Top-quality research with national and international collaborations
The GMI’s mission is to provide expert patient-oriented healthcare, first-class education, along with ground-breaking research. This research is integral in our efforts to fight against medical diseases in Cyprus, in Europe and across the world. Many dedicated scientists and physicians work tirelessly as part of our team to make this mission a reality. For us, compassion drives innovation. This innovation comes from our ability to understand each of our patient’s needs, both those voiced and those unspoken. These needs guide our way forward, driving our team to take on challenging medical issues and to come up with original solutions.
The GMI is both a hospital and research center, creating the space where doctors and researchers come together. As a result, the time between scientific discoveries and the development of new treatment methods, which directly benefit our patients lives, is cut to a minimum. Our medical staff, who deeply understand our patients’ needs, work closely with our scientists, who in turn transform these needs into patient-centric research projects. The unique culture fostered at the GMI, which focuses on collaboration and teamwork, empowers our multidisciplinary research approach.
Our researchers also work on projects in collaboration with several renowned research institutions in Cyprus, Europe, and the USA. Research performed at the GMI is internationally acclaimed, and mostly funded through grants from the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation and from the European Union.
The GMI brings translational and clinical research together in a single location
Translational Research
Translational research brings new innovative ideas and treatments from the laboratory to the clinic (bench to bedside), while bringing clinical observations from the clinic to the laboratory (bedside to bench). This process speeds up the evolution of a project and ensures each project directly addresses patients’ real needs. Translational research at the German Medical Institute (GMI) is structured around multidisciplinary research teams, which include physicians, biologists, physicists, and computer engineers.
Research mainly focuses on molecular and technical research. The molecular research teams are searching for new biomarkers in blood and tissue probes, which in turn enable personalized and individualized treatment approaches. The technical research teams are working on new artificial intelligence tools for image processing, new imaging modalities and techniques as well as on high-precision approaches to radiotherapy. Each of our projects aims to be completed as thoroughly and promptly as possible, so our patients can be offered the newest and most innovative treatments.
List of our collaborators in Translational Research
Cyprus
- Biobank of the Cyprus University:
- GMI will act as a satellite facility of the Biobank contributing to the sample collection that will be available for research purposes
- Partners in various research projects
- Link: https://biobank.cy/
- Dr. Sylianopoullos Triantafyllos, associate professor at the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering of the University of Cyprus.
- Projects related to the exploration of mechanopathology of cancer
- Partners in a project aiming to investigate biomarkers of breast tumors for the early prediction of patients’ response to treatment
- Link: www.ucy.ac.cy
- Dr. Damianou Christakis, professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Informatics of the Cyprus University of Technology.
- Various projects related to the therapeutic application of focused ultrasound
- Partners in SoundPet research program which is funded from Cyprus Research & Innovation Foundation. SoundPet aim is to develop an MRI-guided focused ultrasound system for cancer
- Link: www.cut.ac.cy
Europe
- Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group (HECOG)
- Partners in various research projects in the field of medical oncology
- https://www.hecog.gr
- Technical University of Munich
- Partners in projects on radiomics models for risk prediction in prostate cancer patients
- https://www.tum.de/en/
- University of Freiburg
- Partners in various research projects on proteomics and radiomics for cancer patients
- https://uni-freiburg.de/en/
- IEO Milano
- Partners in projects on risk prediction modelling for cancer patients
- https://www.ieo.it/en/
- Technical University of Vienna
- Partners in projects on artificial intelligence for image processing in prostate cancer patients
- https://www.csh.ac.at
USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
- Partners in projects on genomic biomarkers and artificial intelligence for image processing in prostate cancer patients
- www.massgeneral.org
Clinical Research
Our clinical research efforts pioneer personalized treatment, diagnosis, and patient care. To achieve this, the GMI Clinical Trials Unit hosts a dedicated team of physicians and nurses, who aim to bring the latest and most innovative medications and technical devices to patients. The team focuses on two research areas: conducting early and late phase clinical trials, and patient empowerment. The researchers aim to offer fully personalized medical treatment to each patient. This personalization is not only adapted to the different disease profiles, but also to the individual patient and the way their disease is progressing. Research projects focus on both the diagnostic and treatment stage and are also interested in the ethical and psychological issues which influence all patients.
List of our collaborators in Clinical Research
Cyprus
- Europa Donna Cyprus
- Partners in research activities related to palliative/supportive care and sexuality issues
- Link: europadonna.com.cy
- Europa Uomo Cyprus
- Partners in research activities related to prostate cancer
- Link: europauomocyprus.com.cy
Europe
- Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group (HECOG)
- Partners in various clinical trials in the field of medical oncology
- Link: www.hecog.gr
- University of Freiburg
- Partners in various prospective and retrospective clinical studies on prostate cancer and head and neck cancers
- Link: uni-freiburg.de
- Roche
- Partners in various clinical trials in the field of medical oncology
- Link : www.roche.com
- Siemens Healthineers
- Partners in patients’ empowerment research
- Link : www.siemens-healthineers.com
- LMU Munich
- Partners in various prospective and retrospective clinical studies on prostate cancer
- Link: www.lmu.de
Ongoing clinical trials
Why should you take part in a clinical trial at the German Medical Institute?
At the GMI, the needs of each of our patients comes first. This compassion drives our passion for innovation which can help our patients live longer, healthier lives. Through controlled research studies, known as prospective clinical trials, you have access to advanced therapies, diagnostic procedures, and treatments which can help you, and future generations, in ways standardized treatment methods cannot. We value what our patients truly need, so we discuss all studies with local and international patient representative organizations before starting a clinical trial at our center.
The German Medical Institute offers:
- Convenient access to today’s most promising clinical trials
- New alternative treatments and experimental drugs that are not widely available
- Opportunities to play an active role in your own healthcare and to participate in research which can provide hope and treatment to others
- The chance to take part in patient empowerment studies which are conducted in cooperation with patient representative groups and international leaders in this field
What patients should know about Clinical Trials
Through clinical trials, researchers gain a deeper understanding of how to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases and medical conditions. These research studies test and compare experimental medications and techniques to learn everything necessary before offering these new beneficial medical procedures or medications to patients. In fact, most medications and devices which are used today began in clinical trials that tested their safety and effectiveness.
Clinical trials, and the patients who volunteer to take part in them, help shape the future of medicine. Yet applying to participate in a clinical trial is a personal decision—and one that you should consider carefully. As you weigh your decision, consider these key questions:
- What is the purpose of the specific research study?
- Who will be in charge of my care?
- What will happen to me during the study?
- Will the research benefit me personally?
- How might this study affect my daily life?
- Will there be any known side effects?
- How will I know if the experimental treatment is working?
- Are there other options?
- Can I leave the research study at any point?
- Will I be provided with the results of the study?
- How is my safety ensured and protected?
- Will it cost me anything?
- Will this be covered by my insurance?
A dedicated board, made up of GMI researchers, carefully reviews all potential clinical trials. Before making a trial available to patients, each trial is discussed and approved by patient representative organizations, the local ethics committee, and local legal authorities. However, it is important that you understand the potential benefits and risks of taking part in any research study, which include:
Benefits
- Helping test investigational medications and treatments that may develop into a better treatment option for people around the world
- Playing an active role in your own healthcare
- Gaining access to new research treatments before they are available to the public
Risks
- Possible unpleasant, serious, or life-threatening side effects related to the specific experimental treatment
- Treatments, diagnostic approaches, or therapies may not be effective
- Protocols may require more time and attention than standard care, including trips to the study site, additional treatments, hospital stays or complex dosage requirements
List of Ongoing Clinical Trials
Below you can find our ongoing clinical trials linked to the diseases they are targeting.
- A multinational, non-interventional, prospective study of Nivolumab (BMS-936558) in patients with locally advanced or metastatic (STAGE IIIB-IV) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with squamous and non-squamous histology after prior chemotherapy treated in real world settings in Greece and Cyprus. (funded by Bristol Myers)
- Image-guided focal dose escalation in patients with primary prostate cancer treated with primary external beam hypofractionated stereotactic radiation therapy (HypoFocal-SBRT) – a prospective, multicenter, randomized phase III study (funded by the German Federal Ministry Education and Research)
- In the Agora3.0 project a multidisciplinary team of researchers from Cyprus and abroad is testing novel artificial intelligence-based health tools to improve the outcomes and the quality of life for patients suffering from various diseases (e.g. prostate cancer, breast cancer and rectal cancer). This project is funded by the Cypriot Research and Innovation Foundation. Please see the homepage (https://www.agora3.com.cy/) for more information.
- The prospective, single-arm phase II HypoCombi trial examines the application of high-precision radiotherapy in terms of brachytherapy in combination with the most modern medical imaging techniques in terms of PSMA-PET and MRI in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer (internal founding).
- MEDISKIN project, a partnership with RSL Revolutionary laboratories and Cyprus University of Technology aiming in the optimisation of the quality of life for patients with breast cancer and head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy. In this placebo-controlled study, we examine if the application of a novel medical-grade skin care product helps to prevent radiation-induced skin injuries (funded by the Cypriot Research and Innovation Foundation)
- Development of novel medical-grade skincare products for oncology patients.
- Funded by the Cyprus Research & Innovation Foundation
Research Projects
The GMI research teams have been recognised internationally for their expertise in a large number of projects.
The GMI, with its partners, is associated with the most ambitious scientific projects in Europe, and internationally. The GMI team tackles cutting edge research fields including the implementation of artificial intelligence tools for medical imaging processing, and the search for novel biomarkers which will help make treatment individualised.
Through clinical trials, researchers gain a deeper understanding of how to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases and medical conditions. These research studies test and compare experimental medications and techniques to learn everything necessary before offering these new beneficial medical procedures or medications to patients. In fact, most medications and devices which are used today began in clinical trials that tested their safety and effectiveness.
Agora 3.0
The Agora 3.0 innovation grant creates an annual opportunity for excellent health technology research proposals to use the Agora 3.0 infrastructure and services for free. Our team initiates its innovation grant for excellent early career stage researchers and scientists.
- BIOS (Digital Skills on Computational Biology for Health Professionals – Erasmus+) https://www.bios-project.eu/
- SpectThyroid (Optimizing the diagnostic value of postsurgical I-123 SPECT thyroid imaging and applying patient-specific dosimetry for radioiodine ablation of thyroid remnants – Cyprus Research & Innovation Foundation)
- SARCOSONIC (Pre-Clinical And Veterinary Research Using MRgFUS For The Treatment Of Soft-Tissue Sarcoma – H2020 programme, Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions)
- eCAN (Joint Action on strengthening e-health including telemedicine and remote monitoring for health care systems for cancer prevention and care – EU4HELATH)
Kristis Vevis
Research Project Manager
Contact details
- (+357) 25 208 000
- [email protected]
- 1, Nikis Avenue 4108, Agios Athanasios, Cyprus
- Mon - Fri | 08:00 - 16:30
