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Dr. Kyriaki Michailidou, Head of the Biostatistics Unit at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, has been named a laureate of the prestigious UNESCO–AI Fozan International Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists in STEM. She represents Europe and North America in the 2025 edition of the prize.
The UNESCO–AI Fozan Prize, awarded every two years, recognizes young scientists who make exceptional contributions to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Alongside recognition, each laureate receives a $50,000 prize. This year, the award ceremony took place at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.
Dr. Michailidou is recognized for her pioneering methodologies in breast cancer risk prediction. Her work has been incorporated into international clinical guidelines, marking a significant impact on global health research and patient care. She leads a multidisciplinary team at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, combining genetics, epidemiology, and biostatistics to uncover both common and rare variants associated with breast and ovarian cancer risk.
Her academic background includes a PhD in Genetic Epidemiology from the University of Cambridge, an MSc in Applied Statistics from the University of Oxford, and a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The 2025 laureates were selected from 269 shortlisted applicants through a rigorous evaluation by an international jury of experts. The prize highlights UNESCO and the Abdullah Al Fozan Foundation’s commitment to fostering young scientists, promoting international collaboration, and advancing scientific research in alignment with global Sustainable Development Goals.
