About Us
Research Team
The Research Team at Ophthalmos Research and Educational Institute relies on strong and active collaborations with Professors from Cyprus and abroad. We are dedicated to help people with vision debilitating eye conditions. We are using novel treatments to improve vision in eye pathologies, where currently there is no treatment. Understanding the molecular basis of inflammation at a cellular level is key in our ongoing investigation for new innovative therapies to control the underlying essence of chronic eye disease. We investigate the causes of and the disease mechanisms in retinal degenerations and optic neuropathies, and relate the findings in human patients to those in animal models with homologous genetic defects.
Dr Tassos Georgiou
Dr Tassos Georgiou is the head of Ophthalmos Research and Educational Institute and the primary investigator for all ongoing research.
His latest ground breaking clinical study on the treatment of dry age related macular degeneration and optic neuropathies has raised new hope for millions of patients worldwide.
Dr Georgiou and his research team at Ophthalmos Institute have performed scientific research on established murine models of several ocular pathologies to confirm the efficacy of the patented ω3-PUFA treatment. These data provide insight into the neuroprotective role of ω3-PUFAs against Retinal Ganglion Cells and photoreceptor damage
He aims to develop innovations and solutions that improve diagnostics and therapy. He also provides young scientists with meaningful work and advancement opportunities in an interdisciplinary team.
Dr. Katerina Prokopiou
Dr. Katerina Prokopiou is a post-Doctoral researcher at the Ophthalmos Research and Educational Institute, where she is investigating the effect of a novel therapeutic on dry macular degeneration and Stargardt disease in mouse models. In addition, she is an academic at Nicosia/St Georges Medical School. Following her BSc (Hons) degree in Molecular Medicine from Sussex University, UK she completed an MSc degree in Cancer Pharmacology at Bradford University, UK.
Next, she completed her doctoral studies in Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, where she was involved in the development and evaluation of novel anti-cancer agents.
Results obtained from preclinical studies at OREI indicated not only a protective effect of 3-month administration of the patented ω3-PUFAs, against photoreceptors’ loss in the CCL2-/- mouse model of dry Macular Degeneration but also a regenerative potential on photoreceptor cells. In a Stargardt mice model treated with ω3-PUFAs for 3 months results have shown significant reduction of A2E levels in the retina and significant reduction of lipofuscins in the RPE cells. The importance of assessing AA/EPA blood ratio (needs to be within the Ophthalmos therapeutic zone) was emphasised in all these studies in order for the dosage of ω3-PUFAs to be adjusted with the aim to provide the maximum therapeutic effect.
Dr Maria Kalogerou
Dr Maria Kalogerou is currently a post‐Doctoral vision researcher at the Ophthalmos Research and Educational Institute. She completed a Bachelor degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Newcastle University. As part of her Bachelor degree, she conducted a research project, titled: “Genome gap closure of the abyssomicin gene cluster using random PCR”. She completed a Doctorate degree at the Institute of Cancer Genetics (School of Medicine) at Cardiff University, titled: “Targeting the mTOR signalling pathway for prevention and therapy of Tuberous Sclerosis in mouse models”.
The aims of her project were to identify novel agents and strategies for treating or preventing a genetic disorder called Tuberous Sclerosis. She is now involved in the development of novel therapeutic to prevent progression and improve vision in degenerative diseases of the optic nerves which lead to irreversible loss of vision, using mouse models.
Her recent results at OREI has shown that supplementation with the patented ω3-PUFAs has neuroprotective effects in the retinas of DBA/2J mouse model of hereditary glaucoma, that is enhanced when combined with anti-glaucoma timolol eye drops, as demonstrated by the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) density analysis. These data provide insight into the neuroprotective role of ω3-PUFAs against RGC damage.
Panagiotis Kolovos
Is a Food Biochemist (MSc) and he is highly skilled in specialized laboratory techniques such as PCR, HPLC,UV-vis and Gas Chromatography. At the Ophthalmos Research and Educational Institute he has been the lead chemist for the analysis of fatty acids using Gas Chromatography equipment. In liaison with centres in the US and Greece he has contributed in improving the novel therapeutic treatment for eye pathologies.
Panagiotis is also involved in the preclinical and clinical studies at the Institute.
A multi-centre clinical study at Italy and France (MADEOS). Since then, he designed and participated in clinical studies.
At the Zone Diagnostics laboratories in Boston, Massachusetts, he was trained to use Gas Chromatography equipment for the blood analysis and interpretation of essential fatty acids. He has been attending various national and international research ophthalmology conferences where he has been presenting his work. Panagiotis is an active member of the research and audit department at Ophthalmos Research and Educational Institute since 2013.
Despina Nicolaou
Despina Nicolaou is a UK qualified Orthoptist (B.Med.Sci.(Hons) Orthoptics, M.Med.Sci. Orthoptics) with special interest in clinical research. In 2005, she participated in a UK multi-centre clinical study at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Since then, she designed and participated in clinical studies in the fields of binocular vision, ocular disease, and neuro-ophthalmology.
At the Zone Diagnostics laboratories in Boston, Massachusetts, she was trained to use Gas Chromatography equipment for the blood analysis and interpretation of essential fatty acids. She has been attending various national and international ophthalmology conferences where she has been presenting her work. Despina is an active member of the research and audit department at Ophthalmos Research and Educational Institute since 2011.
Anastasia Neokleous
Anastasia Neokleous obtained her BSc in nursing at the Cyprus University of Technology and her Masters of Science on Health Management. She is currently studying Medicine at European University Cyprus member of Laureate International Universities and is a member of the Dean’s list. In parallel, Anastasia has been an active member of the Ophthalmos Research and Educational Institute and has presented at European ophthalmology and vision science conferences.
At the Zone Diagnostics laboratories in Boston, Massachusetts, she was trained to use Gas Chromatography equipment for the blood analysis and interpretation of essential fatty acids. Anastasia is involved in the clinical studies of the Institute.
Dr Stavros Malas
Ophthalmos Research team is also collaborating with Dr Stavros Malas who is the head of the research group at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics. The research team examines the effects of the Ophthalmos patented treatment on the regenerated photoreceptors for dry macular degeneration.
Collaboration with the Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan, and the Institute of Eye Research, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
Ophthalmos research and education Team collaborated with Professor Tsai’s Research Team from Taiwan for the study of Ophthalmos patented treatment on ischemic optic neuropathy. The Ophthalmos experience on the fatty acid dose which depends on the AA/EPA blood ratio is used for the study. The blood analysis is performed at Ophthalmos Research and Educational Institute in Cyprus using gas chromatography. This study has been completed and the results have been published in the Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science journal in April 2017.
‘Results are very impressive and our team is very excited as we have shown retinal ganglion cell neuroprotection following ischemic injury to the optic nerve using Ophthalmos patented treatment. Retinal Ganglion Cell density was counted by retrograde labeling with FluoroGold application, and visual function was assessed by flash visual evoked potentials. The results demonstrated neuroprotective effects of ω3-PUFAs, through dual actions of anti-apoptosis of RGCs and anti-inflammation via decreasing inflammatory cells infiltration and regulation of macrophage polarization to decrease cytokine-induced injury on the Optic Nerve’ said Dr Tassos Georgiou.
