President praises CING’s work while laying research centre foundation stone

The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING) has already managed through its multifaceted work to establish itself in the health sector in Cyprus and beyond, President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides has said.

The President, who laid the foundation stone of the new building of the Institute that will be constructed near the current building, noted that the project is being financed by the European Investment Bank with the support of the Republic of Cyprus.

Speaking on 22 June, he praised the work accomplished by the Institute saying that its actions and initiatives excel in research, innovation, and science while upgrading the health services provided to citizens.

He added that through the new building facilities, the Institute is investing in its vision of establishing itself as an International Centre of Excellence and a Regional Referral Centre, something that it has already achieved.

The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, President Christodoulides said, plays an essential role as a regional centre providing high-level research, specialized medical services, and post-graduate education, with unique laboratory infrastructures for Cyprus and the region in the fields of neurology, genetics, and biomedical research.

Therefore, he added, its recognition has gone beyond Cyprus with the acceptance of the participation of departments and clinics of the Institute in specific European Reference Networks, following evaluation.

The President noted that in 2022 the Deputy Ministry of Research allocated 6.8 million euro to the Institute and the Ministry of Health around 4.3 million adding that this will continue in the coming years.

Concluding, he said that the state is recognizing the Institute's contribution in the health sector, in research and education, and therefore it will continue to support its actions.

European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides also attended the event. The new building will serve all citizens and may offer new perspectives in research and health, she wrote in a post on Twitter.

In his address, President of the Institute's board of directors, Ioannis Matsis, said that the new extension building will host a state-of-the-art research centre of international standards, covering an area of 11,651 sq.m, which includes research and diagnostic laboratories, teaching areas, offices, as well as an outdoor amphitheater with a capacity of 600 seats. "It will enable us to better serve and improve the quality of life of our patients and all our compatriots, always on a bi-community basis", he stressed.

The project will cost €23 million, and is partially financed by the European Investment Bank, with additional financial support from the Ministry of Finance, he said.

Meanwhile, Leonidas Phylactou, Chief Executive Medical Director of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics noted that the new building will create new jobs, and significantly increase research output while contributing to a great extent to forging new partnerships and attracting more graduate students.

All this, he said, will serve the patients and every citizen.

The construction contract for an amount of €19,428,000 plus VAT was signed with A. Aristotelous (Construction) Ltd. The architect of the project is Paris Philippou from the architectural office J +A Philippou Architects Engineers.

With the second building, which will be of a similar dynamic to the existing one, the Institute will be able to meet the current growing needs, as well as future ones, in infrastructure and technology, thus helping to carry out more research, the results of which are expected to be returned back to citizens through various forms.

The Institute of Neurology & Genetics of Cyprus started its operation in 1990 in an area of 300 sq.m. in the Makarios Hospital of Nicosia with basic equipment and a staff numbering about 20 people, while in 1995 it moved to its own facilities consisting of an area of about 10,000 sq.m.

Because of the need to provide a high level of laboratory and clinical services, the Government funded the ING annually, in return for the provision of a high level of clinical and diagnostic services in public hospitals.

Since 1995, the Institute has been providing high-level services and the most competitive and innovative biomedical research aimed at the early detection and prevention of diseases. In addition, it provides postgraduate education closely linked to research and service activities.

(Source: CNA, InBusinessNews)