Leading neuroscientists of SPbPU share their experience with colleagues in Armenia

The delegation of St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, consisting of Olga Vlasova, Director of the Higher School of Biomedical Systems and Technologies (HS BST), Anastasia Bolshakova, Deputy Director for International Affairs of the Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnologies (IBS&B), Ilya Bezprozvanny, Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration at SPbPU, organized and successfully conducted a visiting session of the International Club of Bioengineers of SPbPU in a new international status at the Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy of the Russian-Armenian University.

During the visit, two lectures were held on topical issues in the field of bioengineering, biophysics and neuropathology. The lectures were broadcast online in both Russia and Armenia.

The lecture was delivered by a leading world-renowned scientist, Ilya Bezprozvanny, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor at SPbPU, Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration at SPbPU, Deputy Director for Research, and Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology at the Pavlov Institute of Physiology of the RAS, and a Corresponding Member of the RAS.

In his lecture, Professor Bezprozvanny spoke about the role of dysregulation of calcium signaling in neurons in Alzheimer’s disease, and about new strategies for developing therapies for the treatment of this disease.

The second lecture by Dr. Mivi Kim, a specialist in bioengineering, biophysics, and computational neuroscience, and a recipient of the I.B.M. Frey and the Young Investigator awards from the U.S. Ataxia Foundation, focused on biophysical research of proteins associated with neuropathology using computer modeling.

In her lecture, Dr. Kim discussed a new perspective on the function of proteins that may play a key role in the development of neurodegeneration. The research combines methods from biophysics, structural biology, and computational approaches.

The delegation got acquainted with the laboratories of the Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy of the Russian-Armenian University. At the meeting with RAU Rector Edward Sandoyan and Vice Rector for Science Parkev Avetisyan, further development of cooperation in both scientific and educational fields, academic mobility of students, development of joint educational programs and research projects were discussed.