Research/Publications
All full-time faculty members of the department are actively involved in research. The main research interests are summarized in faculty details and a short description is given below. Please, if you have any questions or if you are interested in getting hands on experience in research, contact our faculty members. They will be happy to answer your questions.
Dr Andreou’s research interests are focused in the areas of Health Education and Nutrition, including characterization of Functional Foods, Behavior Modification for Weight Management, Aging and Nutrition, Analysis of Cypriot Nutrition and Health database, Sports and Nutrition, and Health Education and Dietetics, specifically Eating Disorders, Obesity, Evaluation of Assessment Quality in Clinical Placement, Mediterranean Diet and Cognitive Function of Elderly and Children, Nutrition Dietetic Information Given to Patients by Allied Health Professionals.
Dr Aphamis’ research interests are in the areas of (i) Hydration, including chronic hydration levels of adults and adolescents, athletes, and potential effects on exercise performance and overall health, (ii) Muscle cell volume and muscle cell hydration, and how this affects exercise performance and capacity; (iii) High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), (iv) Ergogenic aids in sport, investigating potential effects of some nutritional supplements
Dr Charalambidou’s research areas focus on Environment, Biodiversity, Ecology and Bird Monitoring and Conservation.
Ms Chrysafi’s research interests are mostly focused on General Surgery and Surgical Nursing as well as surgery in specialties, especially teaching patients and their families on health aspects relating to prevention of complications after surgery. Other areas of interest are mentorship in nursing Education, as well as, teaching patients and their families in Primary Health Care aspects for the prevention of diseases in the Community.
Dr Demoliou’s research interests are the identification of factors (growth factors, cytokines and extracellular matrix components) and the elucidation of their receptors and signal transduction mechanisms responsible for the abnormal cell proliferation and/or cell apoptosis in cardiovascular and aging related diseases. The role of lipids, lipoproteins and anti-oxidants in cell aging.
Mr Efstathiou’s research interests focus on (1) rehabilitation of peripheral nervous system injuries (2) effectiveness of neural mobilization techniques in patients with spinal radiculopathies (3) effectiveness of manual therapy techniques in patients with cervicogenic dizziness
Dr Felekkis’ research interests center around the role of microRNAs in various physiologic and pathologic biological processes. Specifically, Dr Felekkis is studying the role of miRNAs in the development and progression of human diseases and their potential role as biomarkers. In addition, part of his work is dedicated in understanding the contribution of miRNAs in genes expression regulation and evolution by studying the interaction of miRNAs with various genomic elements using computational and data mining techniques.
Dr Kioumourtzoglou’s research interest are in Physical Education and Kinesiology.
Dr Konsoula’s research interest are (1) Isolation and identification of biologically active compounds occurring in natural products; (2) Biotechnological production of added value products; (3) Retardation of lipid oxidation in food products; and (4) Effects of antioxidants on human health.
Dr Giannaki’s research interests are focused in the areas of: 1) effects of exercise training in the prevention and management of chronic diseases such as Chronic Kidney Disease, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases and Multiple Sclerosis; 2) sleep physiology/exercise and sleep/ non-pharmacological management of sleep disorders; 3) Group-based exercise training: effects on fitness, health and quality of life; 4) Cardiovascular exercise physiology in health and disease
Ms Ghobrial’s research interest includes nurse education initiatives including the development of curricula for undergraduate and postgraduate nursing with special interest in clinical specialist courses development. The current nursing curriculum taught at University of Nicosia, is an example put to practice, resulting from the broad experience that Ms Ghobrial has in curricula design. Other research interest focused on cultural/spiritual aspects of health, especially health beliefs related to cancer and other chronic conditions. The aim of this study was to develop/redesign models of care related to individuals’ locus of control and other coping mechanism. Presently as a member of a COST Action group, Ms. Ghobrial is exploring the health needs of emigrants and other refugees in the EU countries, in order to improve services and other issues related to this special group’s health needs.
Dr Hadjicharalambous’ research interests include: 1) Training adaptations, hematological, hormonal, and immune responses to young and elite soccer players; 2) Caffeine ingestion, exercise performance and central fatigue; 3) Central fatigue during exercise in the heat; 4) Nutritional manipulation and peripheral modulators of central fatigue during exercise in health and disease; 5) Ergogenic-aid supplements and exercise performance.
Dr Hajigeorgiou’s research interests lie primarily in the area of chemical/molecular physics. Specific research areas include breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation especially in light hydride molecules, direct potential fitting methodology in the treatment and representation of diatomic spectroscopic line measurements, semiclassical methods in the determination of the potential energy function for diatomic molecules, diatomic centrifugal distortion constants, analytical models for the diatomic potential energy, and electronegativity in atoms. In 1994, in collaboration with Professor Robert J. Le Roy, he invented the modified Lennard-Jones (MLJ) model for the potential energy of diatomic molecules, which has been used extensively in the literature by many investigators as an international standard in the analysis and representation of spectroscopic line position data. More recently, Dr. Hajigeorgiou has been involved in research in atmospheric chemistry in collaboration with the University of Crete, particularly with regard to finding alternative refrigerants that are friendlier to the ozone layer. Also, in accord with his strong personal interest in the nutritional sciences, he has been in collaboration with the Cyprus Dietetics Association on a project aimed at measuring the rates of obesity and overweight in Cyprus, as well as characterizing the dietary habits of the Cypriot population.
Dr Hileti’s research interests include the influence of early nutrition and weaning practices in childhood obesity; the role of natural herbs and spices in glycaemic response and weight control of adolescent patients with the metabolic syndrome and type 2 Diabetes, as well as, the role of diet in the development of iron overload symptoms in Thalassaemia Intermedia.
Dr Lampropoulou’s research interests focus on the neurological physiotherapy and the Central Nervous Systems adaptations following exercise and fatigue in regards the motor control systems. The neurological assessment is another area of her research that involves adaptation of internationally available measurement outcomes into the Greek language and their psychometric testing. Additionally, she is interested in new techniques for neurophysiological assessment (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation) and neurological rehabilitation.
Mr Latzourakis’ research interests are focused around renal patients’ issues, especially aspects of teaching patients and their families how to cope with their condition. Other areas of interest are nosocomial infections, their incidents and effects on patient care; also, the teaching of patients with chronic illness.
Ms Nikitara’s research interests are focused around diabetic patient care, patient education and nurses’ knowledge on diabetic patient’s education and self-care management. Other areas of interest are chronic disease management and patient’s empowerment.
Dr Noula’s research interests focus around Primary Health Care, Health Promotion, Community Nursing, especially the prevention and the immunization of Nursing Staff and students, for HBV. Other research areas focus on the possible effects of geomagnetic storms on human health.
Dr Papaneophytou’s research interests focus around the role of specific cytokines in the development of various diseases, including inflammatory disorders. In addition, Dr Papaneophytou’s research involves the discovery and profiling of compounds targeted to proteins involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. Finally, Dr Papaneophytou is also interested in optimizing compounds to inhibit lesser studied kinases that have been implicated in autoimmune diseases processes.
Mr Petrides‘ research interests are focused in Pharmaceutical Technology, Compounding/Dispensing Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice.
Dr Petrou’s research interests are focused on the peptide synthesis and especially on the development of Radiolabelled Peptides for the in vivo detection of neuroendocrinic tumors overexpressing peptide receptors and on the development of peptide-anticancer agents conjugates as pro-drugs for targeted chemotherapy. He is also interested in the field of pharmacognosy and in the isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds from Natural Sources. In addition, Dr Petrou is interested in Drug policy and Public Health Systems.
Dr Philippou’s research interests are focused in Nutrition for disease prevention. Specifically: glycaemic index in relation to cognitive function, heart disease and obesity prevention and management, gene-diet interactions in relation to cancer prevention and management as well as specific dietary patterns and cancer prevention, effects of Ramadan fasting on health, nutrition education and nutrition and oxidation status of athletes.
Dr Pieri’s research interests center around understanding nutrient transport in the Gastrointestinal Track and its relevance to disease states. Dr Pieri is also interested in the role of the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), the “Life or Death” pathway of the cell, under physiological and pathophysiological conditions.
Dr Pyrkotis’ research interests focus in the areas of Drug Discovery (Pharmaceutical Chemistry-Chemical Biology) and her major research contributions have been in the 1. Synthesis of anti-cancer drugs, 2. Design and synthesis of complex dendrimers, 3. Design and synthesis of novel small molecules as RNA ligands (Antibiotic Drugs) and 4. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of inhibitors for Mycobacterial Tuberculosis via the fragment-based approach (Tuberculosis Drugs). The main focus of her research is directed towards the design, synthesis and evaluation of important drug classes by utilizing novel synthetic approaches, biophysical techniques and computational tools.
Dr Roupa’s research interests are in the area of Primary Care, specifically in the identification of factors that contribute to the genesis of difficulties for people in the the community, Nursing Care Education, Cancer Prevention and Rehabilitation, Fertility and Family Planning.
Dr Stefanakis’ research interests involve spinal biomechanics in relation to pathology of low back and neck pain. In particular how stress concentrations and stress gradients inside intervertebral disc affect neo-vascularization and neo-innervation of the normally avascular and anneural disc matrix. More recently his research focuses on in vivo manifestations of spinal dysfunction such as in vivo load tolerance in relation to posture and muscular activation and joint position sense after muscle fatigue in peripheral joints. He is also involved in clinical studies investigating the functional capacity and various biomechanical parameter (muscle strength, gait kinematics, etc) in patients with MS and Parkinson’s disease.
Dr Tsouloupas’ research interests are in the areas of Sport Pedagogy and Sport Psychology. The focus has been two-fold: (1) exploring teacher cognitive appraisals/regulation of emotion, teacher adverse outcomes (i.e. emotional exhaustion, turnover intentions), and teacher efficacy towards job related stressors (i.e. student misbehavior) and (2) enhancing/optimizing overall sport performance levels and quality of life through the application of sport psychology theoretical models and stress management techniques. One project under way involves the assessment of youth physical activity behaviors/fitness levels to gradually develop a youth program that leads to adoption and maintenance of a physically active lifestyle, while furthering our conceptual understanding of physical activity behaviors.”
Dr Yamasaki-Patrikiou’s research interest lies in the development and plasticity of the nervous system. She applies a variety of techniques that allows her to follow the development of individual neurons or a specific neuronal population identified by its neurochemical signature. She is also interested in the effects of injury and drugs in the developing brain, aging and neurodegenerative diseases, neuromuscular disorders, and the environment and public health.
Dr Zacharia’s research is focused on estradiol’s protective actions with special interest on the role of endogenous estradiol metabolites. Specifically, research is directed in understanding the role of estradiol metabolites in cardiovascular diseases such as preeclamsia, and ischemia reperfusion injury. Additional research interests include: peritoneal adhesions, cause and methods of resolving them; the role of MIF-Glucocorticoid axis in the pathogenesis of aneurysms/atherosclerosis and other inflammatory cardiovascular diseases with emphasis on inflammation resolution.
Dr Zampelas’ research interests are in the areas of Nutrition and Child Health, Mediterranean Diet, Obesity, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease.