13/12/2005

The Greek Biology professor, Fotis Kafatos, was elected Chairman of the Scientific Council of the European Research Council (ERC), after a vote by the Councils 22 distinguished scientists. Professors Helga Nowotny, Chair of the European Research Advisory Board (EURAB) and fellow of Wissenschaftszentrum Wien, and Daniel Esteve, Research Director of the Service de Physique de l Etat Condense at the CEA Saclay Centre, were elected Council Vice-Presidents.

According to proposals of the European Commission for the 7th Framework Programme, the European Research Council will be responsible for the funding of basic research at European level. The Scientific Council, as an independent body, will plan the ERC s scientific strategy and will secure its functioning in accordance with standards in scientific excellence.

Currently Professor Fotis Kafatos holds the "Insect Immunogenetics" seat at Imperial College, London. He was professor of Harvard University, as well as of the Universities of Athens and Crete. He founded the Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Sector in the Technology and Research Foundation and worked there as director, while, during the period 1993-2005, he was General Director at the European Laboratory for Molecular Biology.

Professor Kafatos was one of the first scientists to introduce molecular biology in development studies. He has worked on DNA composition, cloning, sequence determination (for B-spherine), dot-blot and the analysis of gene families in development and evolution. His current scientific interests concern malaria research, with an emphasis on the gene-pool of mosquitoes and innate immunity to parasites. He is also actively occupied with the promotion of research and scientific education in the developing world.

Commenting on the European Research Councils role, Prof. F. Kafatos highlighted the fact that the satisfaction of the scientific and academic communitys high aspirations is the main target. To this regard, the Scientific Council will adopt a more flexible and responsive administrative structure for the formation and securing of the necessary organisational framework for research, in accordance with the international standards.

Professor F. Kafatos met recently with the Development Minister D. Sioufas and the General Secretary for Research and Technology Prof. I. Tsoukalas who congratulated him on his being elected Chairman of the Scientific Council and underlined the fact that this distinction reflects not only his individual achievements at international level, but also the great potential of Greek scientists internationally.

Source: European Committee, Greek General Secretariat for Research and Technology