Mobility Participant Testimonials

INCOMING STAFF

Which factors led to your decision to take part in the ERASMUS mobility scheme?
The great opportunity it provides to receive granted training abroad. 

What was the main factor in your choice of the CING/CSMM for your mobility period?
The reputation and scientific sound of the institution that I have come up with many times during the last years.

What is the impact of your mobility experience at the CING/CSMM on your work (field of research, medical practice, etc)?
Although very short in period, my mobility at the CING/CSMM broadened my experience in molecular microbiology and specifically in molecular virology. It is always educative to participate in a well-established laboratory of molecular diagnostics, operating according to Standard Operative Procedures and being supervised by quality control schemes.

What have you enjoyed most about your time at the CING & CSMM?
Nice location, well organized facilities, warm and communicative staff, high level of scientific background and research expectations provide a challenge to anyone seeking postgraduate studies, a PhD thesis or postdoctoral research.

In three words how would you describe your experience at the CING/ CSMM to a prospective mobility candidate who may be interested in coming to the CING/CSMM?
Constructive, challenging and mind-broadening. 

STUDENT MOBILITY

OUTGOING STUDENTS 

Name: George Solomonides, PhD student in Neuroscience

Sending Institution: The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics

Receiving Institution: University of Milano, Italy

My Erasmus+ experience in the laboratory of Prof. Dr. Poletti in Milan was truly transformative, both scientifically and personally. I had the opportunity to work with human iPSCs differentiated into motor neurons and immortalised neuronal cell lines to study the TDP-43 protein and its pathology, which is a hallmark of motor neuron disease (MND) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, I experimented with molecular chaperones, proteins able to fold and disaggregate aberrant proteins like TDP-43 as a therapeutic target in MND. Learning advanced techniques such as confocal microscopy, protein analysis, and cellular stress modelling gave me a deeper understanding of the complexity of neurodegeneration research.

Beyond the technical skills, what stood out most was the chance to be part of an international research team, exchange ideas during lab meetings and journal clubs, and grow more confident in presenting my own work. This experience not only expanded my scientific knowledge but also strengthened my motivation to continue in neuroscience research. Living in Milan and adapting to a new academic environment also enriched me culturally and personally, making this Erasmus+ period an unforgettable step in my PhD journey.

Name: Antri Florentia Romanou , PhD student in Medical Genetics

Sending Institution: The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics

Receiving Institution: KU Leuven University, Belgium

My name is Antri Florentia Romanou and I am a Medical Genetics PhD candidate at the Molecular Genetics Thalassaemia Department (MGTD) of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING), under the supervision of Dr Thessalia Papasavva. My PhD study focuses on the development of a streamlined Preimplantation Genetic Testing approach specifically focusing on monogenic disorders (PGT-M). This approach aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of PGT-M in Cyprus, in preventing the transmission of inherited diseases by simplifying and streamline the procedures involved and addressing various challenges encountered in the procedure.

One significant limitation that is commonly encountered in PGT-M is the absence of additional family members making it difficult to determine the disease-related haplotype. Similar challenges arise for couples with De-Novo Mutations (DNMs) detected in one partner or an affected child, but are not inherited from either parent. Therefore, a new method is urgently needed which will allow the detection of polymorphic markers co-inherited with the pathogenic variation without the necessity of involving other family members or having prior knowledge of the inheritance pattern. 

Long-read amplicon sequencing is a very promising and effective method that has been successfully implemented for PGT-M diagnosis, especially in cases where additional family members are unavailable or where DNMs occur. The purpose of my Erasmus+ mobility to the Constitutional Cytogenetics unit at the Department of Human Genetics, in Leuven, Belgium, was to receive training from experts on Long-Read Sequencing using the ONT MinION platform. Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) long read sequencing allows for direct- real time sequencing of single molecules able to reduce the bias.

During my placement, I gained valuable theoretical insights and hands-on training in applying ONT sequencing to PGT-M. More specifically, we focused on β-thalassemia and the HBB gene which we used as an example for which we successfully designed and validated an ONT panel capable of simultaneously performing direct and indirect detection of every β-thalassaemia related variation. As a follow-up, we plan to adopt the ONT technology and use this panel to examine, more families at risk of β-thalassaemia in-house. Our long-term vision is to develop customized ONT-based PGT-M panels for couples without available relatives and for those with DNMs, addressing one of the critical gaps in current practice.

This Erasmus+ placement formed an integral part of my PhD research. By introducing Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing in the field of PGT-M for the first time in Cyprus, we aim to enhance the precision and accessibility of genetic testing solutions. Moreover, the mobility program not only enabled the transfer of state-of-the-art knowledge and skills but also fostered valuable scientific collaborations and share this knowledge and experience with other members of the CING. 
 

My name is Elissa Englezou, and I am a PhD student in the Department of Molecular Virology at The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics. Through the Erasmus+ program, I completed my placement at the Center for Virology at the Medical University of Vienna. During this period, I was involved in research on virus-mediated HLA-E-restricted immune responses and gained valuable hands-on experience in advanced immunological techniques such as cell culture, flow cytometry, and assays assessing NK cell function and HLA-E expression, as well as EBV variant detection, sequencing, and genetic characterization. This traineeship strengthened my experimental and analytical skills, deepened my understanding of immunological mechanisms, and contributed greatly to my PhD research. I am truly grateful to Erasmus+ for offering me this opportunity to grow as a researcher in an international scientific environment.