Scientists at the World Youth Festival spoke about modern challenges in the field of virology and the fight against epidemics

On March 5, as part of the scientific program of the World Youth Festival, a session “The World of infections and epidemics: How to fight dangers” was held, at which Russian and foreign experts spoke about their experience in combating epidemics and what lies ahead.

The session discussed fundamental research and development designed to save humanity from infections and epidemics, as well as ensuring biological safety, new opportunities that open up within the framework of international cooperation. The pace of development of engineering approaches in the field of biology has led humanity to a surge in technologies that make it possible to create synthetic living systems and modify natural ones. Such knowledge creates a large space of opportunities for the development of the bioeconomy in all its directions.     

The session was attended by the Director of the State Scientific Center Institute of Immunology of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, the President of the Russian Association of Allergists and Clinical Immunologists Musa Khaitov, Deputy Director for Scientific Work of the National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after N.F. Gamaleya Denis Logunov, Head of the Kurchatov Genome Center, National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute" Maxim Patrushev, Researcher at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Biocubafarma Tailin Lao Gonzales. The session was moderated by the Chairman of the Council of Young Scientists of Medical and Pharmaceutical Organizations of Higher Education and Science Elena Maslenkova.

Scientists from leading research centers in Russia and Cuba, experts in the field of virology, epidemiology, and biotechnology spoke about the most reliable protection against epidemics - vaccines and innovative medicines, modern challenges in the field of virology, immunology, experience in combating epidemics, the role of forming a National Genetic Information Base in fight against pandemics.

Teams of modern scientists are exploring inaccessible fundamental areas in immunology, epidemiology, creating biotechnologies that make it possible to preserve the greatest value of this world - human life. Mir-19 was created in six months and showed high effectiveness in treating coronavirus, demonstrating the ability of our scientists to work quickly and respond to the most pressing biosafety challenges:

"Our country has developed a unique technological platform that made it possible to quickly create MIR-19, a drug that eliminates the severe course of covid. If new dangerous infections appear, this platform will be used to defeat them,” noted Musa Khaitov.

According to Denis Logunov, the developed vector platforms make it possible to quickly obtain new candidate vaccines against pathogens that have not previously circulated in the human population, which have already proven themselves during the Ebola epidemic and the Covid pandemic.

“The mRNA platform, which has now been developed at the Gamaleya Institute, has not only proven its effectiveness and safety, but also allowed us to prepare for infections that do not yet exist. Our institute is currently developing vaccines for the main types of viruses that can cause viral pandemics. This approach is the basis for proactively ensuring the biosafety of our country and the world,” says Denis Logunov.

Kurchatov Institute Research Center has developed a state information system program in the field of genetic information. The development of biological data analysis systems is the only path to revolutionary technologies, which will ensure technological sovereignty, including in the aspect of combating emerging infectious and epidemiological dangers.

«The national database of genetic information being created at the Kurchatov Institute will make it possible not only to collect and store, but also to analyze large amounts of genetic information. With the help of artificial intelligence, we will put the development of new genetic technologies on stream, and will also be able to predict possible biogenetic threats of the future. Such a platform of national genetic information and its technological solutions are already available to scientists at the Kurchatov Institute. “Soon it will become the basis for combining the results of the work of the country’s research groups,” - said Maxim Patrushev.

The Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Cuba is a unique biotechnology company that implements a high-performance complex for the development of vaccines and innovative drugs. In December 2023, representatives of Russia signed a memorandum with them, which made it possible to implement bilateral ties in the scientific and technological field. A researcher at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Biocubafarma said that the Abdala and Soberana vaccines showed more than 90% effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2, and were used to vaccinate the entire population of Cuba, preventing the devastating consequences of the pandemic COVID-19.

“Last year we visited various scientific centers in Moscow and found a number of opportunities for cooperation in the field of combating pathogens. For Cuba, this is a very promising cooperation, because Russia is a huge country, with enormous scientific resources and excellent experience ,” comments Tailin Lao Gonzales.

At the end of the session, the experts came to the conclusion that Russian technologies and developments allow the country to effectively ensure the safety and health of our citizens. Available platforms make it possible to predict and quickly respond to new biological risks and threats, quickly deciphering the genomic structure of pathogenic viruses and synthesizing drugs that protect against their influence. Active international cooperation allows our country to achieve sustainable high results, as well as help partner countries and ensure international biosafety.

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The World Youth Festival is taking place at the Sirius Federal Territory from March 1 to 7, 2024, as per the decree issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at fostering international youth cooperation.

The Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh) is the organizer of the World Youth Festival, with the Directorate of the World Youth Festival serving as the operator for WYF-2024.