The government’s investment in the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics is ongoing; it is a conscious choice and will continue, said the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, who presided over the inauguration of the Institute’s new building on Thursday afternoon.

The building, he said, is a symbol of progress, optimism, self-confidence, and trust in the capabilities of the Cypriot scientific community, “of which we are proud.”

“It is an investment in the health of our citizens, in research that changes lives, and in the knowledge that shapes our future,” he said.

Today, President Christodoulides said, “we are inaugurating the Institute’s new building, a project that marks yet another particularly significant chapter in the history of scientific research, innovation, and the provision of specialized health services in our country.”

Today, he said, “is a milestone not only for the Institute, but for all of Cyprus.” He noted that this new building, covering an area of over 11,000 square meters and costing a total of 31 million euros, “represents one of the most significant and important investments made in recent years in the field of research and health in our country.” The project was implemented with co-financing from the Republic of Cyprus and the European Investment Bank, “demonstrating in practice the importance of synergy between the state and European institutions,” he said.

“The government’s investment in the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics is ongoing; it is a conscious choice and will certainly continue,” he added.

For decades now, he noted, “the Institute has been one of the most important scientific organizations in our country, a point of reference for the wider region, and we are all justifiably proud of it.”

He added that, through its commitment to excellence, the Institute has succeeded in combining research, diagnosis, clinical care, and education, while at the same time providing high-quality services. “And without a trace of exaggeration, the Institute of Neurology and Genetics makes us proud,” he said.

The Institute’s contribution to Cypriot society is also particularly significant, he said, noting that, among many other things, it treats approximately 6,500 patients each year and provides more than 80,000 clinical and laboratory services. President Christodoulides noted that these figures represent thousands of people and families who find hope, support, early diagnosis, and access to specialized health care.

He also noted that the building will further strengthen “this very important mission.” “Its modern infrastructure, state-of-the-art research laboratories, specialized units, as well as the new spaces for education and collaboration among the scientists who tirelessly staff it, create the conditions for an even higher level of service provided by the Institute, but at the same time, it also strengthens the government’s efforts to repatriate Cypriot talent that can be employed in such centers of excellence,” he added.  

This expansion will also enable the development of new research teams, attracting renowned scientists from Cyprus and abroad, and expanding activities in cutting-edge fields such as neuroscience, genetics and genomics, biomedical research, personalized medicine, and rare diseases, he added.

“At the same time, this new gem substantially strengthens our country’s healthcare ecosystem. It creates the necessary conditions for faster and more accurate diagnosis, for the development of new therapeutic approaches, and for the utilization of the most advanced technologies for the benefit of patients,” he added. Furthermore, it strengthens the link between research and clinical practice, so that results can be translated more quickly into tangible benefits for society, he noted.

He also noted that the expansion of the Institute creates new opportunities for attracting international research funding, participating in major European programs, developing new technologies, and fostering innovation. “This, therefore, is an investment that concerns not only the present but also the future of our country, strengthening Cyprus’s competitiveness in the field of knowledge and innovation,” said the President.

As a government, he said, “we recognize that a country’s progress is not measured solely by economic indicators, but also by the ability of the state—of the government—to invest in knowledge, science, and people.” The new building of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics is precisely such an investment, he said, “which strengthens public health, promotes scientific excellence, and creates new opportunities for future generations of researchers and healthcare professionals.”

Referring to his own presence and that of many—as he noted—members of the Cabinet at the inauguration ceremony, President Christodoulides stated that “for our government, health, education, and the welfare state are at the forefront of our priorities, as, indeed, defined by our ideological and political framework, Social Liberalism.”

By way of example, he noted that the 2026 state budget shows a 6.7% increase in spending on education, health, and social welfare, while spending on research and innovation has also increased.

He expressed his conviction that in next year’s budget, “we will continue in the same direction.”

In closing, he expressed his “immense satisfaction” that the project “was completed right on schedule,” congratulating the contractor, the architects, the engineers, and the project managers. “Exactly three years ago, we laid the cornerstone, and today we are officially handing it over to the scientific community, confident that new scientific discoveries will be made, innovative treatments will be developed, the scientists of tomorrow will be trained, and, of course, most importantly, even better, higher-quality services will be provided to our fellow citizens who need them,” said the President. 

“A Day of Pride,” “A Historic Milestone”

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics, Professor Michalis Komodromos, stated in his speech that today “is a day of pride,” not only for the Institute, but for science, research, and society. “Today we are inaugurating a new building. In reality, however, we are inaugurating new possibilities—for research, for patients, and for the next generations of scientists in our country,” he added.

He noted that the new building will house new research teams and state-of-the-art infrastructure, significantly strengthening the Institute’s scientific projects focused on neurological and genetic disorders, as well as rare diseases. “It will create a space where new ideas, new collaborations, and, we hope, new discoveries will emerge,” he said, among other things.

He also said that the Institute “has been blessed” to gain something far more important than awards and scientific achievements: the trust and love of the people. “And that is something we never take for granted. Because at the end of the day, research isn’t just about science—it’s about people,” he said, noting that behind every neurological condition and every rare disease there is a person, a family, a community—people waiting for answers, hope, and progress. “The trust they place in the Institute and its scientists is, for us, the greatest recognition and, at the same time, the greatest responsibility,” he added.

Mr. Komodromos also noted that, the greatest value of this building lies in the people who will work within it—young scientists who will find opportunities here to create, innovate, and contribute.

He also noted that many Cypriot scientists who are excelling abroad still hope to return to their homeland one day, and that such investments create the conditions for that hope to become a reality.

Dr. Leonidas Fylaktou, Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director of the Institute, said in his own speech that today “marks a historic milestone in the Institute’s journey.” “With the inauguration of our new building, we are launching the largest development project since the Institute’s founding and opening a new chapter in the history of an organization that, for 36 years, has consistentlyto health, research, education, and society,” he said.

The building, with a total area of 11,400 square meters, he said, was designed with an eye not only to today’s needs but, above all, to the challenges of tomorrow. He noted that it houses state-of-the-art research laboratories, technologically advanced infrastructure, and new spaces for research and education, “creating an environment that allows the Institute to further expand its scientific and academic footprint.” He said that the project would not have been possible without co-financing from the government and the European Investment Bank. The loan, which amounts to 31 million euros, covers not only the construction of the building but also funding for research and academic activities, as well as the purchase of modern scientific equipment, he said.

Mr. Fylaktou also noted that the new building is already home to new research teams in cutting-edge fields and creates the conditions for further development of the Institute’s applied research and international collaborations.

He noted that the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics is an organization that serves people through three interrelated pillars: the provision of specialized health services, research, and education. “For us, these three pillars do not operate independently. They feed into one another on a daily basis, creating a unique ecosystem of knowledge, where research is transformed into diagnosis, diagnosis into therapeutic possibilities, and knowledge is returned to society through education,” he added.

Referring to the Institute’s services, he said, among other things, that they support patients and families living with hereditary and genetic disorders, diagnose rare diseases, cancers, and infections; play a decisive role in prevention and early diagnosis through prenatal genetic testing and national screening programs for genetic disorders; participate in international clinical trials, and provide patients in Cyprus with access to new treatment options.

He noted that the Institute serves as a National Reference Center, and also highlighted the international recognition of its work, as well as its master’s and doctoral programs in Molecular Medicine, Medical Genetics, Neuroscience, and Biotechnology.

“Thirty-six years ago, some people dared to dream that Cyprus could have a world-class center. Today, that vision stands before us stronger than ever,” he said, noting that the new building is not the destination, but the springboard “for everything we aspire to achieve from here on out.” “Our most important work is not the buildings we construct, but the lives we change,” said Mr. Fylaktou.

During the event, the President of the Republic unveiled the commemorative plaque marking the building’s inauguration and was given a tour of the new building’s facilities.

The event was attended by, among others, members of the Cabinet and other government officials, members of Parliament, party representatives, members of the scientific community, and foreign ambassadors.