President of The Cyprus Institute
Prof. Stavros Malas holds a BSc and PhD in Genetics from University College London. Subsequent to his postgraduate studies, he worked for the Medical Research Council- Clinical Sciences Centre at Imperial College. In 2001, he joined the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING) where he established a research group and the first transgenic animal facility in the country. He has expertise in developing transgenic animal models, embryonic brain development, stem cell biology and molecular genetics.
His research focuses on the progression of stem cells to the progenitor state in the embryonic brain. His work uncovered new neuronal populations in the spinal cord in mice and provided novel insights as to the role of specific genes in the embryonic brain. In 2006, he received an honorary award from the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation for best performance in attracting competitive funding from the European Commission (EC) in the area of Health.
Over the last twenty years he has undertaken many EC advisory roles in policy development: Special Advisor to Commissioner for Health, elected first President of the Innovative Medicines Initiative-States Representatives Group, member of the European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) and member of the Program Committee for Health. In 2012, he led a European project which developed a strategy for Innovative Health care provision about "Building an Open Innovation ecosystem in Europe for healthcare". Professor Malas served as Minister of Health of the Republic of Cyprus and, during the Cyprus Presidency of the European Union, as Chair of both the European Council of Ministers of Health and the Competitiveness Council for Research.
Stavros Malas previously held the position of Professor of Genetics and Development at the University of Nicosia Medical School. He served as Foundation Chair for establishing the first Veterinary School in Cyprus and served as the School Dean. He assumed the position of President of The Cyprus Institute on February 1 st, 2023.
