Microbiota Health Test
The project of the MIPT Center for Living Systems received a grant
to develop a microbiota health assessment test
The project of the Center for Living Systems of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, dedicated to the development of test systems for microbiota research, was awarded a grant from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. Atlas Biomedical Holding is a commercial partner of the project, its task is to control its implementation.
Within the framework of the Medicine 2020 program, most significant scientific projects that are funded by the state imply the presence of an industrial partner. As a rule, the role of a private investor is reduced to the commercialization of innovation – its promotion and introduction to the market. The project, which is being implemented by a team of MIPT scientists in cooperation with the Atlas Medical Center, includes research and development (R&D). At the same time, all significant results of intellectual activity will become the property of the Center.
This initiative is dedicated to one of the promising areas in modern science – the study of the human gut microbiota (the totality of all microorganisms of a single individual). The number of bacterial cells significantly exceeds the number of their own, about 15 times. They carry more than 3 million genes, while the rest of the cells have 100 times fewer of them.
It is planned to collect the results of analyses of microbiotic material of patients diagnosed with inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Almost everyone falls into the risk group, as constant stress, poor nutrition, poor ecology, as well as taking antibiotics seriously worsen the state of the intestinal microflora. The study of its effect on the health of the whole organism is becoming an increasingly urgent task of modern medicine.
"Many scientists, both international and Russian, have proved that the state of microorganisms in the intestine is associated with certain diseases. Based on the study of special control groups of patients, we plan to launch a test to assess the health of the microbiota, including using the sequencing method. It will allow us to determine how diverse the microflora of the patient is, and whether there are any pathogenic microorganisms that affect her condition," comments Dmitry Alekseev, PhD, Head of the Bioinformatics Laboratory of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Medicine of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency."
In Europe, many healthcare projects are successfully implemented within the framework of public-private partnership (PPP). In Russia, PPP, as a form of cooperation, is still at the stage of formation.
"One of the advantages of public-private partnership is the possibility of separation of competencies in the work on the project. The State assumes a significant share of responsibility for financing and expertise. The commercial partner, as a rule, invests in the marketing part of the project. We hope that the result of our cooperation will be the introduction of innovative technology into the treatment process that can bring real benefits to people," comments Sergey Musienko, CEO of Atlas Biomedical Holding.
It is planned that patients of the Atlas Medical Center will be able to pass these tests in a pilot mode, and then they will become available to residents of all Russia.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru29.10.2014