Congratulations to Dr Marianna Prokopi-Demetriades (BSc Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2005 and MSc Biochemistry, 2009) who was presented with The Business and Innovation Award at The British Council Study UK Alumni Awards in Nicosia, Cyprus on Tuesday 21 April.
Driven by the belief that science was not only about knowledge but also responsibility, when Dr Marianna Prokopi-Demetraides returned to Cyprus after completing her studies in the UK to few research opportunities, she decided to create them for herself.
Alongside caring for her father and younger sister, both of whom she later lost to cancer, she used her personal experience to co-found three biotech companies: Theramir, Promed Bioscience, and RSL Revolutionary Labs, each addressing different but connected challenges in oncological care.
- Through Theramir, her teams are developing miRNA therapeutics for Triple Negative Breast cancer, which are currently being prepared for first-in-human trials.
- At Promed Bioscience collagen biomaterials are produced that are now used in injectables and bioprinting of organs.
- With RSL Revolutionary Labs, she has launched εὖSKIN® dermaceuticals, which is already helping hundreds of patients with their skin recovery.
With her team, Marianna has raised over €8 million in investment, and established a biotech cluster in Limassol that employs and trains scientists, and develops products that reach patients in Europe, Africa, and Australia.
University of Kent Interim Vice-Chancellor and President, Georgina Randsley de Moura, said:
“We are proud to hear of Dr Prokopi-Demetriades’s remarkable achievements and the contributions she has made to strengthening Cyprus’s position on the global biotech map. Her dedication to transformational oncological care following her own personal losses is truly inspirational.
“At the University of Kent our world-class research and innovation is empowering individuals to tackle global challenges and transform communities to create a healthier, more sustainable, and socially just world. We are delighted that the three companies Marianna has co-founded are bringing our mission to life by advancing knowledge and harnessing emerging technologies to make a real difference in people’s lives.”