Obituary – Professor Panos N. Kourounakis (1935–2026)
Obituary – Professor Panos N. Kourounakis (1935–2026)
Professor Panos N. Kourounakis, a pioneering figure in Medicinal Chemistry in Greece and an internationally respected scientist, passed away in April 2026 at the age of 91. Born in Kalamata, Greece, he graduated from the University of Athens before pursuing a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry at Chelsea College of Science and Technology, University of London, under Professor A.H. Beckett. He continued his early academic career at the University of Montreal, where he worked with the renowned Professor Hans Selye and was appointed Director of the Biochemistry Section of the Institute of Experimental Medicine and Surgery and later Assistant Professor.
In 1976, he returned to Greece to join the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, where he served as Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, Director of the Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and Dean of the School of Pharmacy. Over several decades, he played a decisive role in establishing and advancing Medicinal Chemistry and drug metabolism as academic disciplines in Greece, leaving a lasting institutional and scientific legacy.
Professor Kourounakis was a leading figure in the Greek and European medicinal chemistry community. He was a founding member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Sciences (EUFEPS) and of the Hellenic Society of Medicinal Chemistry (HSMC). In the latter he served as President for many years and became honorary president after retiring. He was an active delegate of Greece in international scientific bodies, including EFMC and EUFEPS. He also contributed extensively to public health and regulatory authorities as a member of the Administrative Council and drug approval committees of the National Organization for Medicines.
His scientific contributions spanned drug design, metabolism, and structure–activity relationships, reflected in approximately 200 research publications and several influential books. He supervised numerous doctoral and postgraduate students, mentoring a generation of scientists who continue to contribute to the field.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences, he was awarded the prestigious Hermann-Thoms Medal of the Deutsche Pharmazeutische Gesellschaft and honored by HSMC in a special ceremony.
Professor Kourounakis will be remembered not only for his scientific achievements but also for his dedication to teaching, his leadership, and his enduring enthusiasm for Medicinal Chemistry.