Photo: Dr Kyriakos Felekkis (left) and Dr Christoforos Giannaki (right)

Dr Christoforos Giannaki is a Lecturer with the Department of Life and Health Sciences at the School of Sciences and Engineering. Having joined the University of Nicosia in 2010, he is an active academic, passionate about his chosen field of exercise and health, engaged in research initiatives with academics from Cyprus and abroad.

Christoforos obtained a B.Sc. in Physical Education and Sports Science (with Distinction) from the Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at the University of Thessaly, Greece and an M.Sc. in Sports Physiology from Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom. He then went on to pursue and complete a Ph.D. in Clinical Exercise Physiology from the Department of Medicine at the University of Thessaly. Christoforos obtained his Ph.D. degree in 2010 and shortly after, joined the University of Nicosia initially as a part-time and in 2014 as a full-time lecturer with the Sports Science programme.

Broadly speaking, his research interests focus on the area of Exercise and Health Physiology. More specifically, he is interested in (1)exercise in patients with chronic diseases, including patients with chronic renal failure and multiple sclerosis; (2) sleep physiology/management of sleep disorders such as Restless Legs Syndrome and Periodic Limb Movements in sleep/ exercise and sleep; (3)prevention and management of knee osteoarthritis; and (4) the effect of omega fatty acids on health and wellbeing in health and disease.

His interest in the field is guided by the fact that exercise and physical activity are both major contributors to overall health and wellbeing.  Exercise can benefit everyone – healthy individuals and patients with chronic diseases, as well as children and elderly individuals. Christoforos was part of a research group that was the first in the world to use exercise (both acute and chronic) in order to reduce the severity of a sleep disorder known as Restless Legs Syndrome (Willis-Ekbom disease). Exercise proved effective in terms of ameliorating the severity of this disorder without causing any adverse effects. Currently, he is part of a team that is investigating the relationship between exercise/physical activity, nutrition and healthy lifestyle with many aspects of health and quality of life in order to be able to design specific interventions aimed at improving the quality of life and overall health of people (diseased and general population).

When discussing the current important topics and big questions in his field, he explains that in regards to exercise and health, the reduction through exercise of the risk of developing chronic diseases and pathological conditions has always been a challenge for exercise physiologists and the medical community. For instance, recently, there has been great interest in the prevention of cognitive decline in the elderly and we have reason to believe that exercise and a healthy lifestyle could have a crucial role in this area.

Christoforos is currently engaged in a Horizon2020 project, entitled “Advanced personalised, multi-scale computer models preventing Osteoarthritis” (OACTIVE), which he is coordinating together with fellow colleague, Dr Kyriacos Felekkis. Through the project,a multi-scale holistic analysis will be adopted, where patient-specific information from various levels (cell, tissue, and whole body) will be integrated and combined with information from other sources, such as environmental, social and behavioural risk factors, to generate robust predictors for new personalised interventions for delaying the onset and/or slowing down the progression of knee osteoarthritis.

Additionally, he is the coordinator of an internally funded project related to ageing. The main aim of the current project is to examine the effects of a 6-month supplementation of a formula containing omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids and anti-oxidant vitamins on various physical and mental health parameters, fatigue levels, cognitive function and quality of life of older people.

When reflecting on the issue of how research contributes to modern society, Christoforos notes that research related to exercise and health contributes to solving daily problems in regards to physiological, mental and social aspects of the population. “We are trying to make people’s lives easier by improving their functional capacity and fitness levels.” In turn, this will help them to function properly in their daily activities and reduce the risk of developing or aggravating existing chronic diseases. At the end of the day, improving the quality of life, health and well-being of individuals is the most important aim of his research.

 

Flash Five

1. What motivates you to come to work on a daily basis?

In general, I like my job. I love teaching, discovering new things through research and I enjoy working with other people. It is worth noting that I have a good relationship with my colleagues within the University and especially with my colleagues from the Department of Life and Health Sciences.

2. What are the favourite and least favourite aspects of your work?

Obviously research! I really enjoy the fact that I can discover new things and merge methods and knowledge from different disciplines in order to improve the quality of my research. Unfortunately, an active researcher frequently has to work at night, on weekends and on holidays. Research is part of our life. However, we have to find a balance between work and life.

3. Do you have any role models?

My role model is my supervisor, Prof. Giorgos K. Sakkas. Giorgos is an excellent example of proper and professional dedication. He always inspires and encourages me to work hard, to make informed decisions, to be fair to other people and to be a good person. He leads by example and has helped me a great deal throughout my career, both during and after my Ph.D.

4. What do you enjoy doing during your free time?

Sports, reading, cinema, and travelling.

5. What advice would you give to aspiring academics and researchers in your field?

My advice to young scientists and researchers is to collaborate with other scientists from their own field as well as from other fields. It is extremely difficult to conduct research without such collaborations. Finding the right scientist to be their research supervisor is also vital. I have active collaborations with many young sports scientists in various research projects and I try my best to help them improve their skills and employability.

 

Selected Recent Publications

• Aristotelous P, Aphamis G, Sakkas GK, Andreou E, Pantzaris M, Kyprianou T, Hadjigeorgiou GM, Manconi M, Giannaki CD.Effects of controlled dehydration on sleep quality and quantity: a polysomnographic study in healthy young adults. Published ahead of print in the Journal of Sleep Research.
• Stavrinou PS, Bogdanis GC, Giannaki CD, Terzis G, Hadjicharalambous M. High-intensity interval training frequency: cardiometabolic effects and quality of life. Published ahead of print in the International Journal of Sports Medicine.
• Menezes R, Rodriguez-Mateos A, Kaltsatou A, González-Sarrías A, Greyling A, Giannaki C, Andres-Lacueva C, Gibney ER, Dumont J, Schär M, Garcia-Aloy M, Durán S, Ruskovska T, Maksimova V, Combet E, Pinto P. Impact of flavonols on cardiometabolic biomarkers: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled human trials to explore the role of interindividual variability. Nutrients, 2017, 9;9(2). pii: E117.
• Giannaki CD, Aphamis C, Sakkis P, Hadjicharalambous M. Eight weeks of a combination of high-intensity interval training and conventional training reduce visceral adiposity and improve physical fitness: a group-based intervention. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 2016, 56(4):483-90.
• Giannaki CD, Sakkas GK, Karatzaferi C, Hadjigeorgiou GM, Stefanidis I. Combination of exercise training and dopamine agonists in dialysis patients with RLS: A randomized double-blind,placebo-controlled study.  ASAIO Journal, 2015, 61 (6): 738-741
• Giannaki CD, Sakkas GK, Karatzaferi C, Pantzaris M, Stefanidis I, Hadjigeorgiou GM: Evidence-based review on Restless Legs Syndrome in End-Stage Renal Disease patients: epidemiology, impact and treatment options. Kidney International, 2014, 85 (6): 1275-82
• Giannaki CD, Sakkas GK, Karatzaferi C, Hadjigeorgiou GM, Lavdas E, Kyriakides T, Koutedakis Y, StefanidisI. Effects of exercise training and dopamine agonists in patients with uremic Restless Legs Syndrome: a six-month randomized, partially double-blind, placebo-controlled comparative pilot study. BMC Nephrology, 2013, 14 (1):194