SPbPU and St. Petersburg Clinical Research and Practical Center of Specialized Types of Medical Care (Oncologic) Set Up Scientific and Educational Cluster
On December 28, 2015 Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University was visited by representatives of the state financed health institution “St. Petersburg Clinical Research and Practical Center for Specialized Types of Medical Care (Oncologic)” of the RF Ministry of Health. The delegation included the Director of the Center, Doctor of Medicine, Prof., Honored Doctor of the RF V.M. Moiseenko; Deputy Director for Administrative and Methodological Activity, Doctor of Medicine, Prof. D.E. Matsko; Deputy Director at Large V.V. Fedorov. The main purpose of the visit was to sign a Memorandum on setting up St. Petersburg scientific and educational cluster “Advanced research and technology for oncology” and an Agreement on scientific cooperation between SPbPU and St. Petersburg Clinical Research and Practical Center for Specialized Types of Medical Care (Oncologic).
Life Science is one of the top priority directions in developing the scientific and technological complex of Russia. Scientific interests of the Russian researchers working in this field embrace a large range of issues, from designing devices and on out to most sophisticated molecular and biological experiments. They paid tribute to the potential of Life Science – interdisciplinary research at the intersection of physics, biotechnology, medicine, pharmacology, etc. – in the Polytechnic University, too. Over the recent years SPbPU have been actively developing this field, the Polytechnic University employs internationally recognized scientists, who virtually created sustainable scientific teams here.
However, according to the administration, the Polytechnic University should develop Life Science not independently, but in close cooperation with the best medical centers. Thus, for instance, this autumn the Polytechnic University established contacts with the Federal Almazov North-West Medical Research Center and, as a result, General Director of the Center E.V. Shlyakhto and Rector of SPbPU A.I. Rudskoy signed a Memorandum about setting up the scientific and educational cluster “Translating Medicine”. The cluster also comprises small innovative companies, business partners and several universities (Lesgaft National State University, ITMO University, LETI University and Academy of Chemistry and Pharmacy of St. Petersburg).
Before signing the Memorandum on setting up St. Petersburg scientific and educational cluster “Advanced research and technology for oncology” and the Agreement on scientific cooperation between SPbPU and St. Petersburg Clinical Research and Practical Center for Specialized Types of Medical Care (Oncologic), Rector A.I. Rudskoy spoke about similar experience of cluster cooperation with the Almazov Center. In particular, he said that they actively work over the module on genome, proteome and postgenome technologies, do research in bioinformatics, cell therapy, molecular visualization, computer modeling, etc.
“I would like to see the newly set up cluster performing a double function, - pointed out A.I. Rudskoy. – First, this is research, second, this is an educational component. We are focused on long-term goals; improve the quality and competitiveness of our research and professional education. That is why, let us make joint efforts to create the best conditions for developing the medical and technical education and, of course, science.” At the same time, the strategic objective of the cluster is to create a segment of medicine based on the aggregate of breaking-through technologies in oncology, which would make it possible to launch new high-tech products and services, and ensure fast spread of the advanced technology in medicine and pharmaceutical branch.
Director of St. Petersburg Clinical Oncology Center V.M. Moiseenko also emphasized the need for ensuring favorable conditions in the cluster for research work in the field of general public health care and training of qualified staff for the medical institutions involved in oncology medical care. Moreover, Dr. Moiseenko suggested that “this cluster should grow as much as possible”, and asked, given the capacities of the Supercomputer Center of SPbPU, if it is possible to access remotely and store the databases of the oncology center.
According to the action plan, within the next year it is necessary to develop and approve Reference Terms about the Coordination Council of the cluster “Advanced Research and Technology for Oncology” and a Scientific Program and Reference Terms about the activities of the joint research laboratory “Interdisciplinary Research of Nanosystems for Oncology”. Moreover, it is planned to hold a joint scientific conference by subjects: bioinformatics, high performance computations “Big Data”, visualization and image recognition methods, cell technologies, and their application in oncology and cancer treatment. In addition, in 2016 SPbPU and “St. Petersburg Clinical Scientific and Practical Center for Specialized Types of Medical Care (Oncologic)” will begin to prepare joint applications for grants and competitions of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, Russian Science Foundation, Foundation of Advanced Research, etc.
SPbPU Media Center