The strategic partnership significantly strengthens the development of the Biobank and the biomedical research conducted by the Center, as well as the Research and Innovation pillar of OKYPY.

The agreement signed yesterday, Tuesday, July 8, between the biobank.cy Center of Excellence for Biobanking and Biomedical Research at the University of Cyprus and the State Health Services Organisation (OKYPY) marks the beginning of a new era in scientific biomedical research, shaping a healthier future for all.

With the signing of this agreement, OKYPY becomes a strategic partner in the joint effort to enhance the Biobank, a project co-funded by the Republic of Cyprus for the benefit of the Cypriot population’s health. In turn, the Center gains a strong ally in its mission to generate new knowledge that will contribute to disease prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

The two organizations will collaborate to recruit volunteer participants through OKYPY’s hospitals. For this purpose, the Center will have access to public hospitals to register and collect samples with the help of biobank.cy’s nursing team, in full compliance with personal data protection regulations. Additionally, the agreement significantly supports OKYPY’s strategy to promote research and innovation as key pillars of its operations. Within this framework, active participation in research projects both in Cyprus and abroad is foreseen, with the Biobank positioned as a national infrastructure.

It is worth noting that the Biobank at the Center is based on cutting-edge biomedical research infrastructure and comprises an organized collection of medical records and information accompanied by biological material from volunteer participants, such as DNA and other biological samples. The data and samples stored are studied by the Center’s specialized scientific teams to identify particularities and traits in the DNA responsible for various genetic diseases, whether rare or common, so they can be used as tools to support precision medical research.

As Dr. Konstantinos Deltas, Professor of Medicine and Molecular Genetics and Director of the biobank.cy Center of Excellence, emphasized:

"This Agreement marks a milestone in our strategic collaboration with OKYPY and serves as an accelerator for our efforts. The connection with public hospitals paves the way for new treatments and improved health outcomes for the Cypriot population. It is a testament to our shared commitment to advancing medical research and innovation in Cyprus."

Similarly, the General Executive Director of OKYPY, Mr. Kypros Stavridis, stated:

"The signing of the agreement between OKYPY and the Biobank seals our already long-standing and successful collaboration and opens new avenues for research and diagnosis, while at the same time ensuring quality services for OKYPY’s patients."

On behalf of OKYPY, the agreement was signed by Chairman Mr. Marinos Kallis, and on behalf of the University of Cyprus, by Rector Professor Tasos Christofides and Director of the biobank.cy Center of Excellence Professor Konstantinos Deltas, during a brief ceremony at the OKYPY offices.