New infrastructural facilities will be founded at the KFU Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology – Biobank and a vivarium.

Albert Rizvanov, Chief Researcher of the Division of Biology and Biotechnology, professor of Department of Genetics, informed that the equipment for the Biobank had been partially purchased, and was being set up.  

The project is mainly aimed at the collection of various biological samples and their storage in liquid nitrogen (extra low temperatures): bone marrow, cord blood, other human cells and tissues to be transplanted. Alber Rizvanov explained, “Biobank will store tumors dissected out oncology patients at operations. It is meant to make a collection of unique samples for further studying growth drivers and searching adequate medicine to inhibit the growth of specific tumors.” It is possible to store samples of cells and tissues affected by other diseases, neurodegenerative or of unknown nature in particular.

“It often happens that after a research has been conducted, there is a necessity to expand and supplement it, or to look at the disease from another angle,” Albert Rizvanov described, “However, it takes a lot of time to collect new samples, to find new patients, especially if the disease is rare. Biobank provides necessary collections of cells and other bio samples at hand; it is of great importance and value.”

Another KFU infrastructure project is a vivarium used for breeding and raising pure lines of laboratory animals, mice and rats. Today we are busy with purchasing adequate equipment and plan to have it launched by the end of this calendar year.

Why is it so essential for KFU to have a vivarium? Albert Rizvanov stressed, “In a research one should work with certified animals. “ “Some people still believe researchers catch animals in the street to use it for experiments. That is not true. Animals of unknown origin, with different genetics, diseased or parasitized, are not suitable,” Albert Rizvanov said. According to his words, animals for scientific study are bred in better conditions; they are tested for pathogens and have a health passport.  

Transgenic animals are of special importance for researches if they have a gene of any human disease appeared as a result of genetic manipulations. “Such animals start suffering from a disease like people do, “ Rizvanov said, “It means we can try to use them in searching for drugs. If we can stop or slow down the animal’s disease development, such medicine will cure humans.”