Zoe Ligerou is a Professor of Biology and Genetics and Director of the Laboratory of General Biology and the Molecular Genetics Diagnostic Unit, Department of Medicine at the University of Patras. She is also Director of the Institute of Precision Medicine at the University Center for Research and Innovation of the University of Patras (PAKEK), and Director of Studies for the Master’s Program in “Life Sciences Informatics” at the University of Patras.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Heidelberg for research conducted at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and conducted postdoctoral research at EMBL and the ICRF/Crick Institute in London. Her research, focusing on the genetic and molecular basis of cancer and other monogenic and multifactorial diseases, applies a combination of cutting-edge interdisciplinary methodologies (ccl.med.upatras.gr). She coordinates research projects at the University of University of Patras in the field of Precision Medicine, such as the SayWES4Life projects for the whole-exome sequencing of 400 children and adults with rare diseases in Greece, participation in the national EDIMO network with next-generation sequencing of gene panels for breast, ovarian, Pancreas/Prostate, and Hematologic Malignancies, and the flagship GoMedPrecision initiative (https://gomedprecision.gr/, “Bridging large-scale genomic, genetic, and medical data for the widespread application of Precision Medicine in Greece,” which studies rare and common diseases by combining genetic and genomic analyses. She has received significant funding from national and international organizations, such as the European Research Council (ERC), FP7, Horizon, HFSPO, EMBO, ELIDEK, and others. He participates in national and European networks, such as the national infrastructures Elixir and Bioimaging-GR, the European programs SYNTRAIN, REPLIFATE, and others. He serves as a reviewer for programs funded by international (HFSPO), European (ERC, MCSA, EIC), and national agencies (DFG, ANR, NWO, CR-UK, MRC, BBSRC, Poland, Portugal, Estonia, Cyprus, ELIDEK, IKY, etc.).
He has an extensive body of work in the fields of research and education policy. He has been a member of the Evaluation and Accreditation Council of the National Authority for Higher Education (ETHAAE) since 2019, and has served as Vice Chair since 2024; he is Chair of the Sectoral Scientific Council for Biosciences and Medicine (2021–2022 and 2024–present), National Representative to the European Mission Against Cancer (2021–2022), Member (2015–2018) and Chair (2019–2022) of the EMBO Courses and Workshops Committee; she has also served as a member of the Research Committee at the University of Patras. She is an elected member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and a member of its Governing Board (EMBO Council, 2024–present).
