Nikolaos Volakakis

About me

I work with research data, data management, data protection and data agreements at Karolinska Institutet. My expertise lies at the intersection of research, data protection, law, IT and regulatory requirements, with a focus on how research data and personal data can be managed, shared and preserved in a legally compliant and practically feasible way.

I hold a PhD in Medical Sciences from Karolinska Institutet and have worked in both academic research and the pharmaceutical/diagnostics industry. My research background gives me a good understanding of researchers’ practical needs and of the data flows involved in different types of research projects.

Since 2022, I have been involved in developing Karolinska Institutet’s support structure for data agreements and regulatory matters in research. As part of my work, I assess, among other things, the allocation of controller responsibilities and roles between research partners, as well as issues relating to the transfer and sharing of personal data and health data.

My responsibilities

I provide advice and support to KI researchers on the management of research data, personal data and research documentation.

My work includes, among other things:

• assessing controller responsibilities and roles between parties in research collaborations
• providing advice on the transfer and sharing of personal data
• supporting researchers on data agreements and regulatory compliance
• reviewing data management plans for externally funded projects
• providing advice on research documentation, data management, data sharing and archiving
• training researchers in research documentation, data management, personal data management and research ethics
• developing guidance, processes and web content on research data and data management
• coordinating between researchers and functions such as legal, data protection, IT, archives and the library.

I work closely with KI’s legal counsel and Data Protection Officers and contribute to developing processes and working practices for the effective and legally compliant management of research data and data agreements.

Education

Certified Data Protection Officer, Academy Online, 2026

PhD in Medical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, 2010

B.Sc. in Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, 2001