NTI Competence Center “Molecular Engineering in Life Sciences”

Molecular engineering is a unique field that enables the creation of living systems (from molecules and cells to entire organisms) with tunable properties.

Molecular engineering is the technological basis for both fundamentally new markets, such as personalized medicine and nutrition, functional biomaterials, rapid diagnostic systems, etc., and the radical restructuring of existing markets, such as the feed, food ingredients, and fertilizer industries.

The technologies being developed will ensure the sustainable and efficient development of key industries and markets: from pharmaceuticals and medicine to the food industry, agriculture, energy, and the chemical industry.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The Center has the following fundamental strategic goals:

• Development of world-class technological platforms to create tools for the production of new molecules (biopolymers, proteins, enzymes), bioproducts, cells, and organisms. Additionally, an important focus of the Center is the development of platforms to combat infectious diseases, as well as information technologies for modeling molecular properties.
• Creation of innovative expert analytical services that will support the biotechnological transformation of industries and markets, including at the legal and managerial levels.
• Implementation of educational programs capable of providing molecular engineering with qualified specialists.

CONSORTIUM

The Center’s consortium, based at the Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, comprises 32 organizations, including 9 universities and 20 commercial organizations—industrial partners—as well as 3 expert organizations.

As a result of collaboration within the consortium, universities and research organizations will gain opportunities to expand their infrastructure and bring their products to NTI markets, while companies will be able to save resources on the transition to innovative approaches and improve the qualifications of their employees.

Work to expand the Consortium will be carried out with the involvement of the «Technology Platform BioTech2030» Association, as an industry associative structure.

Projects and Educational Activities

PROJECTS

The Competence Center is implementing the following scientific and technical projects:

• Development of a new technological platform for creating rapid diagnostic systems.
  The results of this work will simplify and reduce the cost of analyzing various pathogens without losing clarity and sensitivity.
• Development of new technological platforms to combat existing and emerging viral infections.
  The project will include the development of a platform of inactivated viruses in protein complexes specifically aimed at activating a long-term cellular immune response, as well as the creation of cell lines from farm animals resistant to the most dangerous viral infections.
  The coronavirus pandemic has clearly demonstrated the importance of technological advances in the fight against viruses. This project will lead to the creation of new, convenient vaccines and drugs for COVID-19 and other potential infections, not only in humans but also in farm animals.

Technological Sovereignty Event:

• Development of new technological platforms for the production of recombinant proteins and enzymes with unique functions.
  Proteins, including enzymes, are used in the food, light industry, and chemical industries, as well as agriculture and pharmaceuticals. New challenges and agendas require the creation of unique molecular systems.

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

The educational programs implemented within the Center bridge the natural sciences and humanities. As a result of this training, specialists possess sufficient research skills, as well as practical knowledge in the commercialization of biotechnology projects. Graduates will be able to establish themselves in NTI markets such as Foodnet, Healthnet, Econet, Sportnet and others.

The consortium will house at least one specialist program, four undergraduate programs, 24 master’s programs, and seven doctoral programs. The number of full-time students currently stands at approximately 1,000, and this number is planned to increase of 1,5 times by 2025.

A portfolio of more than 50 continuing professional education programs will be implemented. The number of students taking these courses will be at least 4,000 people per year by 2025.

Team