Professor Konstantinos Stratakis is a co-founder and Director of ASTREA. Prof. Stratakis is an internationally renowned medical geneticist, endocrinologist, translational researcher, and executive leader. Prof. Stratakis served as Chief Scientific Officer of ELPEN in Athens (2021–2024) and led efforts to establish their Research Institute, which is scheduled to open in 2025. He is currently Director of Human Genetics and Precision Medicine at IMBB, FORTH, in Heraklion, Greece, and coordinates the Greek Network for Precision Medicine in Molecular Oncology. His training included medicine (Athens, Greece, 1989), pediatrics, endocrinology, and medical genetics (Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., USA, 1990–1996) and holds a medical degree, a Ph.D., and two honorary doctorates. He is also a graduate of the Executive Leadership Program at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy. In the United States, Prof. Stratakis led the genetics and endocrinology programs at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NIH/NICHD) and the NICHD’s intramural research program (1,100 employees, budget of $200 million/year) (2009–2021). As a researcher, Prof. Stratakis worked in the field of tumor genetics. He described a series of genetic defects, including a disease that bears his name (Carney-Stratakis syndrome). He has authored more than 800 publications and has served in key editorial roles for leading journals. He has received numerous awards, including the 2009 Ernst Oppenheimer Award (U.S. Endocrine Society), NIH Merit and Director’s Awards, and visiting professorships at academic institutions around the world. He is the recipient of the 2018 International Award (European Society of Pediatric Endocrinology), the 2019 Dale Medal (British Endocrine Society), and honorary membership in the Hellenic Society of Cardiology (2017) and the Hellenic Endocrine Society (2019). Prof. Stratakis served as President of the Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) from 2018 to 2019. He is an elected member of the American Pediatric Society (APS), the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), and the Association of American Physicians (AAP), and serves as Editor-in-Chief of HORMONES (Home | Hormones (springer.com). Professor Stratakis is dedicated to the application of human genetics and new technologies in disease prevention, improving human life and experience, and a holistic approach to health—all of which are the principles and goals of ASTREA.
