Dr. Christos Petrou is an Associate Professor and currently serves as the Head of the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Nicosia, Cyprus. A trained pharmacist, he holds a BSc in Pharmacy from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, an MSc in Pharmacochemistry, Natural Products, Design, Synthesis and Analysis of Bioactive Compounds, and a PhD (with Distinction) from the Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Greece.

Dr. Petrou brings over two decades of multidisciplinary experience in pharmaceutical sciences, public health policy, and regulatory affairs. From 2006 to 2013, he was the Head of the Pharmacovigilance Department at the Cyprus Ministry of Health, and from 2007 to 2014, he served as a Member of the Pharmacovigilance and Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), contributing significantly to regulatory strategy and patient safety in Cyprus.

In academia, he joined the University of Nicosia in 2011, as Link Tutor for the University of Hertfordshire’s MPharm Programme. He coordinated the Pharmacy Programme from 2013 to 2023 and was elected Head of the Department of Health Sciences in 2022. His leadership has played a pivotal role in shaping pharmacy education and strengthening healthcare training in Cyprus. Beyond his academic role, Dr. Petrou has held multiple national advisory appointments, including:

• Registrar of the Cyprus Pharmacy Board (2010–2013),

• Member of the Cyprus Anti-Doping Authority (2008–2014),

• Member of the National Bioethics Committee for Clinical Trials (2018–2024), and

• Member of the National Vaccination Advisory Board.

• Member of the Drug Reimbursement Advisory Committee (SEAF), Health Insurance Organisation, 2024-

• Member of the National Scientific Advisory Board for the COVID-19 pandemic 2021-2024, Cyprus Ministry of Health

His research interests span the design, isolation, and synthesis of peptides and bioactive compounds, with a particular focus on the endemic plant species of Cyprus and their therapeutic potential. His work bridges basic science, clinical application, and regulatory translation.

Dr. Petrou’s unique blend of scientific expertise, regulatory insight, and public health vision places him at the forefront of efforts to improve healthcare quality and safety, promote patient-centered care, and drive pharmaceutical innovation in both national and European contexts.