophthalmology from the University of Patras, and has conducted extensive research in developmental neurobiology. His research interests center on neural tube development, nervous system plasticity, and the molecular mechanisms underlying neurogenesis and craniofacial defects.

His work focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms behind neural tube defects (NTDs) and the effects of antidepressants, such as SSRIs and ketamine, on early embryonic development. Using human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural organoids, Dr. Panutsopulos investigates how these medications influence neural tube closure and the downstream signaling pathways involved in neurodevelopmental disorders.

His research explores the potential role of NMDA and AMPA receptors in NTDs, as well as the possibility of rescuing defective phenotypes with antidepressant supplementation. His cutting-edge work contributes to novel insights into the safety and efficacy of antidepressant use during pregnancy, with the goal of better understanding the risks associated with neural tube defects.

Research Interests:

Neural tube defects
Antidepressant effects on embryonic neurodevelopment
NMDA and AMPA receptor function in neurogenesis
Craniofacial developmental defects
Neuroregeneration and synaptic plasticity
Folate metabolism and its role in neurodevelopment
Developmental neurobiology using iPSC-derived neural organoids

Selected Publications:

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=pGN0qLUAAAAJ&hl=el

Contact info:

E-mail: panutsopulos.alexis@ucy.ac.cy

Dr. Eleftheria Charalambous, BSc, MSc, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow – Systems Bioinformatics Unit

Eleftheria holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences, an M.Sc. in Immunology and Immunotherapy with a focus on neuroimmunology, and a Ph.D. in Biology with an emphasis on the microbiome and the utilization and integration of metagenomic data with other omic and psychophysiological measurements. She is currently also working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University Medicine Greifswald.

Her current research focuses on investigating the impact of the gut-brain axis concept on psychiatric phenotypes, brain aging, and, in particular, microbial pathogenesis in neurodegenerative diseases.

Research Interests: Eleftheria’s research revolves around microbe-host interactions, including the gut-brain and oral-brain axis, within the context of immune aging, brain aging, the HPA axis, and neurodegeneration. She specializes in developing data generation and integration pipelines, as well as designing and applying statistical and computational methods for multi-omic and high-dimensional data analysis.

Selected Publications:

Charalambous, E., The Oral Microbiome In The Scope of Early Life Adversity, Doctoral Thesis, University of Luxembourg, OrbiLu 2023. http://hdl.handle.net/10993/55800.
Charalambous, E.; Mériaux, S.B.; Guebels, P.; Muller, C.P.; Leenen, F.A.D.; Elwenspoek, M.M.C.; Thiele, I.; Hertel, J.; Turner, J.D. Early-Life Adversity Leaves Its Imprint on the Oral Microbiome for More Than 20 Years and Is Associated with Long-Term Immune Changes. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22, 12682. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222312682.
Holuka, C.; Merz, M.P.; Fernandes, S.B.; Charalambous, E.; Seal, S.V.; Grova, N.; Turner, J.D. The COVID-19 Pandemic: Does Our Early Life Environment, Life Trajectory and Socioeconomic Status Determine Disease Susceptibility and Severity? Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 5094. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21145094.

Contact info:

E-mail: charalambous.eleftheria@ucy.ac.cy

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5755-0375

Dr. Polymnia Louka, BSc, MSc, MEng, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow

Dr. Polymnia Louka is a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the Zanos Lab. Her research focuses on the intersection of bone health and neurobiology, particularly examining how depression and its treatments affect bone physiology. Dr. Louka earned her Ph.D. in Bone Biology from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, where she explored the molecular mechanisms underlying bone remodeling. Her expertise spans from cell culture techniques to advanced imaging and data analysis in bone and neurobiological research.

At the Zanos Lab, Dr. Louka’s project, funded by a European Marie-Curie Co-Fund, aims to investigate the effects of ketamine and its metabolites on depression-induced bone impairment, with an emphasis on identifying therapeutic interventions that could improve both mental and bone health.

Dr. Louka is passionate about interdisciplinary research and has a strong background in translational science, having worked on projects bridging neuroimaging, pharmacology, and skeletal biology. Her work has been published in leading scientific journals, and she continues to engage in collaborative research with international partners.

Selected Publications:

Louka P, Orriss IR, Pitsillides AA. High bone mass in mice can be linked to lower osteoclast formation, resorptive capacity, and restricted in vitro sensitivity to inhibition by stable sulforaphane. Cell Biochem Funct 2022; 40: 683-693. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbf.3734.
Louka P, Orriss IR, Pitsillides AA. Stable sulforaphane targets the early stages of osteoclast formation to engender a lasting functional blockade of osteoclastogenesis. Cells 2024; 13(2): 165. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13020165.
Yiannakas M, Grussu F, Louka P, Prados F, Samson RS, Battiston M, Wheeler-Kingshott CAM. Reduced field-of-view diffusion-weighted imaging of the lumbosacral enlargement: a pilot in vivo study of the healthy spinal cord at 3T. PLoS One 2016; 11(10): e0164890. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0164890.

Contact info:

E-mail: polymnialouka92@gmail.com

ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Polymnia-Louka

Dr. Mary Haddad, BSc, MSc, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow

Mary will start working in the Zanos lab in June 2024. Dr. Haddad’s research interests revolve around exploring the complex interplay between molecular mechanisms, particularly focusing on the role of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) and its inhibitors in conditions like depression, pain, inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases. Her work delves into the connection between oxidative stress, depression, and the potential therapeutic implications of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in mitigating inflammation through the modulation of lipid mediators. Additionally, Dr. Haddad investigates the involvement of 20-HETE enzymes and receptors within the neurovascular unit, emphasizing their implications in cerebrovascular diseases, thus contributing significantly to our understanding of these complex physiological and pathological processes.

Dr. Haddad’s project in Dr. Zanos’s lab investigates the relationship between 20-HETE and EET metabolites in depression, exploring their link to inflammation and proposing novel therapeutic avenues. This involves characterizing CYP involvement in depressive symptoms, studying pharmacological interventions in rodents, and assessing the impact on neuronal function and pathology, aiming to translate these findings into potential clinical relevance for Major Depressive Disorder.

Selected Publications:

Dannawi M, Riachi ME, Haddad AF, El Massry M, Haddad M, Moukarzel P et al. Influence of intermittent fasting on prediabetes-induced neuropathy: Insights on a novel mechanistic pathway. Metabol Open 2022; 14: 100175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metop.2022.100175.
Haddad M, Eid S, Harb F, Massry MEL, Azar S, Sauleau EA et al. Activation of 20-HETE Synthase Triggers Oxidative Injury and Peripheral Nerve Damage in Type 2 Diabetic Mice. J Pain 2022; 23(8): 1371-1388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2022.02.011.

Contact info:

E-mail: mah92@mail.aub.edu

Stylianos Valiantis, BSc, MSc

Ph.D. Student

Stylianos holds a B.Sc. in Psychology from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, an M.Sc. in Neuroscience from Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics in Nicosia, Cyprus, and is currently a Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Cyprus in Nicosia, Cyprus.

His Ph.D. research project focuses on nicotine relapse vulnerability, specifically involving the investigation of neurobiophysiological markers to better understand the associated risks.

Research Interests: His research interests primarily revolve around the study of brain-behavior relationships, particularly focusing on behavioral expressions as an indicator of nervous system pathology. He has been involved in various projects that examine behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to different conditions, including enriched environments and stressful events, with the aim of identifying mechanisms associated with mental disorders like anxiety and depression. These projects involved the use of animal models, which underwent both histological and behavioral tests. Additionally, he has been part of a project that investigates the impact of Alzheimer’s Disease-derived brain pathology on fine motor function. This research involved the use of transgenic animal models and various techniques, including PCR and behavioral analyses, to draw conclusions regarding the disturbance of fine motor function observed in this disorder.

Contact Info:

Email: valiantis.stylianos@ucy.ac.cy

Despina Melanthiou, BSc

Ph.D. Student

Despina holds a B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Cyprus in Nicosia, Cyprus, and is currently a Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Cyprus, also located in Nicosia, Cyprus.

Her current research is dedicated to investigating maladaptive brain alterations characterizing tinnitus using EEG. Additionally, she explores the neurobiological relationships between misophonia and tinnitus.

Research Interests: As a psychologist, Despina’s research interests are centered on improving the quality of life for individuals struggling with psychological disorders. Her research focuses on assessing current therapies and discovering the most effective treatments for patients.

Selected Publications:

Konstantinou, P., Ioannou, M., Melanthiou, D., Georgiou, K., Almas, I., Gloster, A. T., … & Karekla, M. (2023). The impact of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on quality of life and symptom improvement among chronic health conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2023.08.004.

Contact Info:

Email: melanthiou.despina@ucy.ac.cy

Morfeas Koumas, BSc

Research Assistant

Morfeas is a Biologist who has joined our research team to investigate the neurobiological underpinnings associated with opioid addiction and withdrawal. Specifically, Morfeas is engaged in research exploring the potential efficacy of ketamine and its metabolites in reversing protracted opioid abstinence-induced maladaptive behavioral responses, employing rodent models. His research holds promise in identifying potential targets for therapeutic interventions aimed at mitigating the effects of opioid addiction.

Publication:

Michael, A.*, Onisiforou, A.*, Georgiou, P., Koumas, M., Mammadov, E., Zanos, P. (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine facilitates extinction and prevents emotional impairment and stress-induced reinstatement in morphine abstinent mice. bioRxiv (2023), 12.07.570550. * Equal Contribution. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.07.570550.

Contact Info:

Email: koumas.morfeas@ucy.ac.cy

Tellos Fatta

Research Assistant

Tellos is a member of our team dedicated to advancing smoking cessation strategies. Currently, he supports our research initiative, “Enhancing Smoking Cessation Strategies through Interdisciplinary Research,” by contributing to a clinical study focused on identifying genetically-supported drug targets for relapse prevention. Simultaneously, Tellos is actively engaged in interdisciplinary research that examines the interaction between vulnerability factors and stress biomarkers before smoking cessation. His work contributes to predicting nicotine relapse vulnerability and understanding the link between emotion regulation deficits and successful smoking abstinence. Tellos’s research interests align with our laboratory’s mission, as he aims to explore psychology from a biological perspective and investigate the neuropsychological underpinnings of pain.

Contact Info:

Email: fatta.tellos@ucy.ac.cy

Georgios Kousathanas, BSc

Research Assistant, Pharmacist

Georgios Kousathanas is currently an MSc student in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Cyprus and a registered pharmacist with extensive experience in pharmaceutical practice. As a co-owner of his family pharmacy in Mykonos, he brings strong expertise in patient care, medication management, and healthcare services. His role includes managing pharmaceutical operations, providing patient consultations, and ensuring accurate medication dispensing. Georgios joined the Zanos Lab to deepen his understanding of molecular neurobiology and its applications in addiction research, contributing his practical healthcare experience and scientific background to support ongoing projects in the lab including our study assessing ketamine’s effectiveness in preventing relapse to opioid use in patients.

Contact Info:

Email: kousathanas.georgios@ucy.ac.cy

Ioanna Diakourti, BSc

Research Assistant

Ms. Ioanna Diakourti, a Research Assistant in our Genetic Epidemiology Unit, is conducting significant research at the intersection of molecular neuroscience and psychiatric genetics. Her work focuses on applying Mendelian Randomization (MR) techniques to publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data to investigate potential causal relationships between opioid use and mood disorders. By leveraging these large-scale GWAS datasets, Ms. Diakourti aims to identify genetic variants associated with opioid use disorders and use these as instruments to assess their causal impact on mood disorders, or vice versa. This approach can provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between substance use and mental health, potentially informing both our understanding of disease mechanisms and future therapeutic strategies.

Contact Info:

Email: idiakourti@gmail.com