KFU and Gamaleya National Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology agree to work on new vaccines

Director of Gamaleya Center Alexander Gintsburg and Rector Lenar Safin held talks on 27 August.

The parties discussed a number of possible directions for joint scientific work, including the development of new vaccines and modification of existing ones.

The Rector noted the huge contribution of the research center to solving fundamental problems in epidemiology, medical and molecular microbiology, and immunology. Lenar Safin paid special attention to the development of vaccines during the coronavirus, emphasizing the importance of the Center’s work for the society. Famously, the Center issued Sputnik V, Russia’s most popular COVID vaccine which was also sold to many other countries.

Alexander Gintsburg, in turn, highly appreciated the scientific potential of Kazan University in medicine, as well as the vast experience of the university in clinical trials, confirmed by domestic and international certificates.

“We are interested in close cooperation with KFU scientists, in using your production facilities and laboratories to subsequently implement developments vital for people as efficiently and quickly as possible. I am sure that the experience of one of the leading universities in Russia, as well as in the Republic of Tatarstan in general, in creating and promoting innovative developments, will help us in solving this task,” said the Director.

One of the most important directions for joint work, according to Alexander Gintsburg, is the creation of therapeutic vaccines based on neo-antigens for the treatment of cancer.

The sides also discussed the possibility of cooperation in the development of an improved vaccine against tuberculosis with subsequent integration into the national vaccination calendar and in the creation of a new generation of antibacterial drugs to address the problem of multi-drug resistance in bacteria.