Maria Kafyra, project manager of BETTER4U, has been awarded the 2025 New Investigator Award in Public Health. 
 
The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), in collaboration with the Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF), conferred the award based on several criteria, among them, excellence and a clear commitment to advancing obesity research. 

In an interview with EASO, Maria shared her passion and dedication that define her journey, as well as the people who have supported her growth. Her journey began in her family, where she learned the value of education and developed a deep curiosity about the origins of things. Over time, she had the opportunity to approach obesity from multiple perspectives and through various disciplines – each contributing critically to understanding whether and how obesity manifests. 

She is deeply committed to contributing to the fields of precision nutrition and metabolic research. Maria believes in the importance of personalized interventions and the need to uncover how genetics, nutrition, and lifestyle interact in the prevention and treatment of obesity. 

In the EU-funded BETTER4U project Maria leads the efforts together with the team of George Dedoussis at the Harokopio University of Athens  to develop, evaluate, and promote evidence-based and sustainable personalized lifestyle interventions to prevent and address obesity. 

As she explains: 

“Through BETTER4U, the priority is to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice, ensuring that scientific advancements translate into meaningful, personalized solutions for individuals and communities.” 

🔗Read her full interview https://easo.org/niu-awards/maria-kafyra-winner-of-the-public-health-award/