Translational Biomedicine at St. Petersburg State University

St. Petersburg State University received 750 million rubles for the development of translational biomedicine

St. Petersburg State University Press Service

Saint Petersburg State University became the winner of the Russian Science Foundation grant competition. A team of leading scientists of the university will implement a comprehensive project that will combine their efforts in a full cycle: from obtaining and storing biomaterials for research to the creation of new drugs.

Grant support will be provided until the end of 2018. The amount of the grant for the entire period will be 750 million rubles. This will make it possible to provide resource support for scientific research in the field of biomedicine at a new level and turn the discoveries and developments of geneticists, physiologists, bioinformatics, psychologists into new ways of treating human diseases.

"Translational biomedicine is a new concept for Russia. It involves the development of interdisciplinary scientific research that has practical application, is "translated", that is, transferred into practice. It is a worldwide modern practice to support such research, to combine the efforts of specialists in various fields in order to effectively implement their results. Chemists, biologists, and doctors are increasingly receiving funding separately, and this, in my opinion, is reasonable. St. Petersburg University has strong specialists in all the necessary fields of research, which is why my colleagues and I applied for this grant," said Professor Raul Gainetdinov, one of the authors of the new project, head of the Laboratory of Translational Neuroscience and Molecular Pharmacology of St. Petersburg State University.

The project "Translational Biomedicine at St. Petersburg State University" includes the following major blocks:

• Creation and use of a biobank for a comprehensive biomedical study of the fundamentals of human health and longevity;
• Algorithmic bioinformatics;
• Transgenic models of human diseases on experimental animals;
• Molecular design and synthesis of new biologically active compounds for the development of innovative medicines;
• Biodegradable nanoconstructions for pharmacology: creation of biomimetic systems for drug delivery and pathogen blocking.

"We get biomaterials, study them, test the results of animal studies, develop medicines, and then make them more perfect. We start with a person and return to a person – this is how translational biomedicine should work," explained Professor Gainetdinov.

As part of the project, a biobank will be created at St. Petersburg State University, which scientists have already agreed to replenish with St. Petersburg medical institutions, new resource centers will appear in the St. Petersburg State University Science Park, traditionally open to researchers from all countries and scientific organizations of the world, including a modern vivarium.

"Various RNF competitions are designed for the participation of leading and effective teams," said Alexander Vitalievich Khlunov, Director of the Foundation, presenting a list of open competitions within the framework of the international conference "Science of the Future", which was held in St. Petersburg in September this year. Then Alexander Vitalyevich dwelled in particular on this competition, designed to support the development of a set of research areas of universities, and called on the participants of the conference – holders of megagrants of the Government of Russia to take part in competitive procedures.

World-renowned scientists, including holders of government mega-grants and large grants from St. Petersburg State University: Pavel Pevzner, Yuri Chernov, Raul Gainetdinov, Mikhail Krasavin, Tatiana Tennikova, Tatiana Chernihiv, Oleg and Andrey Glotov and others will take part in the work on the new project-the winner of the competition.

ReferenceMore than 150 applications were submitted for the competition, according to the results of the selection, the Russian Science Foundation supported 16 programs providing for the development of scientific organizations and educational institutions of higher education in order to strengthen the human potential of science, conduct world-class research and development, and create high-tech products.

Among the winners are 12 scientific organizations subordinate to the FANO of Russia, 3 universities (Lomonosov Moscow State University, St. Petersburg State University, Far Eastern Federal University) and Nikitsky Botanical Garden (Republic of Crimea).

St. Petersburg State University is one of the largest international scientific and educational centers. A unique Scientific Park has been created and is developing here, open to scientists from all over the world, competitive programs are being implemented to support young scientists. The University has already opened 13 laboratories under the leadership of the world's leading scientists. Scientific discoveries and achievements of professors and graduates of the University, eight of whom are Nobel Prize laureates, have entered the history of world and domestic science and technology.

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