Genetic Epidemiology Unit - Translational Neuropharmacology Lab (Zanos Lab)

The Genetic Epidemiology Unit, led by Dr. Andrea Georgiou, is dedicated to uncovering the genetic and environmental determinants of complex diseases, with a special emphasis on neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Our primary objective is to bridge the gap between genetic research and clinical applications, accelerating the translation of genetic discoveries into personalized preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Research areas and expertise:

The Genetic Epidemiology Unit focuses on a variety of diseases including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular conditions, and psychiatric disorders. Our research areas include:

Genetic Association Studies: Conducting genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify genetic variants associated with complex diseases.
Mendelian Randomization (MR): Utilizing to address causal questions about how modifiable exposures influence different disease outcomes
Genetic correlation: Describe the genetic relationship between two phenotypic traits for the better understanding of the shared biological pathways and/or the causality relationships between them.
Polygenic risk score: Calculation of an individual’s genetic liability to a phenotypic trait or disease, according to their genotypic profile and GWAS summary statistics data.
Epigenetics: Investigating differential methylation patterns, both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA methylation, as biomarkers for disease diagnosis and progression.
Pharmacogenomics: Studying genetic factors influencing drug response, aiming to optimize therapeutic interventions.
Proteomics: Applying proteomic techniques to understand the biological mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases.
Environmental interactions: Exploring gene-environment interactions and their impact on disease risk.
Risk prediction models: Developing models to predict disease risk based on genotypic and environmental data.

Collaborative efforts:

The Genetic Epidemiology Unit collaborates with a network of leading researchers and institutions worldwide, including Yale University, Karolinska Institutet, and other researchers from the University of Cyprus. These collaborations provide access to extensive resources and expertise, enhancing the quality and impact of our research.

Our work is supported by a robust scientific environment at the University of Cyprus, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and a supportive research community. We offer our expertise in genetic epidemiology to collaborating investigators, fostering interdisciplinary research initiatives aimed at improving public health outcomes.

In addition, we offer consulting services in the field of genetic epidemiology and biostatistics for grant proposals and other relevant projects. Our team is equipped to provide valuable insights and guidance to ensure the success of your research efforts.

Team Members (more details in the Team Members section)

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

Head of the Genetic Epidemiology Unit

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.

Contact info:

Email: georgiou.andrea@ucy.ac.cy

Phone number: +35722893372

Other members of the Unit

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

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.
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, 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.

Current Collaborations

Prof. Joel Gelernter, M.D., Foundations Fund Professor of Psychiatry, Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, specializing in the genetics of psychiatric and substance use disorders. His research encompasses genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to understand genetic risk factors for these conditions. – https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/joel-gelernter/.

Prof. Leonidas Phylactou, Ph.D., Chief Executive Medical Director and Head of the Department of Molecular Genetics, Function & Therapy at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics. His research focuses on molecular genetics and the development of therapeutic approaches for genetic diseases. – https://www.cing.ac.cy/en/about-us/biomedical-sciences-/mgft/mgft-services/mgftstaff/lphylactou.

Dr. Joseph D. Deak, Ph.D., Associate Research Scientist, Yale School of Medicine, focusing on the genetic and neurobiological influences on alcohol use disorder (AUD) and substance use disorders (SUDs). His work includes large-scale genome-wide analyses of substance use outcomes, aiming to bridge basic and clinical sciences for investigating the etiology of SUDs. – https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/joseph-deak/.

Dr. Pavlos Fanis, Ph.D., Senior Researcher, Department of Molecular Genetics, Function, and Therapy, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics. His research is focused on molecular genetics and its application to understanding and treating genetic disorders. – https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=NYnzAmMAAAAJ&hl=en.

Dr. Andreas Chatzittofis, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor in Psychiatry, University of Cyprus Medical School. His research focuses on the biological background of psychiatric disorders, including mood disorders, suicide, and sexual disorders, with a specific interest in psychoneuroendocrinology and the effects of childhood adversity on psychiatric conditions. – https://www.ucy.ac.cy/directory/en/profile/achatz03.

Dr. Alexandros Heraclides, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at the European University Cyprus. He directs the Master in Public Health program and his research involves identifying novel determinants of chronic diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on the interaction between environmental and genetic factors. – https://euc.ac.cy/en/faculty-profiles/alexandros-heraclides/.