President praises work at Karaiskakio foundation and pledges continued support

President Nicos Anastasiades praised the work done by the Karaiskakio foundation and pledged the government’s continued support through yearly donations at a philanthropic dinner at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday night.

The Karaiskakio Foundation is a non-profit founded with the goal of organising and managing a bone marrow donor record.

Today, it aims at further development of its laboratory and scientific infrastructure, the bone marrow donor and the umbilical cord blood record, clinical haematology and providing support to leukaemia patients.

“Undoubtedly, the activity of the Karaiskakio Foundation ranks and makes our country proud in the fields of research, innovation and treatment of cancer and other rare genetic diseases,” he said.

Anastasiades added that work done by the foundation is now recognised both locally and internationally, it is a “protagonist in the fight against leukaemia, as well as a reference laboratory in its areas of expertise.”

According to the president, Karaiskakio has the largest registry of bone marrow donors per capita in the world, and the second largest umbilical cord blood bank, while a specialist centre for Children’s Cancer carries out important work in the field of paediatric oncology.

“It is in this context that the foundation, as one of the most reliable partners in its field, has developed a strong network of world-renowned collaborations, in a wide range of issues, including haematological diseases, cancer, and other rare diseases,” he said.

Anastasiades announced that part of the state budget will be annually allocated to the foundation as a donation for the work it does.

In 2021, he said the government gave the foundation a total of €350,000 to support Karaiskakio’s donor registry.

Anastasiades thanked the President of the foundation Dr Popi Kanari, and the Executive Director of the board Dr Pavlos Costeas, and the scientists working at the foundation.