System hack: how cell gene engineering creates new opportunities for healthcare
Russia is introducing new advances in cellular technologies and genetic engineering into practical medicine. The opportunities that genetic engineering opens up for healthcare were discussed as part of the business programme of the 4th National Congress with international participation "National Healthcare". The Congress takes place at the National Centre RUSSIA on 22 – 23 October 2025.
The event is organised by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and the Roscongress Foundation, with the Russian Research Institute of Health (RIH) of the Ministry of Health of Russia serving as the organisational partner.
A comprehensive set of measures is being implemented in the Russian Federation to translate the latest achievements of cellular technologies and genetic engineering into clinical practice. Thanks to global breakthroughs in cell biology and genetics, unique methods have emerged to treat life-threatening diseases, including cancer, using personalised medicines developed individually for each patient.
Today, special attention is being paid to scaling up the use of CAR-T therapy — a highly effective form of cellular therapy based on genetically engineered immune cells — as well as personalised neoantigen vaccines. The prospects for applying genetically modified immune cell technologies are expanding every year, significantly improving cancer survival rates and strengthening the standing of Russian medicine worldwide. At the cutting edge of science, researchers are developing technological solutions for creating allogeneic "universal" CAR-T cell products and vector systems for in vivo CAR-T therapy, which make it possible to modify cells directly inside the patient’s body.
"In modern medicine, we can clearly see the limits of expanding the use of existing treatment methods and pharmaceuticals in combating diseases that are among the leading causes of death. To change the situation fundamentally, we need entirely new solutions and technologies. The President of Russia has identified technological leadership as one of the key national development goals through to 2030. One such breakthrough in oncology treatment has been the use of immune cell modification technologies with chimeric antigen receptors," said session moderator, Director of the Department for Science and Innovative Development in Healthcare of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation Igor Korobko.
Experts discussed how special legal frameworks can accelerate the introduction of innovative therapies and make them more accessible to patients; how they influence the investment appeal of new developments; which state mechanisms could stimulate the emergence of domestic manufacturers of next-generation vectors for genetic cell modification; and what economic instruments could offset the costs of CAR-T therapy. They also examined the scientific and research challenges, as well as possible barriers to the widespread introduction of advanced therapy products into Russian healthcare.
The discussion brought together State Duma Deputy, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Professor of the Department of Oncology, Haematology and Radiation Therapy at the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University of the Ministry of Health of Russia Alexander Rumyantsev; Director General of the National Medical Research Centre of Haematology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation and Chief Freelance Haematologist of the Ministry of Health of Russia Yelena Parovichnikova; Deputy Director for Educational Activities of the N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Centre of Oncology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation Alexander Petrovsky; Deputy Director General and Director of the Institute of Haematology, Immunology and Cellular Technologies (IHICT) of the Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Centre of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Immunology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation Mikhail Maschan; Chairman of the Healthcare Committee of Saint Petersburg Andrei Sarana; Head of the Translational Medicine Research Centre Group at Sirius University Vasily Reshetnikov; and Head of Local Projects "New Modalities" at AstraZeneca Denis Baranovsky.
