Current Position

Founder of the Neurobiology Department

Emeritus Professor 

The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics

Adjunct Associate Professor of Neurology (Division of Epilepsy), University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA Visiting Associate Professor of Neurophysiology, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus

Research Interests

• Epilepsy Evaluation and Treatment

• Memory Mechanisms and Disorders

• Clinical Neurophysiology

• Neurobiology of Alzheimer’s disease

Biography

Prof Papacostas completed his medical studies at the University of Ohio in the United States and subsequently completed a combined residency in Neurology and Psychiatry at the University of Rochester in New York. Thereafter, he undertook a fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology and Epileptology at Columbia University in New York where he was appointed as Clinical Instructor in Neurology at the faculty of the Presbyterian Hospital. He engaged in post-doctoral research on the epidemiology of intractable epilepsy, postictal psychosis and long-term follow up of psychogenic epilepsy. He also participated in clinical trials for new anti-epileptic medications. He was appointed Senior Consultant Neurologist and Head of the Epilepsy and Behavioral Neurology Clinic of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics in 1994 and holds this position until the present time. He established the Clinical Neurophysiology laboratory, the long term monitoring unit for epileptic seizures and the first Ethics Committee to review research proposals. With the establishment of the Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine, he was appointed Professor of Neuroscience. He has also held a visiting associate professorship at the University of Cyprus in Nicosia as well as an adjunct associate professorship at the University of Rochester in New York. He has been active in epilepsy research including anti-epileptic drug trials, quality of life in epilepsy issues and has established collaborations with several academic institutions in Cyprus and abroad for the evaluation and surgical cure of epilepsy. In addition, he has performed research on Dementia, its epidemiology, the psychosocial aspects of the disease, clinical trials for novel medications for dementia and currently conducts studies with animal models of Alzheimer’s disease. He has also performed extensive neurophysiological research on new methodologies for the evaluation of the vestibular system and the neurophysiology of various neurologic conditions. He is included on the list of faculty 1000 of International League Against Epilepsy and has also been awarded the distinction of Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology for his contributions both locally and internationally. He has published extensively in his areas of research and interests and is active in presenting results of his studies in local, regional and international scientific meetings. He is involved in teaching both at the University of Cyprus, the School of Molecular Medicine of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics,  the recently established St. George’s Medical School, Nicosia Campus, and the University of Nicosia Medical School His book ‘Madness and Leadership-From Antiquity to the New Common Era’ was published in 2015. 

Awards

Dean's List in Undergraduate College

Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities,1978-1979

M.A. Degree Summa Cum Laude

Edinburgh Geriatric Tutorial Award, 1986

Special Mention was given by the “Hippocrates” Medical Association on Nicosia – Kyrenia for the presentation: Papathanasiou ES, Kyriakides T, Iliopoulos I, Petsa M, Kleopa KA, Piperidou C, Pantzaris M,  Papacostas SS. “Vestibular symptoms and signs are correlated with abnormal neurogenic vestibular evoked potentials in patients with multiple sclerosis”. 18th Annual Medical Conference, 9-10 April, 2005, Nicosia, Cyprus

Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, Elected in February 2011.