Research

Future of Biomedicine / Biotechnology

Biomedical/Biotechnology research and development has already improved society in significant ways and with the rapid advancement of science and technology, it is poised to make an even larger impact. From medical applications such as the treatment and prevention of genetic and previously incurable diseases to tackling world hunger and the reduction of our carbon footprint to holistically managing human, animal and environmental health, biomedicine/biotechnology research has the potential to improve the quality of life for millions of people.

One Health

The Medical School’s research strategy espouses the holistic concept of One Health which emphasizes the relationship between the health of humans and animals within a healthy, sustainable environment and promotes the conduct of clinical, epidemiological, basic science and social science research. Our research focus lies in areas of brain health and disease, cancer biology and oncology, regenerative medicine and genetics, infectious diseases, medical education, clinical communication and health psychology, medical physics and emerging technologies, environmental health, biostatistics and research methodology, public health policy, and clinical and primary care research.

Bioactive Molecules Research Center (BIOMOREC)

The University’s School of Life and Health Sciences carries out dedicated research in this field through its newly established Bioactive Molecules Research Center.

Development of Peptide Drugs
BioMoRec houses a dedicated unit in peptide synthesis and analysis. At present, there are around 80 peptide drugs on the global market, and research into new peptide therapeutics continues at a steady pace, with more than 150 peptides in clinical development and another 400–600 peptides undergoing preclinical studies.

Venoms from Endemic Species
Over the years, animal venoms have been recognised as a rich source of drugs. There are currently more than 10 authorized medicinal products with venom origin in the market. The University of Nicosia supports the discovery
of potent molecules from endemic species in Cyprus (i.e., scorpions, snakes, and other organisms). To this end, the Department recently entered into an agreement with MedVenome Ltd., a start-up company established in Cyprus focused on the production and supply of venom, venom peptides, and plant toxins.

Biomaterials
Several research projects currently underway are focused on the use of materials derived from biomolecules of plants and animal origin for biomedical applications. More recently, novel biomaterials from biomolecules have been designed and fabricated precisely for applications in biomedicine, bioelectronics, etc. Tissue Engineering and Νanonscience Development, characterization, and evaluation of nanocarriers for targeted gene and drug delivery. The process also involves the development and implementation of predictive algorithms based on AI/ML technologies for predicting the performance of developed nanosystems based on formulation parameters, to reduce experimental time and cost. Polymeric and lipidic nanocarriers are being developed for the encapsulation of plant extracts to improve their stability and effectiveness. An agreement was signed recently along these lines with RiMed Foundation in Italy, which aims in technology transfer and research collaboration in the area of tissue engineering and drug delivery system design.

Center for neuroscience and Integrative brain Research (CENIBRE)

The University’s Medical School carries out dedicated research in this field through its Center for Neuroscience and Integrative Brain Research. CENIBRE combines an interdisciplinary approach with the application of stateof-the-art technologies and innovative data analysis to investigate the nervous system in health and disease, and to develop novel preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to improve neurological and mental health. The Center builds on the broad and complementary expertise of its founding members, ranging from fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms of neuronal signalling all the way to behavioural and wider determinants of population health and wellbeing.