Panos Englezos Prize 2024
At the 10th Graduation Ceremony of the University of Nicosia Medical School, the University, in collaboration with the Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF), proudly presented the 2024 Panos Englezos Prize to Dr Evangelia Yannaki. The Award is conferred annually to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the field of haemoglobin disorders, whether through scientific innovation or public health impact.
Presenting the Award, Mr Panos Englezos, President of TIF, expressed his delight:
“It is with great pride that we honour Dr Evangelia Yannaki, whose pioneering work has laid the foundation for modern gene therapy in thalassaemia. Her dedication has transformed treatment and given hope to countless patients worldwide.”
The ceremony was held at the UNIC Open Amphitheatre on Friday, 5 July 2024, in the presence of distinguished guests, including the Minister of Health of the Republic of Cyprus, as well as representatives from medical councils, societies, and affiliated hospitals.
Watch the UNIC Medical School’s Graduation Ceremony 2024 HERE.
Dr Evangelia Yannaki is a haematologist and internationally recognised expert in haematopoietic stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. She serves as Director of the Gene and Cell Therapy Centre and Head of the Haematopoietic Cell Transplantation Unit at George Papanikolaou Hospital in Thessaloniki, while also holding an affiliation as Professor at the University of Washington. She spearheaded the first clinical trials on stem-cell mobilization in thalassaemia patients, research that laid the foundation for all current gene therapy approaches in the disease. As the Principal Investigator in Greece for the pivotal Phase-3 gene therapy trial in β-thalassaemia, she played a central role in the approval of Zynteglo by both the European Medicines Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, marking a major step forward in offering long-term transfusion independence to patients.
Dr Yannaki received her medical degree from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and her PhD from the University of Crete, later completing her post-doctoral training in gene therapy under Professor George Stamatoyannopoulos at the University of Washington. She has authored more than 90 publications in leading journals such as Blood, Nature Medicine, Lancet Oncology, JCI and PNAS. Beyond her clinical and research achievements, she is a founding member of the Hellenic Society of Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, and an active member of the European Haematology Association, the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, and the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products.
