Research Youth Laboratory “Cellular Biotechnology”
Research Youth Laboratory “Cellular Biotechnology”

Type

Laboratory

Department

Institute of Medicine

Head:

Diana Salikhova

Head of Laboratory

Structural unit: Institute of Medicine.

The Laboratory aims to develop new drugs for the treatment of neurological diseases and to test the initial efficacy of existing drugs.

Laboratory Resources

The laboratory facilities enable the use of the following research methods:

  • • PCR analysis
  • • Western blotting
  • • Cultivation methods
  • • Spectrophotometry
  • • Flow cytometry
  • • Microscopy
  • • Histological examination

Equipment Fleet

Cell culture equipment:

  • o biosafety laminar flow unit
  • o incubators
  • o a microscope
  • o centrifuges
  • o refrigerators
  • o ultra-low-temperature freezers
  • o cryopreservation equipment
  • o orbital shakers
  • o vortexers
  • o spectrophotometers
  • o cell counters, etc.

Molecular genetic research equipment:

  • DNA/RNA extraction cabinet
  • thermal cyclers and electrophoresis apparatus
  • centrifuges, etc.

Histology equipment:

  • microtome
  • paraffin embedding stations
  • cryostat
  • fluorescence microscope, etc.

The laboratory team conducts research into regenerative processes in neural tissue in such diseases as ischemic stroke, traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer’s disease.

Partners

Industrial partner: Finforge Biotech LLC

Main scientific directions
  • Genetic modification of cell cultures
  • Directed differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells
  • Study of the functional characteristics of extracellular vesicles
  • Experimental transplantation of stem/progenitor cells
  • Study of regenerative processes in nervous tissue
Achievements
Developed and characterized:
  • a prototype biomedical cell product consisting of neural stem cell cultures differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells;
  • a prototype drug based on extracellular vesicles isolated from conditioned media of neural stem cells were developed and characterized.
The drugs are already undergoing preclinical trials and have the potential to improve cognitive function and provide a cerebroprotective effect.