Moderators: Georgios Papazisis, Christos Frantzidis
Panelists:
When Neuropsychology Meets Digital Health: The CREATE Approach – Aristea Lada
AI and Large Language Models in Real-World Data: The Symptom and Sleep Care Approach – Christos Frantzidis
Integrating Digital Health Tools into Clinical Trials – Katerina Stravoravdi
Modern Digital Tools in the Greek Market: The wi.care+Program – Ioanna Karanasiou
Dr. Georgios Papazisis is a Full Professor of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
He is a specialized Psychiatrist and has also obtained the Greek Medical board certification of the medical sub-specialty of Clinical Pharmacology.
Currently, he is the Medical Director of the Clinical Research Unit of the School of Medicine, at the Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki, coordinating early phase clinical trials.
Dr Papazisis currently serves as the:
· Co-chair of the newly formed Special Interest Group (SIG) on ‘Pragmatic trials’ of the European Network of Centres for Pharmacoepidemiology & Pharmacovigilance (ENCePP) coordinated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
· Administrator for the Aristotle University Organization of the NIH US National Library of Medicine clinical trial registry ClinicalTrials.gov.
· Pharmacovigilance referent person for the Greek National Hub in the conect4children (c4c) project
· Chair of the Committee for Bioethics and Medical Ethics of the School of Medicine.
· Principal Investigator for the Phase III study: An Efficacy and Safety, Phase III, Multi-center, Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Study Comparing 2 Active Doses of CYB003 and Placebo in Eligible Participants with Major Depressive Disorder (EMBRACE)
Dr Papazisis is member of the management Board of the Greek National Regulatory Organization for Medicines (ΕΟΦ) and also the Greek delegate of the UEMS (Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes) section of Pharmacology, UEMS member of the i. newly established Federation for Medical Ethics and also the ii. thematic Federation for Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity.
Dr Christos A. Frantzidis is a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science – Machine Learning at the University of Lincoln, with an interdisciplinary profile spanning Artificial Intelligence, Digital Health, Biomedical Engineering, Medical Informatics, Computational Neuroscience, and Neuro-engineering. His work focuses on transforming complex biomedical, neurophysiological, behavioural, and narrative data into clinically meaningful knowledge through machine learning, natural language processing, biomedical signal processing, computer vision, and digital health systems. He holds a PhD and MSc in Medical Informatics from the Medical School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and has published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles with over 3,300 citations, an h-index of 26, and an i10-index of 38. His research has contributed to sleep medicine, neurodegeneration, cognitive assessment, digital biomarkers, neurorehabilitation, space neuroscience, and AI-enabled health platforms, reflecting a strong commitment to translational biomedical innovation and real-world patient benefit
Dr Aristea I. Ladas is an Assistant Professor at the University of York Europe Campus CITY ULE and a Researcher at the Neuroscience Research Center (NEUREC) of CITY College. She is also a member of the leadership team of COST Action CA21152, Implementation Network Europe for Cancer Survivorship Care. Her research focuses on neuroplasticity and on understanding how the brain adapts across health, illness, and major life experiences. A central strand of her work examines neuroplasticity in cancer patients, survivors, and their caregivers, with particular emphasis on cognitive functioning, emotional well-being, resilience, and recovery.
Dr Lada is actively engaged in the design, development, and testing of digital health solutions that draw on neuroplasticity mechanisms to support cognitive and emotional resilience in vulnerable populations. Her research experience also includes bilingualism, cognitive ageing, addiction, sleep-related neuroplasticity, and the neuroscience of consciousness, integrating perspectives from psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy of mind. She is a Chartered Psychologist of the British Psychological Society and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She completed her PhD at the University of Sheffield and has participated in European Commission-funded research projects, including Long Lasting Memories.
Aikaterini Stravoravdi is a licensed Psychologist, CBT therapist, PhD Candidate and Clinical Trial Coordinator at the Clinical Research Unit, Papageorgiou General Hospital, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Her doctoral research focuses on neuropsychological assessment, ethical issues and the nocebo effect in adults participating in clinical trials. She is actively involved in Phase II-III clinical trials, with expertise in participant assessment, psychometrics, safety monitoring, eCRF management and ICH-GCP compliant trial coordination. She holds a MSc in Clinical Mental Health and a diploma in Science of Psychology.
Her research interests lie at the intersection of clinical psychology, neuropsychology, bioethics, clinical pharmacology and CNS clinical trial methodology. A central strand of her work examines cognitive safety, vaccine hesitancy, nocebo mechanisms, digital mental health tools and neuropsychological outcomes in clinical research. She has also contributed to research on psychedelic-assisted therapy and currently participates as a Lead Facilitator in a multinational Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating CYB003 for Major Depressive Disorder.
She is an active member of international research networks and societies, including ECNP, ISCTM, COST Action CA21152 and the Hellenic Society of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. Her publications include work on vaccine hesitancy, RSV-related neurological complications, AI/NLP approaches in mental health, creativity and resilience platforms and neuropsychological research
Gianna Karanasiou holds an Integrated Master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Ioannina. She has eight years of professional experience in Biomedical Technology, with a strong focus on computational modelling, AI-driven health applications, and biomedical engineering.
She has been actively involved in multiple national and European research projects, including Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 programs, such as BETTER4U, MISTRAL, TrialsNet, EDIAQI, PRECIOUS, SGABU, and InSilc. Within these projects, she has taken on responsibilities as Research Engineer, Work Package Leader, and Task Leader, contributing to project coordination, technical development, system design, and the delivery of scientific outputs and project deliverables.
Her work spans AI-based health prediction systems, in-silico clinical trials, biomedical device development, environmental health monitoring, and large-scale digital health and 6G innovation frameworks.
She has eight years of professional experience in Biomedical Technology, with a strong focus on computational modelling, AI-driven health applications, and biomedical engineering.
She has been actively involved in multiple national and European research projects, including Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 programs, such as BETTER4U, MISTRAL, TrialsNet, EDIAQI, PRECIOUS, SGABU, and InSilc. Within these projects, she has taken on responsibilities as Research Engineer, Work Package Leader, and Task Leader, contributing to project coordination, technical development, system design, and the delivery of scientific outputs and project deliverables.
Her work spans AI-based health prediction systems, in-silico clinical trials, biomedical device development, environmental health monitoring, and large-scale digital health and 6G innovation frameworks.
Dr. Ioannis Pandis serves as the Site Lead for Pfizer in Thessaloniki and as the Leader of the Center for Digital Innovation. In this dual role, he provides strategic leadership at the intersection of pharmaceutical research and advanced digital technologies, with a strong focus on aligning artificial intelligence and data capabilities with scientific and business objectives. He has an internationally proven track record in leading high impact initiatives that bridge complex research processes with innovative IT solutions, enabling organizations to accelerate innovation and deliver measurable scientific outcomes.
Prior to his current role, Ioannis served as Senior Director for Research AI and Data Technology Strategy within Pfizer’s Center for Digital Innovation. In this capacity, he was accountable for defining and executing the strategic adoption of cutting edge AI, machine learning, and data technologies across preclinical research. His work played a key role in accelerating drug discovery efforts, strengthening data driven decision making, and fostering a culture of innovation within research and development.
Before joining Pfizer, Ioannis spent more than a decade in the United Kingdom, where he led biomedical data science and digital health projects in collaboration with major pharmaceutical companies and leading academic institutions. During this time, he also established and contributed to large scale European biomedical research initiatives, working as a biomedical data scientist on projects with significant scientific and societal impact.
Ioannis has authored a large number of peer reviewed research papers and articles published in international medical journals, with a focus on digital health science and data driven approaches for disease monitoring across multiple therapeutic areas.
He holds a PhD in Immunology and Molecular Biology from the University of Ioannina, an MSc in Bioinformatics from Imperial College London, and a BSc in Genetics from Cardiff University.