Open Access Genetics
FITC "Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS" took the initiative to create a National Center for Genetic Technologies
Andrey Sobolevsky, "Science in Siberia"
As Alexey Vladimirovich Kochetov, the elected director of the FITC ICiG SB RAS, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said, the CGT project is aimed at solving several strategic tasks at once: "First of all, we want to get a full set of modern research technologies on one site, providing the possibility of fundamental study of genetic systems and processes of humans, animals, plants and microorganisms on basic hierarchical levels of organization of living systems: molecular-genetic, cellular, tissue, organizational, population, ecosystem". In essence, the CGT is a powerful infrastructure complex that will work in the interests of life sciences, as well as interdisciplinary research, throughout Russia.
Within the framework of the CGT, scientific and innovative activities are also planned up to full-cycle projects, culminating in the introduction of new world-class agricultural, bio- and medical, environmental technologies. "Such projects can be of different levels and directions," emphasized Alexey Kochetov. – For example, obtaining potatoes as a technical crop with a given amount and type of starch. The same applies to pets. Genomic editing makes it possible, for example, to change the composition of milk and obtain products for low-allergenic functional nutrition. In agriculture, breeds and varieties resistant to pathogens are in high demand – we are also moving in this direction." As an example, the scientist named one of the human mutations that makes his body immune to the immunodeficiency virus, which ceases to affect the cells of the immune system.
A. Kochetov pointed out the training of a new generation of specialists with knowledge and skills for the development of advanced genetic technologies and their practical use in production as another strategic task of the CGT. The scientist stressed that, in general, the project of the new Center corresponds to the priorities defined in the Strategy of Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation, the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation "On national goals and strategic objectives of the development of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2024" dated May 7, 2018, as well as regional priorities (the program of reindustrialization of the economy of the Novosibirsk region). "We should be focused on achieving Russia's technological leadership at the international level in the field of the use of genetic technologies," Alexey Kochetov said.
ICiG SB RAS has enough initial resources and competencies to implement an ambitious project. The Institute is consistently among the top three academic institutions in Siberia both in terms of the number of staff (over 1,400 people) and the annual budget (about 1.4 billion rubles). More than 500 researchers work here, including 283 Candidates of Sciences, 94 Doctors of Sciences and 12 members of the Russian Academy of Sciences in its five branch departments: biological, physiological, medical, agricultural, nano- and information technologies. In the arsenal of the ICIG SB RAS – laboratory buildings, vivariums (including the only SPF-vivarium beyond the Urals), a center for fur and farm animals, two clinics, about 30,000 hectares of agricultural land, including an experimental farm in the village of Kainskaya Zaimka near Novosibirsk Akademgorodok.
"What does a geneticist need to work? It is necessary to characterize an object in its genetic diversity, that is, a collection of genetic lines or natural forms. Then there is a laboratory module in which the specified conditions are maintained: for example, for a plant it is a climate chamber with adjustable temperature, humidity and illumination. Phenotyping is needed: automated screening of changes in the state of the organism or its part under various influences. Then there are omix technologies: transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analysis. Eventually, research comes to what is now called systems biology – working with large amounts of data. Instrumentally, these are data processing centers, methodically – bioinformatics, mathematical models. Everything in the complex gives new knowledge in the field of fundamental science."
"Already today, ICIG SB RAS performs the de facto functions of the national bioresource core, which accumulates a large amount of data on the biological and genetic diversity of species: from decoded genomes to complete organisms," Alexey Kochetov said. – It is no coincidence that the scientific director of our institute, Academician Nikolai Alexandrovich Kolchanov headed the working group of the FANO of Russia on bioresource collections. Currently, they are being described and systematized, and the ICIG acted as the locomotive of this process. Therefore, one of the areas of work of the CGT will be just arrays of data on biodiversity and systems for their processing. At the same time, it is obvious that the CGT will work, firstly, in a consortium with a variety of structures not only of a biological profile, but also of many other scientific fields, and secondly, in an open access mode." The Director of the ICIG explained that the project of the Center for Genetic Technologies is structurally formed according to the modular principle. Bioresource support, cellular, omix, genomic and information technologies are all modules in the organization of which other institutes of the SB RAS can take part.
The Center for Genetic Technologies is primarily an infrastructure project, it is the expansion and integration of scientific tools. In 2010, a unique center for collective use was opened on the basis of ICIG – SPF-vivarium. But for its more effective use today, an influx of the latest laboratory equipment is required, and most importantly, additional capacities of the vivarium itself. At the moment, 50 lines of laboratory animals (only mice and rats) are supported there, and much more is required for research on a wide front, for large-scale preclinical trials of pharmaceuticals of similar lines. Therefore, the CGT project includes the construction and equipment of the second stage of the SPF-vivarium at the same site. Denis Valentinovich Manturov, the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, who recently visited Novosibirsk Akademgorodok, expressed his intention to support the construction through his department. According to Alexey Kochetov, it is planned that the second stage of the vivarium will consist of a number of modules, including bioresource support units (animals and biomaterials), data processing, laboratories in various areas – cellular and omix technologies, postgenomic physiology, genomic editing, etc.
During the restructuring of academic organizations, the Research Institutes of Clinical and Experimental Lymphology and Research Institutes of Therapy and Preventive Medicine became part of the FITC ICiG. They have two clinics that can become test sites for one of the full–cycle projects of the future CGT - for the development and implementation of new pharmaceuticals. "This will allow us in the future to complete the project in a full cycle - up to the release of experimental batches of substances for their final tests according to the regulations of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Health," Alexey Kochetov said. He said that this participation in the work in this area of research on the basis of CGT is being discussed with colleagues from the Institute of Solid State Chemistry and Mechanochemistry SB RAS, NIOH SB RAS, IHBiFM SB RAS and other organizations of the chemical and biological profile of Novosibirsk Akademgorodok.
The CGT project involves a number of construction projects and reconstructions. In addition to the second stage of the SPF-vivarium, it is planned to build a new building in the branch of the FIT ICiG SB RAS – Siberian Research Institute of Plant and Seed Production in Krasnoobsk (a separate phytotron building). In the Kainskaya Zaimka, the famous fur farm can "move" to another site. Near the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the SB RAS, a separate compact platform for working with ancient DNA is seen. "Physically, the CGT will be located in Akademgorodok and Krasnoobsk," emphasized A.V. Kochetov, "and we very much hope that the federal and regional leadership will support the proposal of the Presidium of the SB RAS to build the next bridge across the Ob connecting these settlements." The needs of new CGT facilities for electricity, water and other resources have already been calculated. The total investments in the creation of the Center are estimated at 21 billion rubles, construction and installation of equipment is planned to be completed by the beginning of 2026.
For the entire complex of the CGT to work, an additional involvement of about 300 employees is necessary: about 150 researchers and the same number of technical and support staff. "It is necessary to develop the existing basic departments of the ICIG SB RAS at NSU, expand cooperation with other universities in Novosibirsk, as well as actively search for talented specialists from other regions," A. Kochetov believes. The management scheme of the Center is being discussed, which may include a Scientific Coordination Council whose task is to determine the directions of development, which will include leading scientists of the Russian Academy of Sciences and its Siberian branch, representatives of high-tech industries, federal and regional authorities. It is assumed that the operational management will be handled by the executive directorate, which will include representatives of institutions participating in the consortium of users.
"The CGT is planned as an open competence center," summed up A.V. Kochetov. – Its capacity should significantly, at times, exceed the current capabilities of the FITC ICiG SB RAS due to both new infrastructure facilities and their openness for use by specialists from other institutes of the SB RAS and universities, and the range of research – by deepening interdisciplinary and interinstitutional integration. The mission of the Center is to produce new knowledge about life and new technologies for life."
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru