The first in Russia and the third in the world
FEFU has launched the only robot in Russia
for the cultivation and research of living cells
Anna Leontieva, FEFU
On November 27, the School of Biomedicine of the Far Eastern Federal University hosted the opening of an automated complex for the study of cell lines of the Laboratory of Biomedical Cell Technologies. The ceremony was attended by FEFU Rector Sergey Ivanets, Director of the School of Biomedicine Yuri Khotimchenko, Executive Director of TAP Biosystems developer David Newble, Managing Director of OPTEK supplier Maxim Igelnik, scientists, teachers and students. The robotic complex at FEFU is unique in its configuration – it became the first of its kind in Russia and has only two analogues in the world, which work in leading research centers in the USA and France.
– Bioengineering, cellular technologies are the most complex field of research, which requires the highest professionalism and unique expensive equipment. Analogues of the robot, which is installed in FEFU, can be counted on the fingers in the world, but only here it is in the university environment," said Rector Sergey Ivanets. – It is important that the School of Biomedicine not only trains personnel and conducts scientific research, but also closely cooperates with the FEFU Medical Center, where the results of scientists' work may find practical application in the near future.
One of the areas that the School of Biomedicine is working on today is the creation of biocompatible implantable materials and bio–artificial tissue analogues for regenerative therapy of brain injuries. Such innovative tools are designed to ensure the restoration of the integrity of the brain by implanting tissue-engineered structures in the affected area of the body. The project is led by the head of the Laboratory of Biomedical Cell Technologies of FEFU, Candidate of Biological Sciences Vadim Kumeyko. According to him, it is possible to "collect" analogues of living tissues directly in the laboratory and introduce them into damaged areas. The TAP Biosystems robotic complex plays an important mission in this process – it helps researchers to quickly test the effect of new samples of biocompatible implantable materials on living cells that are continuously cultivated by the robot 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
Photo by Alyona Pugacheva
– This is a real "biofactory" that supplies us with living cellular material for the development of new technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases that are still incurable. New technologies with implantation of living cells in the near future can really help treat patients with the most complex spinal cord and brain injuries. This installation allows us to make serious progress by conducting research more efficiently," Vadim Kumeyko said and demonstrated the capabilities of the robot to the audience. At this very moment, nerve cells were cultured in it, which are used to test new samples of implantable materials.
The capabilities of the "cell factory" allow us to develop other scientific areas of the School of Biomedicine, including genome research and the creation of gene therapy tools, the development of drugs and cellular preparations for the treatment of brain tumors, research on immunity and its role in regenerative processes, work in the field of molecular oncology and synthetic biology. According to the director of the School of Biomedicine Yuri Khotimchenko, the Laboratory of Biomedical Cell Technologies with a robotic complex can become the basis for the creation of a center of excellence in genomic and regenerative medicine at FEFU.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru28.11.2014