Center for Innovative Development in Translational Medicine Presented at the Ministry of Health of Tatarstan

Vice-Rector for Biomedicine Andrey Kiyasov spoke in front of Minister Adel Vafin and chief medical officers of leading hospitals.

The planned center is a part of the program “Universities as Centers of Innovative  Development” by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia.

Dr. Kiyasov said, in particular, “We have opportunities which are unique for Russia because we are developing ahead of time. The specifics are that we take account of the genomic and fourth industrial revolutions, of the new era of personalized medicine based on omics and digital technologies. To implement this vision, we need centers for innovative development.”

The project’s main steps will be the promotion of new competences and services through KFU’s collective use centers (genomics, microscopy, pharmaceutics, and others), as well as commercialization of local research. In other news, a KFU-Elsevier Expert Center for Bioinformatics is in the plans.

As for the already existing projects, the Bone Marrow Donor Registry has been in development. Aside from that, KFU MedTech Accelerator for Biotechnology and Center for Public Health Risks (with N.A. Semashko National Research Institute of Public Health) will be established.

The first IT Clinic in Russia and the Center for Cell Technology are in the plans, as well as the Center for Reproductive Technology and Perinatal Genetic Diagnostics. The existing pharmaceutical production line will be expanded in cooperation with Tatchempharmpreparaty and Izvarino Pharma. The production of medical simulators and robots will continue.

Medical education is planned to rely more heavily on project activities, with a tighter focus on network programs with Russian and overseas partners. A big project with the Ministry of Health of Tatarstan, tentatively titled “Factory of Virtual Medical and Biological Research”, is in development. Two joint departments – with Izvarino Pharma and Elsevier – are being negotiated.

The Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology’s new facilities will be occupied by a vivarium for big animals and a wet lab.

Minister Adel Vafin had this to say about all the big plans, “We need to join all these projects as soon as possible. AI capabilities now allow for a quick inspection of genomics defects. We have to start our database on patients with genomic approach. It’s necessary to involve young scientists and start this work promptly; tomorrow those who have started earlier will be the winners.”

The Minister ordered to establish a new research council at the Ministry of Health, where all the leading medical institutions of the region will be represented. The attending chief medical officers opined that the strategy is very promising.