Ourania Kolokotroni
Dr Kolokotroni is an Assistant Professor in Pathophysiology at the Cyprus University of Technology since September 2021. She is a Medical Doctor (BMBS, University of Nottingham, 1999), specialized in the area of Paediatrics and a member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, United Kingdom (2004). She got a PhD from the Cyprus University of Technology (2015) where she investigated the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in adolescent sin Cyprus and the association of vitamin D with asthma and allergies prevalence.
She was the Research Coordinator of the Paediatric Respiratory Research Unit at the Cyprus International Institute for the Environment and Public Health at the Cyprus University of Technology for 7 years (2006-2012) and was involved in the organization and conduction of large population studies, funded through competitive grant applications. These studies focused on the investigation of the distribution and determinants of childhood asthma and other chronic disease such as obesity. In addition, her PhD was on the prevalence of Hypovitaminosis D, its determinants and association with chronic illnesses such as asthma.
In 2011, she got an academic position at the University of Nicosia Medical School where she contributed to the development of new medical school. Amongst other, she led the development and coordinated the Master in Family Medicine Programme as well as the development of the professional exams for Membership with the Royal College of General Practitioners United Kingdom (MRCGP INT). She was the Chair of the Department of Primary Care and Population Health at UNic Medical School (2017-2021) and was involved in establishing a diverse range of activities in the areas of Education, Research and Health Care Delivery.
Her current research interests are in the area of early life determinants of health and more specifically she is interested in the role of nutrition during pregnancy and early life in the development of obesity and other chronic diseases. She led the EARLY START in LIFE project (2020-21, funded by the University of Nicosia Medical School seed grants) that investigated the knowledge, skills and educational training needs of parents in the area of nutrition during pregnancy and early life with the aim to develop an intervention to reduce adverse exposures in early life that might impact the development of obesity in childhood. Dr Kolokotroni also participated in a number of applied research projects aiming to improve health promotion services provided by local NGOs. She was the Researcher Liaison between the Cyprus Breastfeeding Organization and the research team of the Cyprus University of Technology for the BrEaST Start in Life Project (ΕΕΑ NGO Grants, 2014-2015) that investigated breastfeeding rates and determinants of breastfeeding in Cyprus. She also participated in the Erasmus project Baby Buddy Forward (2018-2021, KA204 - Strategic Partnerships for Adult Education) which used the participatory action research approach to transfer and contextualize a health digital app developed for parents in the UK to the Cyprus setting. She is also interested in the development of innovative educational tools for tertiary healthcare education and is currently involved in an Erasmus project (2019-2022, KA203 - Strategic Partnerships for higher education) that aims to develop a curriculum for enhancing empathy skills in healthcare professionals with the use of Virtual Reality technology.
Her community work involves promoting healthy pregnancies and natural labour and supporting Breastfeeding through her actions with local NGOs such as Birth Forward (Chair of Scientific Advisory Board) and the Cyprus Breastfeeding Association (Founding Member and President of the Board). She is also an Interim board member of the Cyprus Epidemiology and Public Health Association.
Academic Education
Bachelor in Medical Sciences, (Class 2, Division 1), University of Nottingham, UK
(1994-1997)
Bachelor in Medicine, Bachelor in Surgery, University of Nottingham, UK (1994-1999)
PhD in Epidemiology of Childhood Asthma
Department of Nursing, Cyprus University of Technology, June 2015
Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Education
St George’s Hospital Medical School, University of London, November 2020
Clinical Education
Paediatric Specialty - Member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH) - London, February 2004
International Lactation Consultants Certification (IBCLC): Certified Lactation Consultant by the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultant, July 2011
Nursing Department, Cyprus University of Technology (September 2021 – present)
Pathophysiology I and II
University of Nicosia Medical School (2011-2021)
Epidemiology, and Public Health - MBBS4 St George’s University of London at the University of Nicosia Medical School (2011- 2021)
Communication and Clinical Skills - MBBS4 St George’s University of London, MSc in Family Medicine
Paediatrics - MBBS4 St George’s University of London, MSc in Family Medicine
Basic and Clinical Sciences - MBBS4 St George’s University of London
Research project Lead and Research Writing skills– MSc in Family Medicine
Assessment Activities (e.g. OSCEs, SBA writing, research project assessments)- MBBS4, MSc in FM, MD6 Programme
Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health (2007-2012)
Medical Physiology Course - MSc in Environmental Health
Early life determinants of health, specifically early life exposures that increase risk for the development of chronic diseases like obesity in children.
Applied research in the area of assessing the impact and developing interventions for health promotion in pregnant women and young children such as breastfeeding promotion, digital interventions for health promotion in children and family centered interventions for premature babies.
Vaccine hesitancy.
Health care education.
Founding Member and President of the Cyprus Breastfeeding Association (present)
Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board, Birth Forward (present)
Member of the Interim Board of the Cyprus Epidemiology and Public Health Association (present)
Chair of the Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University of Nicosia Medical School (2017-2021)
Coordinator MSc Family Medicine Programme , University of Nicosia Medical School (2015- 2021)
Coordinator MRCGP INT programme, University of Nicosia Medical School (2015- 2021)
Ugarte M.P, Achilleos S, Quattrocchi A, Gabel J, Kolokotroni O, Constantinou C, Nicolaou N, Rodriguez-Llanes J.M, Huang Q, Verstiuk O, Pidmurniak N, Tao J.W.Premature mortality attributable to COVID-19: potential years of life lost in 17 countries around the world, January–August 2020. BMC Public Health, 2022 Dec 22; 54
Middleton N,Tsioutis C, Kolokotroni O, Heraclides A, Theodosis-Nobelos P, Mamais I, Pantelidou M, Tsaltas D, Christaki E, Nikolopoulos G, Dietis N. Gaps in Knowledge About SARS-CoV-2 & COVID-19 Among University Students Are Associated With Negative Attitudes Toward People With COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study in Cyprus. Frontiers in Public Health 2021 Nov 9; 758030
Liu T.F.D, Philippou E, Kolokotroni O, Siakallis G, Rahima K, Constantinou C. Gut and airway microbiota and their role in COVID-19 infection and pathogenesis: a scoping review. Infection 2021 Oct; 1-33
Achilleos S, Quattrocchi A, Gabel J, Heraclides A, Kolokotroni O, Constantinou C, et al. Excess all-cause mortality and COVID-19-related mortality: a temporal analysis in 22 countries, from January until August 2020. Int J Epidemiol. 2021 Jul 20;
Economou M, Kolokotroni O, Paphiti-Demetriou I, Kouta C, Lambrinou E, Hadjigeorgiou E, Hadjiona V, Middleton N The association of breastfeeding self-efficacy with breastfeeding duration and exclusivity: longitudinal assessment of the predictive validity of the Greek version of the BSES-SF tool. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021 Jun 9;21(1):421.
Kolokotroni, O, Mosquera M.C., Quattrocchi A, Heraclides A, Demetriou C, Philippou E. Lifestyle habits of adults during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Cyprus: evidence from a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 2021 Apr 23, 21(1), 786
Quattrocchi A, Mamais I, Tsioutis C, Christaki E, Constantinou C, Koliou M, Pana ZD, Silvestros V, Theophanous F, Haralambous C, Stylianou A, Sotiriou S, Athanasiadou M, Kyprianou T, Demetriou A, Demetriou CA, Kolokotroni O, Gregoriou I, Paphitou N, Panos G, Kostrikis L, Karayiannis P, Petrikkos G, Agathangelou P, Mixides G, Siakallis G, Hadjihannas L, Palazis L, Vavlitou A, Matsentidou-Timiliotou C, Koukios D, Adamidi T, Frangopoulos F, Constantinou E, Nikolopoulos. Extensive Testing and Public Health Interventions for the Control of COVID-19 in the Republic of Cyprus between March and May 2020. G.J Clin Med. 2020 Nov 8;9(11):3598. doi: 10.3390/jcm9113598.
Constantinou C, Kolokotroni O, Mosquera MC, Heraclides A, Demetriou C, Karayiannis P, Quattrocchi A, Charalambous A. Developing a holistic contingency plan: Challenges and dilemmas for cancer patients during the COVID-19. Cancer Med. 2020 Sep;9(17):6082-6092. doi: 10.1002/cam4.3271. Epub 2020 Jul 20.
Constantinou C, Charalambous C, Kanakis D, Kolokotroni O, Constantinou AI. Update on the Anti-Cancer Potency of Tocotrienols and α-Tocopheryl Polyethylene Glycol 1000 Succinate on Leukemic Cell Lines. Nutr Cancer. 2020 Jul 22:1-7. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2020.1797128. Online ahead of print
Constantinou C, Kolokotroni O. Vitamin D: A Multi-Faceted Role for the Prevention, Management, Survivorship and Palliative Care of Breast Cancer. World Journal of Breast Cancer Research, 2019; In press
Hopayian K, Papageorgiou A, Hadjipapas A, Charalambous A, Kolokotroni O. Teaching Family Medicine Online: the experience in Cyprus. Br J Gen Pract 2019; 69: 244
Middleton N, Andreou P, Karanikola M, Kouta C, Kolokotroni O, Papastavrou E. Investigation into the metric properties of the workplace social capital questionnaire and its association with self-rated health and psychological distress amongst Greek Cypriot nurses: a cross-sectional descriptive study. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):1061
Economou M, Kolokotroni O, Paphiti-Demetriou I, Kouta C, Lambrinou E, Hadjigeorgiou E, Hadjiona V, Tryfonos F, Philippou E, Middleton N. Prevalence of Breastfeeding and Exclusive breasfeeding at 48 h after birth and up to the sixth month in Cyprus: the BrEaST start in life project. Public Health Nutrition 2018; 21 (5): 967-980
Yiallouros PK, Kouis P, Kolokotroni O, Youhanna S, Savva SC, Dima K, Zerva A, Platt D, Middleton N, Zalloua P. Shared genetic variants between serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and wheezing in a cohort of children from Cyprus. Ital J Pediatr. 2016; 13:67.
Hadjiona V, Middleton N, Kouta C, Lambrinou E, Kolokotroni O. Cyprus mothers’ breastfeeding self-efficacy and their perceptions about the implementation of the ‘ten steps’ in the first 48 hours after birth. Midwifery 2016; 36:43-52
Papadopoulou A, Kouis P, Middleton N, Kolokotroni O, Karpathios T, Nicolaidou P, Yiallouros PK. Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and vitamin D levels with asthma and atopy in Cypriot adolescents: a case-control study. Multidiscip Respir Med, 2015;10 (1):26.
Kolokotroni O, Middleton N, Kouta C, Raftopoulos V, Yiallouros PK. Association of serum vitamin D with asthma and atopy in childhood: review of epidemiological observational studies. Mini Rev Med Chem, 2015; 15(11):881-99.
Kolokotroni O, Papadopoulou A, Middleton N, Kouta C, Raftopoulos V, Nicolaidou P, Yiallouros PK. Vitamin D levels and status amongst asthmatic and non-asthmatic adolescents in Cyprus: a comparative cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 2015; 15:48.
Kolokotroni O, Papadopoulou A, Yiallouros PK, Raftopoulos V, Kouta C, Lamnisos D, Nicolaidou P, Middleton N. Association of Vitamin D with adiposity measures and other determinants in a cross-sectional study of Cypriot adolescents. Public Health Nutrition 2014; 17:1-10.
Yiallouros PK, Savva SC, Kolokotroni O, Dima K, Zerva A, Kouis P, Bousquet J, Middleton N. Asthma: the role of low high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol in childhood and adolescence. Int Arch Allergy Immunol, 2014; 165(2):91-9.
Yiallouros PK, Economou M, Kolokotroni O, Savvas SC, Gavatha M, Ioannou P, Karpathios T, Middleton N. Gender differences in objectively assessed physical activity in asthmatic and non-asthmatic children. Pediatric Pulmonology, 2014; 50(4):317-26.
Middleton N, Kolokotroni O, Lamnisos L, Koutrakis P, Yiallouros PK. Prevalence of asthma and respiratory symptoms among 15-17 year-old students by proximity of their community of residence to power plants, Cyprus, 2006-07. Public Health 2014; 128(3):288-96.
Savva SC, Tornaritis MJ, Kolokotroni O, Chadjigeorgiou C, Kourides Y, Karpathios T, Yiallouros PK. High cardiorespiratory fitness is inversely associated with incidence of overweight in adolescence: A longitudinal study. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2013; 24(6):982-9.
Lamnisos D, Moustaki M, Kolokotroni O, Koksoy H, Faiz M, Arifoglu K, Milton DK, Middleton N, Yiallouros PK. Prevalence of asthma and allergies in children from the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities in Cyprus: a bi-communal cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 2013; 13(1):585.
Yiallouros PK, Lamnisos D, Kolokotroni O, Moustaki M, Middleton N. Associations of body fat percent and body mass index with childhood asthma by age and gender. Obesity (Silver Spring), 2013: 21(9):E474-82.
Kolokotroni O, Middleton N, Gavatha M, Lamnisos D, Priftis KN, Yiallouros PK. Asthma and atopy in children born by caesarean section: effect modification by family history of allergies - a population based cross-sectional study. BMC Pediatrics, 2012; 12:179.
Yiallouros PK, Savvas S, Kolokotroni O, Behbod B, Zeniou M, Economou M, Hadjigeorgiou C, Kourides Y, Tornaritis M, Lamnisos D, Middleton N, Milton DK. Low High density Lipoprotein cholesterol is associated with adolescent asthma. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 2012; 42 (3): 423.
Kolokotroni O, Middleton N, Nicolaou N, Pipis S, Priftis KN, Milton DK, Yiallouros PK. Temporal changes in the prevalence of childhood asthma and allergies in urban and rural areas of Cyprus: results from two cross sectional studies. BMC Public Health, 2011; 11:858.
Middleton N, Yiallouros P, Kleanthous S, Kolokotroni O, Schwartz J, Dockery DW, Demokritou P, Koutrakis P. A 10-year time-series analysis of respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity in Nicosia, Cyprus: the effect of short-term changes in air pollution and dust storms. Environ Health, 2008; 7:39.
Christophi CA, Kolokotroni O, Alpert HR, Warren CW, Jones NR, Demokritou P, Connolly GN. Prevalence and social environment of cigarette smoking in Cyprus youth. BMC Public Health, 2008; 8:190.
