{"id":71350,"date":"2025-11-04T13:04:19","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T11:04:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uol.ac.cy\/?p=71350"},"modified":"2026-04-16T15:23:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T12:23:34","slug":"dr-kyriaki-mikellidou-receives-the-vision-erc-grant-to-explore-how-empathy-levels-interact-with-inflammation-in-the-human-body","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uol.ac.cy\/en\/dr-kyriaki-mikellidou-receives-the-vision-erc-grant-to-explore-how-empathy-levels-interact-with-inflammation-in-the-human-body\/","title":{"rendered":"\u00a0Dr. Kyriaki Mikellidou receives the VISION ERC grant to explore how empathy levels interact with inflammation in the human body"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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We\u2019re excited to share that Dr. Kyriaki Mikellidou <\/strong>has been awarded a grant from the Cyprus’s Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF)<\/strong> to lead the research project: \u201cEmpathy Training for Regulation of Inflammation in the Human Body.\u201d <\/strong>This is an innovative project that investigates empathy as a socially acquired capacity and the level it affects systemic health, laying the foundation for transformative advancements in neuroscience, psychology, and public health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why This Research Matters<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Empathy is a multi-dimensional construct characterized by individual differences associated with distinct biological markers. Although empathy is often regarded as a positive human attribute, emerging evidence indicates that excessively high levels of empathy may have adverse consequences, being linked to mental health conditions, immune-related and other disorders. Nonetheless, findings suggesting that empathy is potentially modifiable through learning processes mediated by neuroplasticity offer an optimistic perspective, creating opportunities for interventions aimed at regulating excessive empathic responses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite these advances, the current state-of-the-art reveals significant limitations. To address these gaps, Dr. Mikellidou\u2019s research team will conduct an experimental study adopting a holistic approach that integrates biological and psychological data to elucidate the relationship between empathy regulation and indicators of mental and systemic health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EmpaTRaIny aims to establish a framework to guide future intervention strategies that integrate psychoeducational components for mediating excessive emotional responses. This study represents a preparatory phase of an ERC Consolidator Grant project designed to foster innovation and excellence in scientific research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet the Team<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project brings together the team:<\/p>\n\n\n\n