Genome editing
Genome editing includes: the study of molecular mechanisms, the development of new technologies and the creation of cell lines for pharmacological screening.
Strategic Academic Unite (SAU) in which the project is being implemented
Global scientific and technological problems to be tackled by the project
Technologies for genome editing appeared during the last few years, triggering a revolution in fundamental life sciences as well as in their practical application. Targeted modification of the genome of any organism - from bacteria to humans - suddenly became accessible to almost every biological laboratory. This has given rise to a whole range of challenges for the world, including for Russia. Without rapid development of genome editing technologies, Russia risks to become an outsider in the field of medicine, agriculture and biotechnology. Research and development in this sphere should be a priority, because a catch-up development dooms to be lagging behind the world leaders. At the global level, because of the apparent ease of genome editing technologies, a gap appeared between the breadth of their use and the level of understanding of their mechanisms. This has led to a paradoxical situation: it is clear that in genome editing many breakthroughs are possible that would fundamentally improve technologies and expand the range of solvable problems, but there is no clear understanding of what needs to be done to achieve this goal. Solving this problem will allow to fully realize the great potential of genome editing in medicine, biotechnology and agriculture. Precisely in these areas advanced development is possible to address the specific Russian challenges.
Objective of the project
The main objective of the project is to create a radically new arsenal of instruments for genome editing that will allow solving a wide range of problems - from developing new breeds of plants and animals for agriculture to treating a large variety of diseases. As a practical application of these tools, cell lines used for the search for new drugs and to test the safety of new chemical products will be engineered in the project.
Expected outcomes of the project
The main scientific and practical results of the project include:
• creation of new technologies for genome editing, including new enzymes, new ways to deliver genetic material and new control techniques of intracellular events to influence the outcome of editing;
• the creation of cell lines for the search for drugs against Parkinson's disease, influenza, breast cancer;
• creation of cell lines for toxicity testing of new products of the chemical industry, without the use of animals;
• development of new methods of therapy of lung cancer and melanoma.
In addition, a major organizational outcome of the project will be the creation of a strong Russian center of research and development in the field of genome editing, able to solve problems of any level and to compete with the world's leading players in this field.
Project's team (clue collaborators)
Partners of the project
  • Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS;
  • Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS;
  • Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology;
  • Institute of molecular and cellular biology SB RAS;
  • LLC "SibEnzyme » ;
  • ZAO MBS-Technology;
  • University Paris 11 (France);
  • Kazan Federal University;
  • Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.