Professor Constantine A Stratakis is an internationally known medical geneticist, endocrinologist, translational investigator and executive leader with a unique combination of skills and experience in science, healthcare, clinical trials, molecular research and genetics, policy, government regulations, and patient advocacy.
Prof. Stratakis served as the Chief Scientific Officer of ELPEN Pharmaceuticals in Athens (GR) and directed the efforts to build a new ELPEN Research Institute that is due to open in 2026–27, while he also runs human genetics and precision medicine at IMBB, FORTH, in Heraklion, GR. Most recently, he was selected to coordinate the Hellenic Network for Precision Medicine in Molecular Oncology (EDIMO; https://edimo.gr/), and his laboratory (www.digenia.gr) participates in three other funded programmes: the two Precision Medicine networks for Cardiac and Neurodegenerative diseases in Greece and the Health Hub programme for the digital transformation of Medicine (2022–26).
His basic training was in medicine (Athens, GR, 1989), paediatrics, endocrinology and medical genetics (Paris, France, 1988; Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA, 1990–1996). He holds a Medical Doctor’s degree, a Doctorate in Medical Sciences and two honorary PhD degrees, in addition to being a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy Executive Leadership programme (2012).
As an executive leader, Prof. Stratakis led the National Institutes of Health (NIH/NICHD) genetics and endocrinology programmes and the NICHD intramural research programme (1,100 employees, $200M/year budget) in the United States for more than 18 years, during which he trained more than 200 trainees. He is highly sought after as a mentor, speaker, teacher, patient advocate, and trusted and highly respected advisor on a wide range of issues across various sectors of the healthcare and life sciences innovation ecosystem.
As an investigator, Prof. Stratakis has worked on the genetics of solid tumours and has identified a number of predisposing genetic defects, including a disease that bears his name (Carney–Stratakis syndrome). He has authored more than 850 publications and served in major editorial roles at leading journals. He received the 1999 Award for Excellence in Published Clinical Research and the 2009 Ernst Oppenheimer Award, both from the US Endocrine Society, and a number of other honours, including NIH Merit and Director’s Awards. He has also been named Visiting Professor at academic centres around the world.
He is the recipient of the 2019 Dale Medal from the British Endocrine Society and received the 2018 International Award of the European Society of Pediatric Endocrinology (ESPE). He was named an honorary member of the Hellenic Society of Cardiology (2017) and the Hellenic Endocrine Society (2019) for his work on the genetics of hypertension and endocrine diseases, respectively. He holds two honorary doctoral degrees from the Universities of Liège, Belgium (2013), and Athens, Greece (2017).
Prof. Stratakis served as the 2018–2019 President of the Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) in the US. In addition to the SPR, 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). Dr. Stratakis was instrumental in launching the new NICHD Strategic Plan (2020–2024), which emphasises Precision Medicine and the use of large datasets in predictive healthcare.
Prof. Stratakis is dedicated to advances in science and is an outstanding teacher and communicator, with many interviews in the lay press supporting science. He is also a tireless advocate for early-stage investigators, diversity and equity.
Prof. Stratakis is a constant innovator with four patents and is already involved in start-ups. ASTREA Health and HealthspanDigital are companies that he founded or became involved in during 2022–2025. Since 2022, he has been serving as the Executive Medical Director of Sterotherapeutics, a pharmaceutical company developing innovative molecules for metabolic diseases. Currently, Prof. Stratakis leads a phase 2 multicentre trial for Cushing syndrome on behalf of Sterotherapeutics.
