Carsten Werner Lederer received his PhD from the University of East Anglia in molecular biology at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK, in 2003. After postdoctoral positions at the University of Cyprus (02/2002-04/2006) and postdoctoral (05/2006-09/2009) and staff (10/2009-04/2023) positions at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics (CING), he is now Senior Scientist and Head of the Molecular Genetics Thalassemia Department (MGTD) at the CING, and PI of the MGTD research group for gene editing and therapy. He is Associate Professor, program coordinator, and course coordinator for the CING postgraduate school. Key activities under his leadership at the MGTD include (i) translational research for the discovery of biomarkers and disease modifiers, (ii) population-wide diagnostics based on advanced PCR and sequencing technologies, clinical hematology, and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT/PGD) for a range of genetic disorders, (iii) bioinformatic development of databases (e.g. www.ithanet.eu), patient registries, variant curation and epidemiology, (vi) education and training in research and diagnostics of rare blood disorders, and (v) gene editing and advanced therapy development for rare anemias and in particular β-thalassemia. Keywords: biomarker, hemoglobinopathy, hematology, PGT, NIPT, patient registry, epidemiology, VCEP, genome editing, TALEN, CRISPR/Cas, lentiviral vector, ATMP.