Charalampos Filippou

Charalampos Filippou is a recent high school graduate from Cyprus who is currently researching neurogenetics under the mentorship of Dr. Jorge Avila. He was drawn to neurogenetics after developing BionicReach, a startup focused on affordable AI-driven, 3D-printed prosthetics.

His work on prosthetic design sparked his interest in the ways brain plasticity after injury could be combined with genetics and engineering to improve rehabilitation outcomes.

Through his research, he has explored how rapidly the brain reorganizes following limb loss and how current prosthetic technologies rarely incorporate these natural mechanisms of adaptation. His long-term goal is to bridge neuroengineering and molecular biology to develop next-generation prosthetics that align more closely with the body’s innate regenerative and adaptive processes.

Beyond research, he has distinguished himself through international competitions and academic programs. He has represented Cyprus at the International Junior Science Olympiad in 2022 and earned a bronze medal at the European Olympiad of Experimental Science in 2024. He has also participated in advanced programs at Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth, Center for Talented Youth Greece, and the Sakura Science Exchange Program in Japan. In addition, he is a medical sciences mentee in Global Talent Mentoring and a recipient of multiple national awards in biology and other scientific disciplines.

Committed to both innovation and community impact, he organized the charity race “Together We Run” in June 2025, raising €7,000 in support of Alkinoos Artemiou Foundation, which helps children with oncological and hematological conditions. Looking ahead, he hopes to study biomedical engineering at Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and ultimately pursue an MD/PhD in neurosurgery, combining clinical practice with research in neuroengineering and regenerative medicine.