Sirius University of Science and Technology

Research Center for Genetics and Life Sciences

Department of Genetics involves conducts research in various fields of life sciences, including neurogenetics (molecular genetic basis of brain functioning), medical genetics (genomic studies of the mechanisms of aging and human diseases), agrogenetics, study of gene pools (genetic and genomic studies of biodiversity in ecology, agrobiology, and biotechnology).

Evgenii Ivanovich Rogaev

Director of the Scientific Center of Genetics and Life Sciences, Head of the Department of Genetics.

Doctor of Biological Sciences, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, laureate of two State Prizes of the Russian Federation (1996, 2017).

World-class scientist:

• has developed a DNA-based identity and kinship analysis;
• has read the mammoth DNA;
• used to supervise the genetic examinations to establish the authenticity of the remains of the royal Romanov family;
• explores genes and molecular genetic mechanisms responsible for hereditary human diseases.

Department works on a set of scientific projects devoted to both the fundamental mechanisms of the immune response and homeostatic and functional features of the immune system, including the development of various pathological conditions. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of immunity is necessary for the search for therapeutic targets and the development of new approaches to the treatment of diseases, in particular, personalized ones.

Sergei Arturovich Nedospasov

Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences with a degree in physical and chemical biology, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences with a degree in biotechnology.

One of the top 100 most cited Russian scientists.

Research interests include mechanisms of innate immunity, physiology of cytokines, reverse genetics and genome editing, mouse models of human diseases, and cancer antigens.

Includes world-class research activities at the nexus of physics, engineering, molecular biology, nano- and biotechnology, fine organic, inorganic and bioorganic synthesis, cell technologies, etc. In particular, work is underway to create smart nanobiomaterials of a new generation for in vitro diagnostics and promising medical applications.

Maksim Petrovich Nikitin

One of the pioneers in the development of "smart" nanomaterials based on hybrid ligand-dependent nanosystems operating on the molecular computing principles.

Laureate of the Presidential Prize of the Russian Federation in science and innovation for young scientists - 2017 "for the development of “smart” nanomaterials of new generation for biomedical applications and the development of foundations of autonomous biomolecular computing systems for theranostics".

Winner of Berlin Falling Walls Young Innovator 2016, the international competition for young innovators.

Winner of the international Biosensors Award 2016.

Member of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for Science and Education (since April 2020).

Engaged in the creation of new varieties of agricultural plants with genome editing technologies. For example, one of the projects is aimed at obtaining the first domestic grape varieties with complex resistance to powdery mildew and gray rot. The Agrobiotechnology Resource Center operates unique equipment for working with plant cells, their genetic modification, as well as a set of climatic chambers for subsequent work with transformants.

Elena Konstantinovna Khlestkina

Doctor of Biological Sciences in Genetics, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Director of N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, Federal Research Center, chairman of the Novosibirsk branch of Vavilov society of geneticists and breeders.

Member of the Federal Register of Experts in the Scientific and Technical Sphere of the Russian Federation, Member of the European Association for Research in Plant Breeding (EUCARPIA), Member of the Association of Scientific Editors and Publishers (ANRI).

Develops innovative functional materials based on nature-like and biodegradable systems for biomedical applications.

Dmitrii Anatolievich Ivanov

Advisor for scientific and innovative programs to the head of the Talent and Success Foundation.

One of the leading Russian experts in creating new functional materials for solar energy, biomedicine, and membrane technologies.

Scientific research in computer modeling of the structures and interactions of biological macromolecules and low molecular weight agents, creation of methods for the directed design of protein molecules with a given structure and properties, creation of original dynamic models for describing the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of original targeted drugs, development of new methods of analysis for genomic and transcriptome sequencing.

Research areas:

• Research in the methods of computer modeling of structures and interactions of biological macromolecules and low molecular weight agents;
• Creation of methods of the directed design of protein molecules with a given structure and properties;
• Creation of original dynamic models to describe the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of original targeted drugs;
• Development of new methods of analysis for genomic and transcriptome sequencing of mammals and microbiota;
• Educational activities in the modeling of molecular interactions, virtual screening of therapeutic agents, strategies for the computer development of new drugs.

Research Center for Translational Medicine

Develops new approaches to the creation of drugs for medical and veterinary use based on recombinant proteins and small molecules. Scientific and educational activities are focused on the design and optimization of new molecules, medicinal chemistry, in vitro and in vivo research of innovative drugs.

Roman Alekseevich Ivanov

PhD in Molecular Immunology (University of Utrecht, Netherlands).

From 2005 till 2019 led development of BIOCAD – the biggest Russian biotech company, first as medical director, then as vice president for research and development. Supervised the creation of biosimilar and original monoclonal antibody-based drugs. Netakimab (anti-IL17) and prolgolimab (anti-PD1) became the first Russian original monoclonal antibodies-based drugs that have received market authorization.

Research areas:

• Development of innovative small-molecule drugs;
• Development of mRNA vaccine platform;
• Novel platform for production of peptide-based therapeutics;
• Search for novel medicines to overcome and prevent resistance to antibiotics.

Research activities aimed at improving technologies of recombinant viral vectors, creation of prototypes of biological products for the treatment of severe chronic diseases with a high commercialization potential, and educational activities in gene therapy and technologies for creating biotechnological drugs.

Objectives:

• research activities aimed at improving technologies for recombinant viral vectors;
• educational activities in gene therapy and technologies for creating biotechnological drugs;
• creation of prototypes of biological products with a high commercialization potential;
• creation of prototypes of gene therapy drugs for severe chronic diseases.

Aleksandr Vladimirovich Karabelskii

Co-author of several patents for the production of recombinant proteins (modified interferons and blood coagulation factors, trispecific antibodies), modified viral AAV capsids, new nucleases and alternative signaling domains in CAR-T cells.

Began his professional career at St.Petersburg State University in the laboratory of biochemical genetics and then in Biocad, the Russian high-tech pharmaceutical company, first as a director of the Department of Advanced Research (creation of phage display libraries of antibodies, protein engineering, the introduction of NGS and bioinformatics methods into the process of early development), and then as a director of the department for advanced research, within which a technological platform was created for the development of gene therapy drugs.

Research areas:

• Development of recombinant oncolytic viruses (oncolytic viruses are a fundamentally new class of drugs based on genetically modified (recombinant) viruses capable of specifically multiplying in tumor cells, destroying them and activating the patient's immune system without affecting healthy human cells);
• Development of AAV-based gene therapy drugs (adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are promising targets for creating high-tech medicinal products on their basis for gene replacement therapy and genetic correction. The AAV vector is a 20-nm-diameter protein capsid containing a viral genome with a therapeutic gene inside. The variety of biological properties of natural AAVs makes it possible to select the optimal vector for the delivery of therapeutic genes to any tissue of the human body, and the peculiarity of the AAV life cycle makes it possible to produce high concentrations of viral vectors in laboratories from mammalian cell cultures (for example, in HEK293 cells).

Scientific Center for Cognitive Research

The Center's activities are aimed at acquiring new knowledge about the individual differences of people (at all stages of development starting from birth) in different characteristics that are associated with success in science, sports, or art.

Research in this area will help to develop recommendations for creating individual training programs to prepare specialists who can effectively respond to the challenges of modern society, economy, and science.

The main goals of the Department is the development of novel interdisciplinary approaches to the study of mentoring and the effectiveness of psychotherapy and the creation of a database of brain activity in different situations.

Elena Leonidovna Grigorenko

One of the key professional achievements is the development and adaptation of psychometric tools for assessing cognitive activity, language and speech development in Russia.

Research interests: child development, diagnosis, etiology and therapy of autism, learning difficulties, language and speech development disorders, delinquency.

Research areas:

The research activity is devoted to the study of interpersonal synchronization in the context of educational activities and the psychotherapeutic process, as well as the study of the functioning of the human brain over time.

The research area deals with the determination of the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in Russia by studying the relationship between the characteristics of the manifestation of the disease, demographic factors, genetic and neurophysiological characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorders. Develops professional training programs for specialists and the development of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for dealing with autism spectrum disorders.

Scientific Center for Information Technologies and Artificial Intelligence

Research in and creation of modern robotic systems, based on the optimization and control theory, including artificial intelligence technologies.

Research areas:

1. Search, reconstruction, and parametric representation of libraries of implemented movements of the robotic system, compatible with the given constraints.
2. Search for and implementation of hybrid architectures of the robot control system, providing robust stabilization of the found forced output movements and adaptability to changes in the operating conditions.
3. Testing and development of results for the creation of a scalable technology for motion control by robotic systems during contact operations.

Relevant projects:

Development of robotic approaches and AI algorithms for dynamic manipulation problems in service, industrial and medical applications.

INTERNATIONAL RESEACH CENTER FOR ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Created on behalf of President of Russian Federation in 2022.

RESEARCH AREAS:

• terrestrial and marine ecosystems of the Sochi Black Sea region and the Western Caucasus
• conservation and restoration of biodiversity of the Caucasus Black Sea coast
• forest Carbon Sequestration
• infrastructure and technological solutions for a carbon-neutral urban environment