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- 2026-05-20 13:01:05
A joint MSc offered by Democritus University of Thrace and Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons.
The subject of the Postgraduate Study Program in International Cooperation entitled Precision Medicine In The Development Of Mental Health of the Department of Medicine of the School of Health Sciences of Democritus University of Thrace is the provision of postgraduate-level knowledge through interdisciplinary approaches and practical training in the design and implementation of modern, personalized approaches to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders across all stages of life. The Program aims to provide specialized knowledge and skills that integrate data from genetics, neuroscience, biostatistics, psychopathology, and clinical practice, with emphasis on the development and utilization of biomarkers, multi-omics data, and digital technologies.
The MSc Program «Precision Medicine in the Development of Mental Health” aims to identify, support, and provide in-depth training for health and life scientists in multi-level familiarization and deep knowledge of the spectrum of mental disorders, from birth to adulthood, through a developmental approach, and in staying up to date with developments in the field of research and the utilization of innovative tools related to the use of biomarkers, clinical and imaging techniques, as well as techniques in biology and molecular analysis, with the goal of integrating precision psychiatry into clinical practice for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of developmental mental disorders.
Two distinct Master of Science degrees, awarded jointly upon completion of the full programme.
The Dual Postgraduate Study Master Programme awards two distinct degrees in differentiated scientific areas. Students may choose to receive either or both, provided they successfully complete the full course of study.
To obtain the dual degree, a student must first enroll in and attend the MSc «Precision Medicine in the Development of Mental Health», as specified in the Special Cooperation Agreement. Students admitted to the Programme are considered degree-seeking candidates at both institutions simultaneously.
While enrolled and actively attending courses at DUTH, students hold degree-seeking status at Columbia. Admission requirements are governed by the separate regulations of each programme.
This Regulation further specifies matters concerning the MSc «Precision Medicine in the Development of Mental Health — Genetic Counseling», given that study at each stage follows the separate regulations of the respective institution.
Serve as a catalyst for new scientists to meet the contemporary demands of the scientific field
The main objectives are: (a) to provide broad and deep knowledge in the field of Precision Medicine in the mental health of children and adolescents, (b) to apply clinical skills to advance clinical practice in Mental Health with a focus on developmental and other mental disorders throughout life, (c) to apply research skills and “acquire a toolkit” to advance the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental health disorders, and (d) to build an interdisciplinary foundation in the clinical application of Precision Medicine.
The Program additionally aspires to establish a framework of collaboration with neuroscientists and health science researchers from University Institutions in Greece and internationally, to promote and disseminate its subject matter and corresponding research work at scientific events with international participation. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the advancement of up-to-date knowledge and to serve as a catalyst for new scientists to meet the contemporary demands of the scientific field.
Twenty-nine instructors across psychiatry, neuroscience, genetics, and precision medicine — drawn from DUTH, Columbia, and partner universities worldwide.
The teaching duties of the M.Sc. are assigned, by decision of its competent body, to the following categories of instructors:
By decision of the Departmental Assembly, auxiliary teaching duties may be assigned to Doctoral Candidates of the Department or School, under the supervision of an M.Sc. instructor. The assignment of teaching duties is finalized by the competent body following a recommendation by the M.Sc. Coordinating Committee (or the Director for Inter-departmental/Inter-institutional programs). Specific conditions regarding teaching assignments may be defined in the M.Sc. Establishment Decree.
The right to supervise Master's theses is granted to instructors in categories (a) through (f) of paragraph 1, provided they hold a Doctoral Degree (Ph.D.). By decision of the competent body, the supervision of theses may also be assigned to members of the DEP, EEP, and EDIP of the Department who have not undertaken primary teaching duties within the M.Sc.
| Full Name | Academic Position | Institution | Subject Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Kushner | Professor | Columbia University | Psychiatry |
| Joseph Gogos | Professor | Columbia University | Physiology, Cellular Biophysics and Neuroscience |
| Aspasia Serdari | Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Child & Adolescent Psychiatry |
| Maria Samakouri | Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Psychiatry |
| Nikolaos Marinakis | Assistant Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Genetics |
| Evangelos Manolopoulos | Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Pharmacology, Pharmacogenomics and Precision Medicine |
| George Kolios | Emeritus Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Pharmacology |
| Nikolaos Grigoriadis | Professor | Aristotle University of Thessaloniki | Neurology |
| Konstantinos Vadikolias | Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Neurology |
| Dimitrios Tsiptsios | Assistant Professor | Aristotle University of Thessaloniki | Neurology & Neurophysiology |
| Ioannis Karakis | Associate Professor | University of Crete | Neurology & Neurophysiology |
| Antonios Voutetakis | Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Pediatrics |
| Ioannis Mavridis | Assistant Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Neurosurgery and Pediatric Neurosurgery |
| Gregorios Trypsianis | Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Medical Statistics |
| Aristeidis Katsanos | Associate Professor | McMaster University | Neurology |
| Spyros Kollias | Professor | University of Zurich | Neuroradiology |
| Efstratios Karavasilis | Associate Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Medical Physics |
| Maria Koffa | Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Molecular Biology and Genetics |
| Nikolaos Papanas | Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Internal Medicine and Diabetes Mellitus |
| Panagiotis Skendros | Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Internal Medicine, Immunology |
| Ioannis Mitroulis | Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Internal Medicine, Translational Medicine |
| Aikaterini Arvaniti | Associate Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Psychiatry |
| Theofanis Vorvolakos | Associate Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Psychiatry |
| Aikaterini Terzoudi | Associate Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Neurology |
| Leonidas Panos | Assistant Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Neurology and Cerebrovascular Diseases |
| Magdalini Katsikidou | Assistant Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Psychiatry |
| Harriet Proios | Professor | Adelphi University | Communication Sciences and Disorders |
| John Heliopoulos | Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Neurology, Neuroimmunology |
| Nikolaos Aggelousis | Professor | Democritus University of Thrace | Biomechanics |
By decision of the Departmental Assembly, a call for expressions of interest may be issued to Master's Students (M.S.) and Doctoral Candidates (Ph.D.C.) of DUTH to provide auxiliary teaching work within the Undergraduate Study Program (USP) of the Department or School. Applications must be accompanied by the opinion of the M.Sc. Director (for Master's students) or the respective Supervisor (for Doctoral candidates). These are submitted to the Secretariat of the relevant Department for review and final approval by the Assembly. Further details are governed by the Department's Internal Regulations.
Auxiliary teaching work may be assigned to M.S. and Ph.D.C. under the supervision of the instructor in charge of a specific undergraduate course.
Specifically for the Postgraduate Study Program (M.Sc.), auxiliary teaching duties may be assigned to Doctoral Candidates under the supervision of an M.Sc. instructor.
Downloadable resources for prospective and enrolled students of the M.Sc. in Precision Medicine in the Development of Mental Health.