The Center of Excellence in Biobanking and Biomedical Research of the University of Cyprus, biobank.cy, has an ambitious and clear goal, which is to record the genome of Cypriots in a multidimensional database with free access, the Cyprome, Dr Gregory Papagregoriou, Geneticist and Senior Scientist at the biobank.cy Center of Excellence, told CNA

In an interview with CNA on the occasion of World DNA Day, he said that the biobank is the only structure in Cyprus that has the means and the European and international connections to make this vision a reality.

Cyprome to bring personalized treatments

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The Cyprome, he noted, is being created “to finally unlock genetic research and diagnostics in Cyprus and to open new horizons so that Cypriots can have access to personalized disease treatments”.

Fortunately, he added, this effort is supported by the “altruistic participation of Cypriot volunteers in the actions of the biobank in a massive way”, who understand the need for Cyprus to have genetic data that represent its population and that will consequently optimize the country’s health policies.

“It is impressive that data from the first 2000 DNA samples from Cypriots are now available to biobank researchers, while they determine more precisely the diagnostic value of genetic findings,” he stressed.

He said that with the participation of more volunteers, the biobank will be able to add “more colors” to the genetic table of Cyprus.

“Only by this way will the Cyprome become a new landmark, a new reason to celebrate DNA Day in Cyprus,” he underlined.

DNA, he said, is today a point of reference for the diagnosis of hereditary or non-hereditary diseases, adding that with the technology of materials, methods, and analyzes that is constantly developing, we can now more easily decipher the genetic code and derive useful information.

“This information will become the basis for inventing new means of diagnosing diseases, for making more accurate predictions about their evolution, or even for discovering the next medicine,” Dr Gregory Papagregoriou concluded.