Professor Christos Papaneophytou

Prof. Christos Papaneophytou holds a Diploma in Chemical Engineering (2000), an MSc (2004), and a PhD in Biochemistry (2008), all from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece. Following his doctoral studies, he conducted postdoctoral research at AUTH (2009–2011), the Center for Research and Technology Thessaly, Greece (2011–2014), and the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (2014–2015). He is currently Professor of Biochemistry in the Department of Life Sciences, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, where he also serves as Associate Dean. His research focuses primarily on drug discovery for the treatment of diseases, including cancer and viral respiratory tract infections. Prof. Papaneophytou’s research also investigates phytochemicals with the potential to inhibit enzymes implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer, respiratory infections, and other diseases. In parallel, he explores quorum-sensing mechanisms in bacteria as potential targets for novel antimicrobial strategies. Another key focus of his work is the discovery and validation of prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic biomarkers, including non-coding RNAs and proteins, for a range of diseases, with particular emphasis on cancer and cardiovascular diseases. He is a co-founder of the non-Coding RNA Research Laboratory, ncr-RESLA, at the University of Nicosia and serves as its Associate Director. Prof. Papaneophytou has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and book chapters and regularly presents his work at international scientific conferences. He participates in several research projects funded by national and international bodies. He also serves as a reviewer for multiple scientific journals and as a guest editor for several high-impact journals.