Prof. Electra Gizeli, Professor of Biology at the University of Crete and Deputy Director at IMBB, has been awarded the prestigious Fulbright Visiting Scholars Award 2025–2026 to conduct research at Harvard Medical School on next-generation diagnostic technologies.
Advancing Point-of-Care Diagnostics at Harvard Medical School
Dr. Electra Gizeli, Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Crete and Deputy Director at IMBB, has been awarded the highly esteemed Fulbright Visiting Scholars Award 2025–2026. As part of this program, she will spend four months at Harvard Medical School, working in Professor Michael Springer’s laboratory in the Department of Systems Biology.
Her research will focus on establishing a pipeline for the rapid and efficient production of diagnostic tools suitable for point-of-care use. The project includes improving sample collection and transport methods, developing isothermal molecular assays based on available genome sequences, and optimizing assays for laboratory and clinical validation.
Collaboration with the Wyss Institute
During her Fulbright tenure, Prof. Gizeli will also join the Diagnostic Accelerator at the Wyss Institute, where she will explore translational research opportunities related to pandemic preparedness and the development of cost-effective, high-throughput diagnostic platforms.
This collaboration is expected to strengthen research and innovation links between the University of Crete / IMBB and Harvard Medical School.
A Distinguished Career in Biosensors and Biomedical Innovation
Prof. Gizeli’s research integrates biosensors, molecular diagnostics, nanobiotechnology, and biomedical engineering. She has authored over 100 scientific publications, holds seven patents, and co-founded two FORTH spin-off companies developing advanced diagnostic technologies.
She has successfully coordinated 33 multidisciplinary research projects, securing around €32 million in competitive funding (€10 million for her group), including two HFSP grants. Over her career, she has supervised and trained 25 postdoctoral fellows, 15 PhD candidates, and more than 70 MSc and undergraduate students.
Commitment to Mentorship and Scientific Excellence
Prof. Gizeli is also the founder and head of the IMBB Mentoring Scheme, supporting early-career researchers in developing their careers and leadership skills. Beyond the lab, she is actively involved in public science outreach, promoting scientific literacy and engagement.
Her contributions have been recognized internationally: she is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC, 2016), a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO, 2023), and a member of the Academia Europaea (2024).