Focusing on science as a way of life, sustainable development goals as a scientist's mission and new technological developments: RUDN honored leaders in science and innovation

The Prize winners are authors of high-level publications, textbooks and monographs, leaders in attracting external funding to RUDN University, creating and commercialising the results of academic activity, executors of grants from major scientific foundations. Each winner has made a significant contribution to the development of natural and technical or social and human sciences, developed samples of progressive technologies.

Leading scientists – laureates of the Science and Innovation Prize

Alexander Cherednichenko, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Physical and Colloidal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, RUDN University. Winner in the nomination ‘natural-scientific and technical directions’.

Research interests: chemistry and technology of industrial organic synthesis, thermocatalytic technologies of oil and gas processing, synthesis and practical use of biologically active compounds, physical and chemical analysis of materials.

One of the key developments of Alexander Cherednichenko is the technology of production of components of high-performance plastic scintillators. As a result of the research, a pilot plant for synthesis of important components for production of ionising radiation detectors was created.

About the developments

“This is important research. The fact is that in modern industrial production and medicine technologies based on the use of isotopes and ionising radiations are used more and more often. For their registration and control of radiation situation dosimetric control devices are used. Plastic scintillators are simple from the point of view of manufacturing and effective from the point of view of application as sensors for these devices. For industrial production of plastic scintillators, a number of components of various functional purposes are used, which were produced by RUDN University scientists during this project,” Alexander Cherednichenko.

Elena Popkova, Doctor of Economics, Professor of the Department of International Economic Relations, Faculty of Economics, RUDN University. Laureate in the nomination ‘social and humanitarian areas’.

Elena Popkova's areas of research are: ‘smart’ agriculture, AgroTech, sustainable development of agro-industrial complexes. Among the scientist's developments is a set of scientific and practical developments for sustainable development of agro-industrial complexes based on automation of ‘smart’ farms. The main areas of practical application of the developments include greenhouse automation systems, automated plant condition monitoring, carbon footprint management, innovative methods of controlling production processes on ‘smart’ farms.

About the mission

The Sustainable Development Goals are not just a set of targets. Central to research are innovations in cleantech, sustainable economic growth and digitalisation that become the basis for achieving a sustainable future and food security.

About Developments

Digital agriculture, Deep-Learning, smart irrigation systems, blockchain for the agricultural industry, Big Data integration, are all improving agriculture. Among the socially important, environmental and economic benefits of the author's developments are: reduction of manual labour costs; optimisation of conditions for plant growth; resource savings; flexibility in management,” Elena Popkova.

Scientific team of the Institute of Medicine consisting of Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Timur H. Fatkhudinov, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor Andrey V. Yelchaninov, PhD in Medical Sciences, Associate Professor Andrey V. Makarov. Laureates in the nomination ‘natural-scientific and technical directions’.

The field of research of scientists covers cell biology, inflammation, regeneration and oncogenesis, as well as the development of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in molecular and cellular medicine.

“Macrophages play a key role in regulating inflammation, regeneration and carcinogenesis. The cells have remarkable plasticity and fulfil multiple functions. This inspired the team to look for ways to apply macrophages in immune cell therapy.” Timur H. Fatkhudinov

The scientists obtained results on in vitro and in vivo disease models confirming the potential of macrophages in tumour therapy: the obtained native and polarised macrophages can be used both as a therapeutic agent and as an agent for the delivery of anti-tumour drugs to the area of tumour formation. The work of the scientific team resulted in the development of a prototype of a biomedical cellular product for immune cell therapy, which aims to improve the efficiency of treatment of socially significant diseases, including cancer.

Alexander Chupin, PhD in Economics, Associate Professor at the Department of International Economic Relations, Faculty of Economics, RUDN University.

His research interests include economics of innovation, transport policy, logistics, creation of digital transport ecosystems.

Alexander Chupin develops approaches to the creation of intelligent transport systems, which will become the basis for a unified transport space of the EAEU.

The scientist has proposed innovative tools for diagnosing the state of a business (computer programme – calculator of the stagnation level of an enterprise) and forecasting its efficiency (patent ‘Model of forecasting indicators of the efficiency of a business entity’).

These solutions allow to determine the state of business, identify its ‘pains’, risks and vulnerabilities; to give an assessment with the help of a system of indicators, to develop competent management decisions for the development of business and strengthening its sustainability.

About science as a way of life

“Science is not just a job, it is a way of life, a constant search for answers to the questions that concern us. I am proud to call myself part of this great mission. My research topics are related to transport policy. I focus on digitalisation, for example, analysing how intelligent transport systems will change the economic reality of the EAEU,” Alexander Chupin