Kypros Nicolaides


Kyprianos "Kypros" Nicolaides is a Greek-Cypriot maternal fetal medicine specialist, holding several patents in fetal surgery. He is one of the pioneers of fetal medicine. His discoveries have revolutionised fetal medicine. He introduced the screening of chromosomal and structural abnormalities, has improved the screening and prevention of pre-eclampsia and premature birth and allowed the development of fetal therapy.

Early life and education

Nicolaides was born in 1953 in Paphos, Cyprus. He studied medicine at King’s College School of Medicine and Dentistry in London and soon after graduation joined the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 1980, doing research with Professor Stuart Campbell and Professor Charles Rodeck as his first assistant, working mainly on fetoscopic techniques and procedures. His manual dexterity at procedures and the Rodeck-Nicolaides team soon produced some important papers on the use of fetoscopy in the management of a wide range of conditions such Rhesus iso-immunization, fetal hydrops and intrauterine growth restriction, and procedures such as blood and tissue sampling in the diagnosis of single gene defects.

Career

After the departure of Professor Rodeck, Nicolaides succeeded him as director of the Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, the first fetal medicine unit in the United Kingdom. His programme of research and teaching made King's College Hospital an important centre of fetal medicine.
He holds the position of Professor of Fetal Medicine at King's College London since 1991.
He has contributed to over one thousand journal articles and more than thirty books and monographs.
Concluding a major part of his work over the years regarding the 11–13 weeks scan assessment he has proposed a new model of pregnancy care "Turning the Pyramid of prenatal Care". This model shows that it is now possible to assess the risk for most of the relevant complications affecting mother and unborn child if combined screening tests are carried out in a specialist outpatient clinic following protocols published by The Fetal Medicine Foundation. Assessing the risk for pregnancy complications at such an early time in pregnancy might give doctors the chance to reassure patients, and to prevent pre-eclampsia and premature birth, which are major contributors to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Television

The BBC television programme, Life Before Birth is mainly about his work.