When Dr Yiota Gregoriou first stepped into a nanotechnology lab in Calgary in 2006, her PhD supervisor handed her the keys and simply said, “Have fun.” That moment, which was equal parts trust and challenge, marked the beginning of a scientific journey that would one day lead to the development of a novel nanocarrier platform — a Cypriot-led innovation in targeted drug delivery for cancer therapy.
Today, Dr Yiota Gregoriou is the architect of a patented nanocarrier platform capable of delivering drugs with surgical precision to some of the most aggressive forms of cancer, including Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, while sparing healthy tissue. Her work, validated at institutions like Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and rooted in research at the University of Cyprus, represents a rare fusion of local talent and international impact.
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This year, her contributions were recognized with the Innovation Award at the 2025 Madame Figaro Women of the Year Awards, sponsored by Bank of Cyprus, a distinction that celebrates not only scientific excellence but also the perseverance and passion required to sustain research in an ecosystem still building its support structures.
The award is more than personal validation; it’s a spotlight on the potential of Cypriot science to lead in global health innovation, if only given the right conditions to thrive.
In this interview with The Future Media, Dr Yiota Gregoriou speaks about the promising future of nanomedicine, the realities of being a woman in STEM in Cyprus, and the urgent need to bridge the gap between discovery and real-world patient impact.
What first drew you to the work in nanotechnology and specifically in nanosized drug delivery systems in cancer treatment?
I was first introduced to nanotechnology in Canada, at the University of Calgary in 2006. I was fascinated by how something so unimaginably small could have such a huge impact.
My PhD supervisor, a pioneer in the field, handed me the keys to the lab on my very first day and said, “Have fun.” That moment stayed with me. It was the first time I realised I was exactly where I was meant to be; at the place where curiosity, creativity, and science merge.
The word “nano,” which comes from the Greek word for dwarf, describes a scale that’s almost impossible to imagine. A nanometer is a million times smaller than a millimeter. Imagine shrinking yourself down 100,000 times; you would be about the size of a red blood cell. And if that red blood cell were as big as a football field, a nanometer would be a tiny marble lying in the grass. At that scale, materials behave in completely new ways. Their colour, reactivity, and how they interact with the human body all change, opening incredible possibilities for medicine.
The physicist Richard Feynman imagined this back in 1959 in his famous talk, “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom.” He dreamed of scientists working and building at the atomic level. And now we are actually doing it. Working at the nanoscale lets us design tiny “vehicles.” I like to picture these vehicles as bumper cars of different sizes and colors, upgraded with a GPS-like precision that allows them to navigate through the body, find cancer cells, and deliver their therapeutic cargo exactly where it is needed. In cancer therapy, we take advantage of what’s known as the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect. This is viewed as an architectural flaw in tumors that lets nanocarriers slip through leaky blood vessels and gather precisely where they’re needed. What drew me in was the potential to turn nanoscale precision into a new generation of intelligent cancer therapies. Traditional chemotherapy is powerful but not selective. With nanosized drug delivery systems, we can make treatments that are smarter, more targeted, and ultimately kinder to the patient.
When did you realise your research could improve how existing cancer drugs are delivered?
The real turning point came with the development of the patented nanocarrier platform at the University of Cyprus. The technology was designed to deliver cancer drugs with extraordinary precision, capable of entering aggressive tumor cells, such as those in triple-negative breast cancer, while leaving healthy cells untouched. This is particularly important because the subtype lacks the receptors that most conventional treatments rely on, making it one of the most challenging types to target effectively. What struck me most was that the specific combination of components in this nanovehicle demonstrated selective activity against triple-negative breast cancer. Watching that level of precision unfold in the lab was an unforgettable moment that marked a real step forward and ultimately led to the patent.
Soon after, I was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to continue this research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Together with world-class experts, we were able to verify the nanovehicle’s specificity in mouse models, confirming its selective activity against tumor cells.
Seeing those results reproduced in such a renowned research environment was both validating and deeply motivating, proof that an idea born in Cyprus could carry genuine therapeutic potential.
You spent a significant time abroad, both studying and in the lab. What support and infrastructure for research have you found in Cyprus, and where do you still see gaps?
Cyprus has made remarkable progress in research and innovation over the past decade. The establishment of research centers of excellence, competitive national funding schemes, and new initiatives that promote the commercialisation of academic research are starting to create real opportunities for scientists to translate ideas into impact. At the University of Cyprus and the biobank.cy Center of Excellence, there is now access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and strong international collaborations that enable cutting-edge research to take place locally.
While significant progress has been made, the wider research ecosystem in Cyprus is still evolving, particularly in how it supports long-term scientific careers. One of the biggest challenges remains the lack of long-term, stable positions for researchers. Most work on short-term contracts, which makes it difficult to plan projects or careers with continuity. Because of this, researchers are also expected to spend a considerable amount of their time writing competitive grants to secure funding, often at the expense of conducting research itself.
When the funding that supported the development of my patented nanocarrier came to an end, I chose to continue the work without financial support to ensure the project’s progress. To be honest, I couldn’t really afford to do that, but with the support of my family, and out of sheer determination and a genuine love for science, I knew I had to keep going. Not everyone is in a position to make that choice, and it’s a reality that often slows down progress and discourages talented scientists from staying in research.
Cyprus is home to exceptionally talented and creative researchers. With stronger long-term support and stable career opportunities, this community has everything it needs to drive innovation and position the country as a true leader in science and technology.
What are you working on in the lab right now?
At the biobank.cy Center of Excellence, we are developing a drug delivery vehicle to target a rare kidney disease, as part of a broader portfolio of research that includes precision medicine. Our goal is to apply the principles of nanotechnology to create smarter, more selective therapies that adapt to each patient’s biology. It is inspiring to see different disciplines converge around a shared vision, using innovation to bring the future of personalised treatment closer to reality.
What does a typical day look like for you as a researcher?
A typical day? Probably not what you imagine. I wake up far too early, get everyone and everything ready, and my restless mind kicks in long before the coffee does. My mom calls me “Polymíchanos Odysseas.” (Odysseas of Many Wiles, i.e. someone who is skilled at devising strategies to overcome challenges). She might be onto something. The rest of the day is usually a blur of science and family life. Some days it all flows effortlessly and comes together; others, it’s just controlled chaos.
What needs to happen next for your work to move into a first-in-human study, and what timeline are you working toward?
Oh, first-in-human studies? I wish it were that simple. There’s still a lot of validation ahead, extensive testing in animal models to further confirm both efficacy and safety, before clinical translation can be considered. To move forward, we’ll need the right partnerships and resources: investors who believe in the technology, and ideally, collaboration with pharmaceutical companies that can help license and scale it responsibly. It’s a long process, but one that builds momentum with every milestone.
What has your experience been as a woman researcher in Cyprus, and what would you change for the next generation?
My experience has been a mix of good and bad. I’ve had the privilege of working with brilliant colleagues who value collaboration and merit. I’ve also faced moments of bias, and more often, situations where others have tried to overshadow rather than support. Still, merit has a way of speaking for itself. I’m not always sure it stems from gender itself, but often from a place of insecurity or fear of being outshone. For the next generation, I would like to see an environment where talent speaks louder than gender, where collaboration replaces competition, and where women can lead and be recognised. I do believe we’re getting there.
Why is it important to recognise women leaders and thinkers on the island, and what did the Madame Figaro award mean for you and your field?
Recognition matters because visibility changes perception. When women in science and innovation are acknowledged publicly, it reinforces that leadership and creativity have no gender.
Cyprus is full of talented women quietly driving progress, and initiatives like the Madame Figaro awards help bring their work to light and inspire others to follow.
For me, receiving the award was both an honor and motivation to keep pushing boundaries, and I hope it inspires young women (and men, of course) to pursue their own paths in science and technology with confidence and curiosity.
Looking ahead, what would you like to build in Cyprus so that more discoveries move from the lab to patients
I would like to see Cyprus strengthen the bridge between academic discovery and real-world application. We have the science, the ideas, and the talent, but the ecosystem that helps research evolve into innovation is still maturing. Startups in biotechnology remain limited, and many promising discoveries never reach the stage of clinical or commercial validation due to gaps in early-stage investment, industry partnerships, and long-term support.
Recent initiatives supporting academic entrepreneurship have started to change that landscape, giving researchers the first real tools to translate their work beyond the lab. It’s a good start, but not enough. What’s needed now is continuity and a coordinated framework that connects academia, investors, and industry to ensure that innovation doesn’t stop when the grant ends.
If we can build an environment where scientific ideas can mature into sustainable ventures, Cyprus could position itself as a regional hub for health innovation.
