The 10th International Multi-thematic Scientific Bio-medical Congress, that began on Thursday in Nicosia at the European University Cyprus has become a meeting point for health professionals, academia and medical students due to its multi-thematic approach, Minister of Health Michalis Hadjipantela has said.
In his address at the opening ceremony of the congress, the Minister said that the congress is an outstanding initiative which eventually became an annual tradition and a meeting point for health professionals, academia and medical students due to its multi-thematic approach aiming at the continuous medical development of its participants.
He noted that the pandemic has showcased to us all the necessity to be on continuous alert and readiness for the next challenge.
Academia and scientists must constantly be a step ahead, ready to innovate and prepare, he stressed, adding that further development and advancement in medicine is the means by which civilisation will progress and advance quality of life.
The congress is organised by the European University Cyprus School of Medicine, co-organised and under the auspices of the Cyprus Medical Association and under the auspices of the Ministry of Health. Scientists from Poland, Greece, Africa, Turkey, Iran, United Kingdom, Israel, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine participate in this year’s congress.
Around 75 international speakers from world-renowned institutions attend the conference, while among the keynote speakers are Nobel Prize Winners.
In his address at the opening ceremony, congress founder and Committee Chairman, Dr. Ioannis Patrikios, who is the Deputy Dean and Professor of Biochemistry at the university’s School of Medicine, thanked distinguished guests who are attending this “exceptionally high quality congress”.
He said that the congress has been internationally recognized by the world-renowned scientific journal of the publishing house Nature “Cell Death & Disease” for six consecutive years. This alone, he added, indicates the quality, seriousness and scientific prestige of the congress.
Professor, Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, Dean of the School of Medicine, noted that the congress was organised for the first time ten years ago when the school opened its doors to students. The students, she said, were from Cyprus and Greece, but ten years later they come from 40 different countries.
She also said that this year, after only ten years, the School opened the doors to its first students in its Frankfurt branch.
In his address, Professor of Astrophysics & Scientific Computing and Rector of the European University Cyprus Andreas Efstathiou, said that the congress has already acquired reputation for attracting to Cyprus distinguished scholars, academics and researchers in the field of bio-medical science and medicine from all over the world. And this year’s congress is no exception, he added. In his address, read out by Vice Rector Marios Vryonides, the Rector spoke about the history of the University, its achievements and vision.
Addressing the congress, Dr Petros Agathaggelou, President of the Cyprus Medical Association and Congress Committee Vice Chairman noted that medical practice is evolving rapidly, adding that the Association strongly supports initiatives and scientific events such as this congress. Our aim, he pointed out, is to provide our members with tools for life long learning and to continue professional development.
President of the Cyprus Sport Organisation Andreas Michaelides said that the health and prosperity of every single athlete is the organisation’s first priority. We are positive, he said, that the conclusions of the workshop will broaden the discussion in the medical community on optimal sports screening.
Ambassador of Israel in Cyprus Oren Anolik said that initiatives such as this congress can contribute to the development of networking with the international medical society and the promotion of high level synergies in research. He said that it is with great satisfaction that we see such forms of collaboration being implemented between medical and academic institutions from countries in the region including Israel and Cyprus.
The opening ceremony closed with a lecture on ‘Human Genome and the Evolution of Medicine’ from Prof. Dr. Stylianos Antonarakis, Professor of Genetic Medicine at the University of Geneva Medical School
Among the keynote speakers during the congress will be Nobel Prize Winners such as Gregg Leonard Semenza (Nobel of Medicine 2019) at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Sir Gregory Winter (Nobel of Medicine 2018) at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology at Cambridge, Sir Martin J. Evans, (Nobel of Medicine 2007) at Cardiff University, Professor Kypros Nicolaides “father of fetal medicine” etc.
According to the programme, the international congress will address issues related to COVID-19, neurology, genetics, cardiology, cancer, genetic and molecular medicine, diabetes etc.
During Thursday’s afternoon sessions, advances in cardiology were presented by distinguished speakers from Cyprus, Greece and France.
The three – day seminar continues tomorrow Friday with presentations from specialists including Medicine Nobel Prize winners.
Source: Cyprus News Agency