Scientist, Molecular Virology Department
The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics
Dr. Jan Richter has studied biophysics, holds a postgraduate degree in biophysics and has obtained his PhD focusing on theoretical as well as molecular immunology studying the dynamics of T-helper lymphocytes in insect venom allergies and during viral infections. His work at CING initially focused among others on the surveillance, epidemiology and phylogenetic analysis of enteroviruses and a wide range of respiratory viruses in Cyprus as well as the investigation of the role of arboviruses, e.g. sandfly-fever viruses and WNV, in CNS infections. More recently, he is investigating the possible role of Epstein Barr virus variants in the aetiology of multiple sclerosis as well as the role of viral/bacterial co-infections in community acquired pneumonia. In the last years, he has developed profound experience and expertise in the construction, modification and production of Lentivirus viral vectors for gene therapy of monogenetic diseases. . He had received recently a grant as PI from the Cyprus Research Promotion foundation for studying the etiology of respiratory tract infections in Cypriot children (180,000 €) and has participated (or is currently involved) in a number of collaborative research projects funded by the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation, the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, the European Leukodystrophy Association and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society having a major role in both the scientific and administration/management.
He is the representative of Cyprus in the Management Committee in COST action TD1303 European Network for Neglected Vectors and Vector-Borne Infections and also member of the EVD LabNet (European expert laboratory network for emerging viral diseases). He is supervising graduate students as well as PhD students at the Department of Molecular Virology.
1999 – 2002 Scientific research associate at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research, University of Leipzig
2003 – 2007 Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Department of Molecular Virology
Since 2008 Scientist at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Department of Molecular Virology
Selected Publications: