Master student Maria Golubenko develops microvesicle storage technology

She is one the 18 KFU winners of the Student Startup сompetition with 1 million rubles in funding.

Her project, titled ‘Technology of production and storage of genetically modified microvesicles of mesenchymal stem cells for the therapy of neurodegenerative diseases’, is supervised by Head of the Laboratory of Biomedical Regenerative Technology Ilnur Salafutdinov and Senior Research Associate Svetlana Arkhipova.

“Our research team has long been studying the pathogenesis of ailments and traumas of the nervous system, including lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis. That’s one reason for my choice of the topic. Another one is social importance – multiple sclerosis mostly affects working-age people,” shares Golubenko.

In best case scenarios, acute periods of neurodegenerative diseases can be followed by remissions, but it’s not guaranteed – worsening can be swift and steep and lead to quick death. The winner says, “There is no cure for multiple sclerosis, and existing treatments are targeted at supportive and remission care. We think that the use of microvesicles of mesenchymal stem cells modified by NGF can be effective in such treatment. The NGF molecule looks promising because of its growth-stimulating and immunomodulating properties.”

This project will be the first time when an in vivo model of multiple sclerosis is treated with MSC microvesicles, and everyone is hoping for the best. The funding will be disbursed to remunerations, lab animals, expendables, and other needs.