Kyproula Christodoulou
Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING)
Academic and professional background, key areas of expertise, and research interests
Education: BSc (Genetics), MSc (Applied Molecular Biology and Biotechnology), PhD (Medical Genetics).
I am the Founder and Head of the Neurogenetics Department of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING), directing/administrating the Department and its diagnostic services, research and educational programs. Through my research activities, I mapped several rare disease genes and contributed to identifying several neurogenetic disease genes. I have a strong background in the molecular genetic investigation of rare neuromuscular and neurological diseases.
I have substantially contributed towards obtaining funding and establishing a Translational Facility at the CING, which includes genomics and proteomics platforms. I have received a competitive grant from the EU and founded a prestigious Bioinformatics ERA Chair at the CING. Thus, I have gradually built the necessary infrastructure and developed the expertise for robust, high-throughput functional, proteomics and bioinformatics analyses.
Overall, I participated as a principal or co-investigator in 45 research projects with a total funding of over 7.0 million euros allocated to CING. I authored 110 peer-reviewed scientific publications (h-index: 31). I mentored and supervised several MSc and PhD students. I am a Professor and Course Coordinator of MG103 - Methodologies and Technologies Applied in Medical Genetics, of the CING. I am currently the Dean of the CING.
What is your role within the AI-PROGNOSIS project, and how do your expertise and skills contribute to achieving its objectives?
Provide expertise and supervision on Genetics for the purposes of the project. The CING team that I lead will provide meta-analysis of available genome-wide association (GWAS) data on Parkinson disease and select the most significantly associated genetic variants (SNPs) for calculating the polygenic risk score (PRS) per study participant. This PRS information will be used for the AI-PROGNOSIS model.
What future opportunities do you see for your field in similar healthcare projects?
The genetic background plays a role in the development of the majority of human diseases, either as the only factor (monogenic diseases) or as an interplay with other factors such as environmental (multifactorial diseases). The use of genetics is fundamental in current and future healthcare projects.
What do you see as the long-term potential of the AI-PROGNOSIS project in advancing AI-driven healthcare solutions?
AI is overtaking our present and future in many aspects, including healthcare solutions. Visionaries definitely see a long-term positive impact of projects such as the AI-PROGNOSIS in advancing healthcare.
From a clinical perspective, how do you think the AI-PROGNOSIS tools will influence the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of Parkinson’s disease?
Although not a clinician myself, I do foresee that the tools under development will facilitate early diagnosis, prognosis and why not treatment of patients with Parkinson disease.
How do you see digital tools, such as apps, wearables, or other technologies, transforming healthcare in projects like AI-PROGNOSIS? What specific benefits do you anticipate for patients or healthcare providers?
The use of wearables is already widely used by healthy individuals who wish to monitor their health and well-being status. Patients who need constant care will certainly benefit the most out of responsibly developed and validated digital tools that will be available for monitoring their health on 24 hours a day basis.
How do you envision AI specifically supporting the AI-PROGNOSIS project, and what direct benefits do you anticipate from its integration?
AI is implemented in AI-PROGNOSIS. This project will safeguard that AI is used responsibly, harvesting the most important aspects of AI that could benefit patients.
What do you think is the wider impact of artificial intelligence in healthcare, and how could projects like AI-PROGNOSIS help drive this change?
AI will definitely overrule healthcare in the near future. Projects like AI-PROGNOSIS are utmost vital in ensuring that the power of AI is well monitored and safeguarded for the benefit of patients, their families and society.
How are user research and co-creation part of the AI-PROGNOSIS project, and what benefits do you expect from working together in these ways?
The user research and co-creation part of the AI-PROGNOSIS is very timely and ensures that research is carried out based on the needs and for the benefit of the patient. This is a model that should be followed in many future projects.
What next steps or future directions do you see for the AI-PROGNOSIS project once it's finished, and how might its outcomes shape future research or practices?
AI-PROGNOSIS will develop the AI-based model for early diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of patients with Parkinson disease. AI-PROGNOSIS could serve as a model project and pave the way for implementing AI applications for many other diseases.
Please share any additional thoughts or insights regarding the AI-PROGNOSIS project, its impact, or future directions.
The AI-PROGNOSIS project could make a positive impact on people’s lives, including patients with Parkinson disease but also their families and society.