At the Symposium "Inventing the Future", experts presented forecasts on the introduction of biotechnologies in medicine
Gene therapy for tumours, the mystery of life’s origin on Earth and other potential scientific breakthroughs were analysed by participants of the panel discussion "Biotechnologies of the Future: From Organ Printing to DNA Editing". The event, organised jointly with the Kurchatov Institute National Research Centre, was held on 8 October as part of the II International Symposium "Inventing the Future" at the National Centre RUSSIA.
Artificial intelligence and quantum computing will become catalysts for change in healthcare, noted Olga Kobyakova, Doctor of Medical Sciences and Director of the Central Research Institute for Healthcare Organisation and Informatics of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.
"They can drastically shorten the entire technological chain for bringing medicines and medical devices to market. Until recently, the approval procedures for medicines took 10 or even 15–17 years, but new technologies are already reducing this time to 5–7 years, and in the near future even more. That’s why major IT companies are now entering the field of quantum computing, creating consortia and launching numerous startups. It’s crucial that we don’t fall behind this process," emphasised Olga Kobyakova.
The active development of biotechnology in Russia was highlighted by Irina Alekseyenko, Candidate of Biological Sciences, Head of the Gene Immuno-Oncotherapy Group at the Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Deputy Director General for Science at the Moscow Centre for Innovative Healthcare Technologies. Russian scientists have developed a number of solutions in tumour gene therapy. One approach involves taking lymphocytes from a patient, adding a special receptor that recognises cancer cells, and then reintroducing them into the body. Another involves a DNA-based drug containing two active genes — one triggers the production of a toxin that kills cancer cells, and the other activates the patient’s immune cells to fight the tumour.
"Most people think that a tumour is just a cluster of cancer cells. In fact, it’s always a combination of cancer and normal cells that the tumour adapts for its own needs. For the tumour to grow, it must constantly interact with various systems of the body. The main direction of our work in the near future is to influence these communications between the tumour and its host. I’m confident that we’ll learn to regulate them, thereby blocking the development of the oncological process," explained Irina Alekseyenko.
Studying the interactions between the body’s cells opens up vast opportunities for medical research. However, major breakthroughs will require a deep revision of the current research toolkit. Scientists need to begin studying biochemical processes not through linear algorithms but according to principles similar to those used by neural networks. This view was shared by Maxim Nikitin, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Head of the Nanobiotechnology Laboratory at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Head of the Nanobiomedicine Programme at Sirius University, and laureate of the Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists.
"There are several key challenges in biotech that are particularly important to solve. One is the ability to synthesise genes quickly, precisely, and with a predefined set of variations. Once this becomes possible, it will radically transform the entire field, opening up fundamentally new possibilities. Another crucial task is to learn to simulate the process of life’s origin in laboratory conditions. Understanding this process will help us better grasp how complex biological organisms function," noted Maxim Nikitin.
Another technology that has advanced significantly in recent years and has already improved the lives of patients with various diseases is bioprinting. This field is one of the most successful examples of the convergence of technical and biological sciences. Yusef Khesuani, Co-founder and Managing Partner of 3D Bioprinting Solutions, explained how bioprinting principles are applied in practice.
"Clinical trials are underway around the world, but it is in Russia that the largest number of patients have so far received bioprinted implants. The most remarkable growth occurred over the past year, primarily due to the introduction of hearing restoration procedures using bioprinted constructs, which have already been received by more than 40 people. I am confident that by 2050, bioprinting will become a routine technology and even be included in the compulsory medical insurance system," concluded Yusef Khesuani.
The II International Symposium "Inventing the Future" was held on 7–8 October at the National Centre RUSSIA, bringing together participants from 85 countries and all regions of the Russian Federation. More than 260 Russian and international experts from China, the United States, Italy, Latin America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa took part. Around 50 events were held as part of both the expert programme for professionals and the open programme for all visitors. The full programme and livestream recordings are available at the website.
The International Symposium "Inventing the Future" is organised on the instruction of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, under the auspices of the Decade of Science and Technology in Russia, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. Analytical partner is the VCIOM Analytical Centre. Literary partner is the Eksmo-AST Publishing Group.
Event photobank
Representatives from five countries discussed prospects for collaboration for the sake of the future.
On 8 October a lecture titled "Design Today — Future Tomorrow" was held.
The audience learned how technology influences diplomacy and how to counter the challenges of the digital era.
