Prof Leonidas A. Phylactou received his Bachelor’s degree in Medical Biochemistry with honours from the University of Birmingham, UK in 1992 and his PhD in Molecular Genetics/Gene Therapy from the same University in 1995 in collaboration with the University of Connecticut Health Center, USA. Upon completion of his studies, he moved to Oxford University as a post-doctoral scientist where he led a research team on the use of catalytic RNAs as tools for gene therapy in the brain and muscle. Upon returning to Cyprus in 1998 he was employed at The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING) where he established a research team to investigate and develop novel ways to study gene function and exploit gene therapy approaches. In 2005, he was appointed as the Head of the Department of Molecular Genetics, Function and Therapy, which he still directs.
From 2012 until 2015, Prof. Phylactou served as the first Dean of the newly established post-graduate school of the CING, the School of The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics.
From March 2014 to July 2015, Prof. Phylactou served as the Acting CEO and Medical Director of the CING and Acting Provost of the School of the CING. In November 2015, he was appointed as the CEO and Medical Director of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics and the Provost of the School.
During his scientific career Prof. Phylactou has secured research funding from several local and international funding organizations and published extensively in the areas of molecular genetics, gene function and gene therapy. He also serves on the Editorial Boards of international peer-reviewed journals. Prof. Phylactou received the ‘Distinguished Researcher Award 2023’ and the ‘Cyprus Quality Leader of the Year 2024’.
Prof. Leonidas A. Phylactou earned his BSc in Medical Biochemistry (1992) and PhD in Molecular Genetics/Gene Therapy (1995) from the University of Birmingham. After postdoctoral research at Oxford University, he returned to Cyprus in 1998 to join the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING), where he established a leading research team and later became Head of Department. He served as Dean (2012–2015), Acting CEO/Provost (2014–2015), and CEO/Medical Director and Provost from 2015. He has published extensively, secured major funding, and received the Distinguished Researcher Award 2023 and Cyprus Quality Leader of the Year 2024.