POST - COVID: how scientific developments help in the rehabilitation

DIRECTOR of the Scientific Clinical Center for Precision and Regenerative Medicine of the Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology of Kazan Federal University Albert Rizvanov in an interview with RBC Tatarstan noted that the developments of scientists and doctors of the university help in diagnosing diseases, selecting the most effective therapy and combating the consequences of CORONAVIRUS infection.

— When did your specialists get involved in the development of tests for diagnosing covid and what results were achieved?

When the pandemic began in early 2020, the question arose of how to treat seriously ill patients. At that time, the first test for detecting antibodies to coronavirus was registered in RUSSIA, but it could not be purchased.

Then Kazan Federal University, together with the Ministry of HEALTH of the Republic of Tatarstan, came up with an initiative to create a bank of anti-covid plasma. In order for the plasma of recovered patients to be used, it was necessary to determine the level of antibodies. KFU quickly developed an enzyme immunoassay to determine antibody titer, and in the spring of 2020, on its basis, a program was launched in the republic to create anti-covid plasma and use it to treat seriously ill patients.

In total, more than one thousand procedures were performed in this way. After that, we transferred the technology to the Ministry of Health, new registered tests appeared in Russia, and our scientific developments were translated into clinical practice. Now the Ministry of Health independently determines antibody titers and continues this project. Unfortunately, at that time KFU did not bring it to commercialization due to the lack of industrial partners, but we proved that the university has all the competencies to respond to the challenges facing the healthcare system.