Foteini Papaleonidopoulou

Foteini, raised at the SOS Children’s Villages in Athens, developed a passion for the natural world since a young age. Her aspiration was to grow into a scientist and work towards scientific discoveries that will have great impact in society. Today, she holds hands-on research experience from renownedbinstitutions, with her studies fully supported by merit scholarships from esteemed Greek and international foundations. Foteini proudly serves as the ambassador for the Elena Iliopoulou Giama Cancer Research & Scholarship Foundation. She is also the inaugural recipient of a scholarship that will propel her towards achieving her professional and educational aspirations.

“I am excited to embark on the Biomedical and Medical Sciences MPhil/PhD program at The Francis Crick Institute in London, UK in October 2020. After a rigorous screening process, I secured a PhD position in Professor Caroline Hill’s laboratory to investigate genes that are crucial for cell function, often dysregulated in cancer. This project, aligning perfectly with my research interests, marks a significant step in my academic journey.

Since my undergraduate studies in General Biology at the University of Patras in Greece, I’ve been captivated by molecular biology, particularly gene function, regulation, and development. With hands-on research experience at esteemed institutions such as Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York, Cambridge University, and Imperial College London, I’m driven to continue my academic career in biomedical sciences and try to answer questions that hold immense value for both science and society. In the coming years, I intend to delve into the core of molecular mechanisms, especially in early development of an organism, to gain a profound understanding of the impact that genetic anomalies have in developmental diseases, such as cancer.

The Francis Crick Institute, led by Nobel laureate Sir Paul Nurse, stands as a global leader in biomedical research. It offers excellent facilities, technology, and expertise, providing scientists with unparalleled support to accelerate their research and reach their goals more efficiently. Being offered a PhD position at the Crick was a unique opportunity for me.

I’m deeply grateful for the support from the Elena Iliopoulou-Giama Cancer Research and Scholarship Foundation in pursuing my professional and educational aspirations. It’s a special privilege for me to represent the EIG Foundation as its first scholar and I hope more young people will have the opportunity to pursue their academic career in scientific research.