Today, on June 12, the Russian Federation State Award Ceremony was held in the Kremlin.
State Awards are given for outstanding achievements in science, culture, human rights advocacy, and charity.
“2021 in Russia is Year of Science and Technology. This is a sign of our profound appreciation of Russian scientists, who earn glory for our country at all times, making tremendous contributions to human progress in many branches of knowledge. The strength of Russian science and Russian scientific schools manifested vividly last year, when scientists were expected to save us from the coronavirus pandemic. And our researches did succeed. They triumphed, I would say. They created a safe, highly effective COVID vaccine Sputnik V, allowing Russia to make the vaccine available to our citizens and offer much needed help to other countries. This is Russia’s responsibility towards the world, as a leading scientific power. I am going to emphasize that this result was achieved thanks to accumulation of unique knowledge, including when other vaccines were created. The Ebola vaccine, for example. The solutions found by Russian scientists open a path to other long-awaited vaccines against many other viral diseases,” President of Russia said.
Vladimir Putin mentioned the great progress and contribution made by Russian scientists in fundamental physics. Yevgeny Aleksandrov and Valery Zapassky invented a new method for investigating the structure of materials by registering magnetic properties on atomic level.
“This method has lifted the veil on how materials develop from elementary particles. This is important for technology development in construction, energy and medicine. This is important for development of the outer space and the World Ocean. This knowledge leads us to a new revolution in science and technology, to production of quantum computers, which will be a tremendous boost to science. Russia has a secure position in this area,” the head of state emphasized.
“All of us, the entire country – all of Russia are proud of you and wish you the best of health and further success for the benefit of the Motherland,” Vladimir Putin said.
For the development and introduction into healthcare practice in Russia of effective recombinant vaccines against Ebola and the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), as well as for the development of the technique for building viral systems for delivery of cassettes with insertion of the gene of Ebola virus glycoprotein and the gene of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein, the State Award in science and technology is awarded to:
Aleksandr Ginzburg, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after Honorary Academician N.F. Gamaleya of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation;
Denis Logunov, Correspondent Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Deputy Director of the National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after Honorary Academician N.F. Gamaleya of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation; and
Sergey Borisevich, Correspondent Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the 48th Central Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense.
The team ensured a breakthrough in new viral vector platforms for creating recombinant viral vaccines and medications for gene therapy, and in research of expression of target genes in various types of cells.
Panels of original target vectors have been created on the basis of human and animal recombinant adenoviruses, vesicular stomatitis virus, and lentiviral vectors. The most successful application of the platform was demonstrated with the GamEvac and GamEvac-Combi vaccines against Ebola and Sputnik V against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).
The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the medication have been investigated, including pre-clinical trials on primates, and clinical trials. The development and improvement of the vector platforms, and the introduction of these science products into industrial practice lead to the creation of fundamentally new medications. These medications have been formally registered for use in practical healthcare.
According to Denis Logunov, the award winning work resulted from unprecedented cooperation of the country’s leadership and the President personally, the Government, sectoral ministries, the Ministry of Healthcare, and the Ministry of Defense, which ensured a quick solution.
For creating a fundamental multidisciplinary biomedical approach to treatment, reconstruction and rehabilitation for head and neck organs, the 2020 State Award of the Russian Federation in science and technology is awarded to:
Yevgeny Choinzonov, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the Cancer Research Institute of the Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences;
Igor Reshetov, Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the Levshin Institute of Cluster Oncology of I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation;
and Sadulla Abakarov, Honored Physician of the Russian Federation, Dean of the Stomatological Department of the Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation.
The team created a highly effective process flow for treatment, reconstruction and rehabilitation for malignant head, neck and face tumors, with the patient survival rate increasing to 95%.
The scientists have developed and put in practice a set of measures for single-stage removal of malignant tissue and plastic reconstruction of the head and face, with implantation of most sophisticated, comprehensive autogeneic grafts and bioartificial transplants based on new materials, using the most advanced computer, additive (cross-sectional) and cellular technologies. Those include installation of complex jaw structures. The team of scientists has developed their own multistage system for restoring speech function, and other means for complete rehabilitation and socialization of patients.
Photo on the page and on the main page: Mikhail Metzel / TASS
