At the XIII International Youth Scientific School “Problems of Fundamental and Applied Radiobiology” conduced from May 28 to May 31, 2013 in Obninsk a lecture “Cryptobiosis of invertebrates: genetic basics of resistance to extreme environments and superhigh doses of ionizing radiation”, delivered by Mr. Oleg Gusev, an assistant lecturer of the Department of Zoology of Invertebrates and Functional Histology of KFU, Candidate of Biological Sciences, was recognized the best according to participants’ opinion and decision of the organising committee. Mr. Anatoliy Fyodorovich Tsyb, an academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, world-famous scientist, highly-qualified specialist in the field of radiology, oncology, radiation medicine, awarded Mr. Oleg Gusev a Certificate of the Best Lecture.

The radiobiological school for young scientists has been being annually conducted for more than ten years on the basis of the Medical Radiological Scientific Centre (MRSC) in Obninsk. In 2004 the Program International Council of the Academy of Science of CIS countries “Modern problems of radiobiology: science and practice” conferred this school international status. A traditional course includes newest achievements in radiobiology, medical radiology, radioecology, as well as inn related fields. Lectors of the School are scientists from Russia, CIS and foreign countries, famous in the field of radiobiology.

Mr. Oleg Gusev participated in the School as a lector on a special invitation of organisers and presented a review report about cryptobiosis (ability to completely stop metabolism) of animals and molecular mechanism of this phenomenon. Special attention has been paid to the phenomenon of ability of African chironomids Polypedilum vanderplanki to survive after total fluid loss.

This biological model also arouses an active interest with specialists in radiation protection. Thus, during the School functioning period the opportunities to use cryptobiotic chironomids larvae as “passive dosimeters” with a view to estimate the level of DNA damages accumulated during long-term radiation exposure and also as a source of possible new types of radioprotective compounds were discussed with specialists of the University of Nagasaki (Japan) and Military Medical Academy named after S. M. Kirov.