Welcome Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics

New Partner Joins BEHIND-MS: The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics

Posted on May 15, 2025  •  3 minutes  • 529 words

We are pleased to announce that the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING) has officially joined the BEHIND-MS consortium. As a leading research and medical center in Cyprus with a strong international presence, CING brings a wealth of experience in clinical services, cutting-edge research, and education — all dedicated to improving lives.

CING’s contribution to the BEHIND-MS project is led by Professor George Spyrou, Head of the Bioinformatics Department - CING Bioinformatics Department (C-BIG). His team specializes in developing and applying advanced computational methods to interpret complex biological data, uncover disease mechanisms and identify promising treatment strategies, with a focus on personalized and precision medicine.

How CING Will Contribute?

CING will play a key role in advancing our understanding of how Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) might influence the development and progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). Through advanced computational methods, the team will: • Generate cell-to-cell communication networks to analyse how immune cells interact in people with MS compared to healthy individuals • Map how EBV proteins interact with human proteins involved in MS • Investigate key biological pathways and explore the potential of existing drugs to prevent or delay MS • Develop an interactive, visual “knowledge atlas” that brings together insights on EBV, immunity, and MS.

“We are excited to join the BEHIND-MS Consortium, bringing systems bioinformatics expertise to a collaborative effort aimed at uncovering the mechanisms by which Epstein-Barr virus infection contributes to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis.” - Professor George Spyrou, Bioinformatics ERA Chair holder and Head of the Bioinformatics Department at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics

Meet the Team Behind the Work

The CING Bioinformatics Group (C-BIG) is a highly interdisciplinary team established in 2016 under the EU H2020 ERA Chair grant to lead the development of bioinformatics in Cyprus. Now a permanent department within the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING), C-BIG focuses on network analytics, multi-omics integration, and AI-driven diagnostics to advance the vision of personalized and precision medicine. The team brings together experts in bioinformatics, systems biology, and computational modeling to decode complex biomedical challenges and develop innovative tools for disease understanding and treatment.

The team is led by Professor George M. Spyrou, a physicist and bioinformatician with over two decades of experience in computational biomedical research. He holds degrees in Physics, Medical Physics, and Bioinformatics, and earned his PhD in imaging simulations. Prior to joining CING, he served for almost 15 years at the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, heading its Department of Informatics and New Technologies and conducting research in Bioinformatics. Prof. Spyrou was appointed Bioinformatics ERA Chair at CING in 2016, elected Full Professor in 2019, and currently serves as the Institute’s Research Coordinator. His research focuses on biomarker discovery, molecular mechanisms, and drug repurposing using systems bioinformatics and network-based methods. He is a Senior IEEE Member, a Steering Committee Member of ELIXIR-Cyprus, and an editorial board member for leading journals in the field.

Learn more about:

• The CING team on our website: Teams – BEHIND-MS
• The CING institution through their introductory video: CING
• The CING Bioinformatics Group (C-BIG): Bioinformatics at CING