Petros Pashiardis

Dr. Petros Pashiardis is Professor Emeritus of Educational Leadership and former Rector of the Open University of Cyprus during the period October 2020-August 2024. He has also been a Visiting Professor with the University of Pretoria in South Africa, and a Visiting Scholar at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, as well as a Visiting Professor at the Centre for Principal Development, Umeå University, Sweden (September, 2013-May, 2014 and January-May, 2019). For the period 2004-2008, Professor Pashiardis has been President of the Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration and Management (CCEAM). Since November 2023, he is President of the Board of Directors, Foundation for the Management of European Lifelong Learning Programs, in Cyprus. Dr. Pashiardis has extensive academic research in leadership, strategic planning, and resilience coupled with training for the senior and middle management of European institutions and agencies such as the European Security and Defence College (ESDC), FRONTEX, and CEPOL. Moreover, his advisory experience with Ministries of Education, the EU, OECD, and the Commonwealth Secretariat demonstrates his ability to translate research into actionable policies within complex settings. As a thoughtful leader in "Edupreneurial Leadership," he combines innovation and entrepreneurship with accountability, crucial for public institutions navigating rapidly changing environments, knowledge management, and AI integration. His unique blend of academic expertise and practical experience makes him exceptionally qualified to support and guide towards the transition to new, fast-paced and complex environments. His current thinking and research interests take him beyond “Administrivia” (a term he coined 25 years ago) and the WHAT effective/successful school leaders do and into the HOW they do it, as related to Pedagogical and Entrepreneurial Leadership, which leads to Edupreneurial Leadership.

Yannis Manolopoulos

Yannis Manolopoulos is Professor of the University of York, Europe Campus at Thessaloniki, serving as Dean of the School of Sciences. He holds a 5-years Diploma degree in Electrical Engineering (1981) and a Ph.D. degree in Computer Engineering (1986), both from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH).

He is Member of Academia Europaea (London) and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (Salzburg). In addition, he is Professor Emeritus of AUTH, and the Open University of Cyprus, where he served as first Vice-Rector. He has been visiting or adjunct staff with the University of Toronto, the University of Maryland at College Park, the University of Cyprus and the Hellenic Open University, where currently he is student of the Graduate Program on Creative Writing.

He has also served as President of the Board (acting Rector) of the University of Western Macedonia, Vice-President of the Greek Computer Society, Member of the Board of the University of Macedonia, Member of the Board of Alexander Innovation Zone of Thessaloniki, Member of the Board of the Research and Innovation Foundation of Cyprus, as well as President of the Excellence Committee of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

His research interests focus in Data Management. He has co-authored 6 monographs and 10 textbooks in Greek, as well as more than 370 journal and conference papers. He has received about 20,000 citations from more than 3000 academic institutions from more than 100 countries (h-index=64). He has also received 6 best paper awards from SIGMOD, ECML/PKDD, MEDES (3) and ISSPIT conferences. Currently, he serves in the Editorial Boards of the following journals (inter alia): Digital (Editor-in-Chief), The Computer Journal (Deputy Editor), SN Computer Science (Track Editor).

He has delivered keynote talks at 25 conferences at: Albania, Algeria, Austria, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Greece, India, Italy, Kosovo, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Morocco, Panama, Poland, Romania and Russia. External member of 20 doctoral examination committees at: Albania, Brazil, Denmark, France, Italy, Poland and Spain. Evaluator for national funding agencies at: Austria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, EU, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hong-Kong, Israel, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Switzerland and UK. Evaluator for university programs at: Denmark, Latvia and Lithuania. He supervised 27 doctoral graduates who have had careers at: Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, UAE, UK, USA, as well as at Cyprus and Greece.

Andreas Theodotou

Andreas Theodotou was born in Nicosia in 1978. He graduated in 2003 from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, obtaining both a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering and he holds the professional title Eur.Ing., awarded by the European Federation of National Engineering Association – Engineers Europe (ex FEANI). He initially worked as a technical director in a steel construction company.  In 2008, he established the engineering consultancy ANDREAS THEODOTOU L.L.C. which provides services in structural and seismic design, strengthening design of existing structures, project supervision and management.

In 2023 he has been elected to the position of Secretary-General of ETEK, while during the 2020-2023 period he served as First Vice President of ETEK.  At the same time, he is a member of the General Council of ETEK since 2014.  During the 2017-2020 period he was the Vice President of the Registration Committee of ETEK. He is the Coordinator of the ETEK committee on “Sustainable Transport and Road Safety” and representative of ETEK on the Road Safety Council and the Transport Council.  Further, he is a member of the Board of Directors of Cyprus Organisation for Standardisation – CYS, as a representative of ETEK.  He is the president of the National Committee of Cyprus of the European Organization Engineers Europe and representative of Cyprus in the European Association for Earthquake Engineering - EAEE, as well as a member of the Audit Committee of the European Council of Engineers Chambers-ECEC.

In addition, he has served as President of Cyprus Association of Civil Engineers (CYACE) for two terms. He also served CYACE in various positions from 2007 to 2022, initially in Nicosia-Keryneia District Council and later in the Central Council. He has been a member of the board of Directors of the Cyprus Joint Committee on Construction Contracts and at the same time he was the Chairman of the Cyprus Civil Engineers and Architects Association (CCEAA).  He also participated in the committee for the preparation of National Annexes of Eurocodes.  He served as the National Representative of Cyprus in the European Council of Civil Engineers – ECCE. In addition, he was a member of the European Certification Committee of the organization Engineers Europe for two terms, from 2019 to 2025, where through his efforts the engineering degrees of Cyprus Republic Universities were included in the European Engineering Education Database which is maintained by the organization Engineers Europe for awarding the professional title Eur.Ing.

Andreas Anayiotos

Education

  • Boston University BS 1983 Aerospace Engineering
  • Georgia Institute of Technology MS 1984 Aerospace Engineering
  • Georgia Institute of Technology PhD 1990 Aerospace Engineering

Professional Experience

He is a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at the Cyprus University of Technology. He is the Director of the Technology Transfer Office at the “Eratosthenes  Center of Excellence”. https://eratosthenes.org.cy/. He is responsible for the IPR policy of the organization and the commercial promotion of the technology applications of the center in the area of Earth observation and Geoinformatics. He has been the Rector (2016-2019) and Vice Rector for Financial Affairs and Development (2012-2015) of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT). He has also served as a Vice President of the Governing Board of the Open University of Cyprus 2011 - 2012. During his Rectorship at CUT the University has been ranked between 301-350 best Universities in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. He has been instrumental in the internationalization of the University and the establishment of INTENT the Innovation and Technology Transfer Office at the University to promote innovation and the exploitation of the research results at CUT. He has also been instrumental in the establishment of CUTing Edge http://cutingedge.cut.ac.cy/  a maker space to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the University. He took the initiative and promoted the efforts to change the founding legislation for the State Universities in Cyprus to allow the establishment of spinoffs and other entrepreneurial activities.   He is the Director of the Biomechanics and Living Systems Analysis laboratory (BiOLISYS) at CUT (https://www.cut.ac.cy/biolisys/). He has been the director of the Biofluids Laboratory at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Biomedical Engineering. The BiOLISYS laboratory is involved with research in: a) Novel imaging techniques in cancer and cardiovascular disease, b) Image based cardiovascular fluid dynamics, and c) Cardiovascular implant design, testing and evaluation. Dr. Anayiotos has published more than 150 peer reviewed publications and conference proceedings publications. He has developed numerous courses in Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering. He has been an organizer and chairman of numerous technical sessions and panel discussions in the Biomedical Engineering Society, The World Congress of Biomechanics and the ASME SB3C Summer Bioengineering Conference. He is an Associate Editor in the “Annals of Biomedical Engineering” and has served on the Editorial advisory board of the “Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology” and “Frontiers of Medical Technology” and a reviewer in numerous other international journals. Dr. Anayiotos has been an expert evaluator in Bioengineering for the European Union, the National Institutes of Health (USA) and the National Science Foundation (USA) since 1999. He has also provided consulting services to numerous cardiovascular implant and devices manufacturers.  He has been an evaluator in for the EU programs FP6, 7 Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. He has been an evaluator for the European Innovation Council and Small & Medium-sized Enterprises Executive Agency (EISMEA) programs since 2022.

The graduates of his laboratory are currently employed at NASA Glenn Research Center, USA Emory University USA, University of Dundee, Boston Scientific Corporation Johnson and Johnson and many other Medical device and technology manufacturers.

He has been a member of the National Board of Research and Innovation of the Republic of Cyprus since 2018 and has been reappointed until 2028.

 Previous and Current Positions

  • 1991 – 1997: Assistant Professor Dept of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • 1997 – 1999: Associate Professor, Dept of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • 1999 – 2006: Associate Professor, Dept of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • 2007 – 2009: Associate Professor Department of Mechanical and Materials Science and Engineering Cyprus University of Technology
  • 2009 – Today: Professor, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology

 Selected Publications

  1. Kokkinidou D, Kapnisis K, Chrysostomou M, Shammas  C, Anayiotos A, Kaliviotis, E. In Vitro Evaluation of the Effect of Stenting on Hematological, Hemorheological and Hemodynamic Parameters, in Various Stent Configurations and Flow Conditions. Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology, 2025, 16 (5) pp 525-536 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13239-025-00791-0
  2. Kallikazarou NI, Nisiforou O, Kokkinidou DA, Fotidis IA, Michael C, Castro JL, Anayiotos AS, Constantinides G, Botsaris G, Fotidis IA, Antoniou MG. Pilot-scale production of high-purity struvite fertilizer from livestock waste: Outcomes of the RE-LIVE WASTE project in Cyprus. Journal of Environmental Management. 2025, 393, open access 127009 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127009
  3. Giakoumi M, Kapnisis K, Anayiotos A, Stephanou, P.S. Analytical Solutions of PBTK Models for Evaluating the Impact of Surface Diffusion Characteristics on the Leaching Profile of Implant Byproducts. Mathematical and Computational Applications, 2024, 29(6), 101 https://doi.org/10.3390/mca29060101
  4. Kokkinidou D, Kaliviotis E, Shammas C, Anayiotos, A, Kapnisis, K. An in vivo investigation on the effects of stent implantation on hematological and hemorheological parameters Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, 2024, 87(1), pp. 39–53 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c01436
  5. Giakoumi, M, Stephanou, P.S, Kokkinidou, D, Anayiotos, A, Kapnisis, K. A Predictive Toxicokinetic Model for Nickel Leaching from Vascular Stents ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering, 2024, 10(4), pp. 2534–2551 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c01436
  6. Mpekris, F Papaphilippou, P.C, Panagi, M, Anayiotos A, Krasia-Christoforou, T, Stylianopoulos, T. Pirfenidone-Loaded Polymeric Micelles as an Effective Mechanotherapeutic to Potentiate Immunotherapy in Mouse Tumor Models. ACS Nano, 2023, 17(24), pp. 24654–24667 10.1021/acsnano.3c03305
  7. Mytidou C, Koutsoulidou A, Zachariou M, Prokopi M, Kapnisis K, Spyrou G, Anayiotos A,  Phylactou L. Age-Related Exosomal and Endogenous Expression Patterns of miR-1, miR-133a, miR-133b, and miR-206 in Skeletal Muscles.  Frontiers in Physiology,  2021   https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.708278
  8. Koutalianos D,.,Koutsoulidou A, Mytidou C, Kakouri A.C, Oulas A,Tomazou M, Kyriakides T.C, Prokopi M, Kapnisis K, Nikolenko N, Turner C, Lusakowska A, Janiszewska K, Papadimas G K, Papadopoulos C, Kararizou E, Spyrou GM, Gourdon Gl, Zamba Papanicolaou E, Gorman G, Anayiotos A, Lochmüller H, Phylactou LA. miR-223-3p and miR-24-3p as novel serum-based biomarkers for myotonic dystrophy type 1. Molecular Therapy.  Methods and Clinical Development, 23, 169–183 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omtm.2021.09.007, 2021
  9. Samourides A, Anayiotos A, Kapnisis K, Xenou Z, Hearnden V, Chen B. Fabrication of Hierarchical Multilayer Poly (Glycerol Sebacate Urethane) Scaffolds Based on Ice-Templating. Applied Sciences.  11(11):5004. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11115004, 2021
  10. Mytidou C, Koutsoulidou A, Katsioloudi A, Prokopi M, Kapnisis K, Michailidou K, Anayiotos A,  Phylactou L. TheMuscle‐derived exosomes encapsulate myomiRs and are involved in local skeletal muscle tissue communication. The FASEB Journal 35 (2), e21279,  https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1096/fj.201902468RR,  2021
  11. Giannokostas K, DimakopoulosY, Anayiotos A, Tsamopoulos J. Advanced Constitutive Modeling of the Thixotropic Elasto-Visco-Plastic Behavior of Blood: Steady-State Blood Flow in Microtubes. Materials, 14, 2.  https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14020367, 2021
  12. Gregoriou Y, Gregoriou G, Yilmaz V, Kapnisis K, Prokopi M, Anayiotos A, Strati K, Dietis N,  Constantinou A, Andreou C. Resveratrol loaded polymeric micelles for theranostic targeting of breast cancer cells. Nanotheranostics; 5(1): 113-124,  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7738945/ 2020
  13. Epenetos A, Prokopi M, Pitsillides C, Kapnisis K, Deonarain M, Kousparou C, and Anayiotos A. Tumor response to a mastermind inhibitor protein. Journal of Clinical Oncology 38:15_suppl, e17601-e17601. https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2020.38.15_suppl.e17601, 2020
  14. Ghiuță I, Cristea D, Croitoru C, Kost J, Vyrides G, Anayiotos, A, Munteanu, D. Characterization and antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles, biosynthesized using Bacillus species. Applied Surface Science 438, 66-73, 2018  https://doi.org/10.1177/22808000187828
  15. Theologides CP, Theofilou SP, Anayiotos A, Costa, CN.  Preventing maritime transport of pathogens: The remarkable antimicrobial properties of silver-supported catalysts for ship ballast water disinfection. Water Science and Technology. 76(3), 712-718, 2017 https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2017.266
  16. Prokopi M, Filipovic M, Pitsillides C, Kapnisis K, Anayiotos A, Kousparou C, Epenetos A. miRNA-loaded exosome-like microparticles as targeted cancer therapy. Journal of Clinical Oncology Vol 34 (No 15): suppl e14069,  2016   10.1200/JCO.2016.34.15_suppl.e14069
  17. Kapnisis K, Pitsillides C, Prokopi M, Lapathitis G, Karaiskos C, Eleftheriou P, Brott BC, Anderson PG, Lemons JE, Anayiotos AS. In vivo monitoring of the inflammatory response in a stented mouse aorta model. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 225–236, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.a.35560 Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
  18. Gallo D, Anayiotos A, Morbiducci U. The evolution of computational hemodynamics as a clinical tool in decision making, patient specific treatment and clinical management. Part II. Ann Biomed Eng. Jun;43(6):1273-4., 2015 10.1007/s10439-015-1338-z
  19. Aristokleous N, Seimenis I, Georgiou GC, Nicolaides A, Anayiotos AS. The Effect of Head Rotation on the Geometry and Hemodynamics of Healthy Vertebral Arteries. Ann Biomed Eng. Jun;43(6):1287-97, 2015 10.1109/JBHI.2014.2305575

Veronika Kyriakidou

In 2024, Veronika completed a four-month internship at the Department of Neurogenetics and Molecular Genetics at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics. During this period, she gained valuable hands-on experience in advanced laboratory techniques and participated in research activities within the fields of neurogenetics and molecular biology.

She has further enriched her academic journey by attending specialized scientific seminars, including “Inflammation, Microbiome and Digestive System Cancers”(January 2024), “Extracorporeal Therapy with Acoustic Waves in Non-Musculoskeletal Diseases” (January 2024), and “Experimental Techniques in Systems Biology” (December 2024 – January 2025).

Beyond her academic and research activities, Veronika is actively involved in student leadership. Since 2023, she has served as the General Secretary of the Student Union Protoporia and as a Student Representative in the Department of Life Sciences, where she works to support and represent her peers.

Driven by her commitment to science and health, Veronika aspires to contribute actively to biomedical research and the advancement of healthcare through both her education and professional experiences.

Veronika Kyriakidou is a Biomedical Sciences student at European University Cyprus, where she has been studying since 2022. Originally from Limassol, she graduated from Agia Fyla High School in 2020. She is a creative, hardworking, and sociable individual with a strong passion for the health sciences and a continuous drive to expand her skills and knowledge.

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