An international scientific conference “Research on Tuberculosis: State of the Question in Russia and Pathway Toward Foundation of a Russian Cluster” was conducted on October 18-19 in Moscow under the auspices of ISTC’s Programmatic Approach Topic “Drug Design and Development”. About 70 participants from Russia, the CIS, EU, Canada, the US Department of Health & Human Service (DHHS), US Bio Industry Initiative, pharmaceutical companies Sequella Inc, Waterloo and Novartis Italia joined the event.

The discussions included an outline of DHHS funded projects presented by the Biotechnology Engagement Program Director, Idongesit Essiet-Gibson, and the ISTC presentation “ISTC: Overview of Projects in TB area and newly proposed Drug Design and Development Targeted Initiative.”

Specialists reviewed current research and results in the areas of TB molecular epidemiology, multi drug-resistant strains, new drugs and vaccine development in Russia and globally. The marketable results of ISTC funded projects in TB (microchips, strips, immunochemical kits, drugs, etc) were presented. 

The discussions ended with the decision to create a cluster of researchers on tuberculosis in Russia that will be chaired by Alexander Apt from the Central Institute of Tuberculosis. The deep involvement of the Bakh Institute of Biochemistry (Russian Academy of Sciences) was crucial to the creation of the new organ. The main goal of the newly proposed structure is to combine the unique capabilities existing in Russia to facilitate research efficiency and innovation, and to create capabilities for large-scale project fundraising. 

Agreement text

For further information, please contact ISTC’s Partner Project Manager (Bioindustry) Natalya Savinova:
savinova@istc.ru