The Rector of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Professor Gerasimos Siasos, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Harvard University and NKUA. The MoU was signed by Professor Jane J. Kim, Dean at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH) and Professor Nikolaos Arkadopoulos, Dean at the NKUA School of Medicine. As stated in the announcement of the HSPH Department of Epidemiology, the overarching aim of the MoU is to facilitate excellence in science by promoting graduate education in epidemiology and collaborative interdisciplinary research.

Professor Albert Hofman, Chair of the HSPH Department of Epidemiology, welcomed the signing of the MoU and stated that it provides unique opportunities for collaboration in research and exchange of students and young scientists in the fields of Medicine and Public Health. Professor Pagona Lagiou, Chair of the Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics at NKUA and Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at Harvard University, mentioned that the MoU puts a seal of approval in the long-standing research and teaching collaboration between the two Epidemiology Departments, initiated by Prof. Dimitrios Trichopoulos. She stressed that the MoU offers a solid ground for the expansion and enhancement of this collaboration and thanked the administrations of both Universities and Schools for their support of this undertaking.