30 October 2024

Drs Eleni Gentekaki and Daphne Mavrides recently represented our Veterinary School at the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action event in Crete, focusing on the gut microbe Blastocystis. This event is part of the ‘Blastocystis under One Health’ COST Action, which has received €500,000 in funding from the European Union.

Dr Gentekaki serves as the Action Vice-Chair, while Dr Mavrides represents Cyprus in the Management Committee. Both are actively involved in the Action’s activities, which aim to advance research on Blastocystis, a prevalent eukaryotic microbe in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and various animals. This initiative is crucial within the One Health framework, promoting global collaboration among scientists studying Blastocystis in animals, humans, and the environment.

The Action includes over 185 members and five research groups, organizing events such as training schools in Singapore, the UK, Spain, and Greece. At the recent event in Crete, Dr Mavrides presented a poster on Blastocystis and Cryptosporidium in ready-to-eat vegetables, earning the third-best poster prize. Dr Gentekaki discussed Blastocystis in the One Health context, highlighting challenges for newcomers in the field.

For more information on Blastocystis, watch this short video developed by the Action:

About COST:

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks, established in 1971. COST Actions connect research initiatives across Europe, enabling scientists to share ideas, advance research, and enhance their careers.