Loizos G. Loizou

Prof. Loizos G. Loizou is a pioneering pediatric oncologist-hematologist and the founder of pediatric oncology services in Cyprus. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he served as Director of the Pediatric Oncology-Hematology Clinic at Archbishop Makarios III Hospital in Nicosia — the first and only tertiary care center for childhood cancer in Cyprus — from 1989 to 2021. In 1991 he founded the ELPIDA Foundation for Children and Adolescents with Cancer, which he continues to lead as President. He established and continues to develop the National Population-Based Childhood and Adolescent Cancer Registry of Cyprus (PORCY), the first of its kind in the country, which has generated landmark epidemiological data on childhood cancer incidence and trends. An active academic, advocate, and international ambassador, Prof. Loizou holds a Doctor of Science (honoris causa), is a PhD candidate at Newcastle University, and serves as a Professor at the University of Nicosia Medical School. He is a Knight of the French National Order of Merit and a SIOP Europe Ambassador for Children with Cancer.

Current Positions

• Professor, Medical School, University of Nicosia, Cyprus, April 2013–present
• Global Ambassador for Health, AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association), April 2025–present
• SIOP Europe Ambassador for Children with Cancer, SIOP Europe, June 2024–present
• Head, Cyprus International Action Plan for Children with Cancer (“Bridging Gaps, Saving Lives”), ELPIDA Foundation, September 2023–present
• Founder and President, ELPIDA Foundation for Children and Adolescents with Cancer, March 1991–present
• International Actions Against Childhood Cancer | Educator | Researcher, Medlook, March 2001–present

Education

• MD, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
• Diplôme de Pédiatrie Préventive, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
• DSc (Hons), Doctor of Science (honoris causa)
• PhD Candidate, Newcastle University, United Kingdom (childhood and adolescent cancer in Cyprus, population-based epidemiology)

Professional Experience

• Director, Pediatric Oncology-Hematology Clinic, Archbishop Makarios III Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus, December 1989–December 2021 (32 years)
• Founder and President, ELPIDA Foundation for Children and Adolescents with Cancer, 1991–present
• Professor, Medical School, University of Nicosia, Cyprus, 2013–present
• International Educator and Researcher, Medlook, 2001–present
• Head, Cyprus International Action Plan for Children with Cancer, ELPIDA Foundation, 2023–present
• SIOP Europe Ambassador for Children with Cancer, 2024–present
• Global Ambassador for Health, AHEPA, 2025–present

Research Activity

• National Childhood Cancer Registry (PORCY): Founded and developed the Pediatric Oncology Registry of Cyprus (PORCY), the first national population-based childhood and adolescent cancer registry in the country, covering 1998–2017 and beyond; used to generate nationally representative incidence, trends, and survival data
• Childhood cancer epidemiology in Cyprus: Led the first comprehensive population-based epidemiological study of childhood and adolescent cancer (ages 0–19) in Cyprus, published in Cancer Epidemiology (2022); identified Cyprus as having one of the world’s highest overall childhood cancer incidence rates; demonstrated unusually high rates of lymphomas and thyroid cancer relative to brain tumors
• Pediatric thyroid cancer: Conducted landmark studies on rising incidence of pediatric and adolescent thyroid cancer in Cyprus, with annual percentage changes among the highest globally; published in Cancer Epidemiology (2021); identified a true increase in thyroid carcinogenesis rather than overdiagnosis
• Rare pediatric conditions: Co-author on published case reports including DNA ligase IV syndrome, 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis with seminoma, and PIK3R1 gain-of-function immunodeficiency
• Minimal residual disease (MRD) in pediatric ALL: Contributed to research on NGS combined with ASO real-time PCR-based MRD detection in pediatric ALL patients (HemaSphere, 2019)
• B-cell receptor repertoire analysis in B-ALL: Contributor to a landmark study in Leukemia (2016) demonstrating persistence of numerous B-ALL subclones from diagnosis to relapse through BCR repertoire sequencing
• Global childhood cancer equity: Spearheads the “Bridging Gaps, Saving Lives” initiative in partnership with WHO, SIOP Europe, GFAOP, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to reduce disparities in pediatric cancer care worldwide; co-chair of international collaborative efforts to improve childhood cancer outcomes globally

Honors and Awards

• Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite (Knight of the French National Order of Merit)
• Honours Award, Association of Pediatricians of Cyprus
• Honours Award, State Health Services Organization of Cyprus, Ministry of Health, Cyprus
• DSc (Hons), Doctor of Science (honoris causa)

Memberships / Affiliations

• SIOP Europe Ambassador for Children with Cancer
• AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association) — Global Ambassador for Health
• ELPIDA Foundation for Children and Adolescents with Cancer — Founder and President
• Collaborative partner organizations: WHO, SIOP Europe, GFAOP, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Areas of Specialization

• Pediatric oncology and hematology
• Childhood and adolescent cancer epidemiology
• Population-based cancer registry development
• Pediatric thyroid cancer
• Rare pediatric cancers and hematologic conditions
• Minimal residual disease in pediatric leukemia
• Global childhood cancer equity and capacity building
• Pediatric oncology education and training
• International advocacy and public health leadership

Publications

Prof. Loizou has authored and co-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals including Cancer Epidemiology, Leukemia, Clinical Immunology, Human Pathology Case Reports, and Journal of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology.

Select Publications:

Loizou L, Demetriou A, Erdmann F, McNally RJQ, et al. “Patterns and temporal trends in the incidence of childhood and adolescence cancer in Cyprus 1998–2017: A population-based study from the Cyprus Paediatric Oncology Registry.” Cancer Epidemiology 81, October 2022. 4 citations.

Loizou L, Demetriou A, Erdmann F, McNally RJQ, et al. “Increasing incidence and survival of paediatric and adolescent thyroid cancer in Cyprus 1998–2017: A population-based study from the Cyprus Pediatric Oncology Registry.” Cancer Epidemiology 74, October 2021. 13 citations.

Adra M, Nakanishi H, Papachristodoulou E, Loizou L, Skordis N. “Seminoma in 46, XY Gonadal Dysgenesis: Rare Presentation and Review of the Literature.” Journal of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology, April 2023. 2 citations.

Gerasimou P, Koumas L, Miltiadous A, Loizou L, Costeas P. “The rare DNA ligase IV syndrome: A case report.” Human Pathology Case Reports, November 2020. Full-text available. 3 citations.

Bashford-Rogers R, Nicolaou KA, Bartram J, Loizou L, Vassiliou G, et al. “Eye on the B-ALL: B-cell receptor repertoires reveal persistence of numerous B-lymphoblastic leukemia subclones from diagnosis to relapse.” Leukemia, May 2016. 50 citations.

Kuhlen M, Hönscheid A, Loizou L, Borkhardt A, et al. “De novo PIK3R1 gain-of-function with recurrent sinopulmonary infections, long-lasting chronic CMV-lymphadenitis and microcephaly.” Clinical Immunology, November 2015. 38 citations.

Nicolaou KA, Chi J, Koumas L, Loizou L, Costeas P. “NGS Combined with ASO Real-Time PCR Based MRD Detection Assay for Pediatric ALL Patients.” HemaSphere, June 2019.

Loizou L, Demetriou A, Erdmann F, McNally RJQ, et al. “Pediatric thyroid cancer in Cyprus 1998–2017, incidence, trends, survival: A population-based study from the Cyprus Pediatric Oncology Registry.” Preprint, January 2024.

All information is sourced from publicly available materials.