Business programme

Achievements made over the last decades in biotechnology, immunology, molecular biology, and other related disciplines have helped to transition to improved next-generation vaccines, while problems in this area revolve around ensuring mass vaccination and creating a solid evidence base for effective and safe innovative approaches. However, new challenges have risen due to the emergence of previously unknown infections and the spread of infectious epidemics on a global scale. In the current geopolitical situation, Russia must prevent a setback in the development and production of vaccines and maintain the potential for the further development of the industry. The global pharmaceutical community needs to rely on the humanitarian aspect and consolidate international potential for the development of effective tools to warn about infectious threats in an effort to prevent their impact on the planet’s socioeconomic life. How can Russia best realize its potential to ensure the biological security of the nation in the face of new challenges? What innovative developments in vaccinations may have an impact on managing biosecurity risks around the world? Is the global community ready to maintain the paradigm of uniting efforts in the face of the threat posed by infectious epidemics? What role does Russia play as an international partner in preventing new and re-emerging infectious threats amidst the new challenges?

Moderator
Evelina Zakamskaya, Editor-in-Chief, Doctor Channel

Evelina Zakamskaya

Editor-in-Chief, Doctor Channel

Evelina Zakamskaya was born on November 17, 1977, in Baku, and graduated from the Faculty of Philology at Tver State University. She is a presenter for Radio Mayak and for Mir, a television and radio company. Since 2006, she has been an anchor for television channel Russia 24. She writes and presents Mnenie (Opinion), a talk show covering social and political issues, and Idei, menyayushchie mir (World-Changing Ideas), a series of popular science programmes. Evelina Zakamskaya moderates Russia 24 sessions at major international forums. Since 2017 - Editor-in-Chief, Doctor Channel. She is married with two daughters.

Panellists
Aleksandr Gintsburg, Director, National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after the honorary academician N.F. Gamaleya of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Hans Henri P. Kluge, Regional Director for Europe, World Health Organization (online)
Lydia Mikheeva, Secretary, Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation; Chairman of the Board, Research Centre of Private Law under the President of the Russian Federation
Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Health of the Russian Federation
Alexander Semyonov,
Veronika Skvortsova, Head, Federal Medical-Biological Agency of the Russian Federation
Konstantin Chernov, Director of Development, Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Vladimir Chekhonin, Vice President, Russian Academy of Sciences; Head of the Department of Medical Nanobiotechnology of Medical and Biological Faculty, N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation

Aleksandr Gintsburg

Director, National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after the honorary academician N.F. Gamaleya of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation

Born on November 10th,1951 in Moscow. In 1974 graduated from Lomonosov Moscow State University, then took post-graduate course at State Research Institute of genetics and selection of industry-related microorganisms, doctor of biological sciences, professor. Since 1997. headed by State Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology. Gamalei RAMS. Is the head of the lab genetically engineered pathogens NIIEM im.N.F.Gamalei RAMS. Awarded the Certificate of Merit of the Russian Federation, the Honorary Diploma of Medical Sciences, P.Erliha medal, the medal "In memory of the 850th anniversary of PEF" Currently, AL Gunzburg - one of the leading experts in the field of molecular biology and genetics of pathogens, the author of over 300 scientific works, including two monographs. Scientific-practical and pedagogical activity Ginzburg AL combined with a great social work. He chairs the Scientific Council of the Institute and is chairman of Specialized Council for the Protection of candidate and doctoral dissertations in the field of "Microbiology" and "Immunology and Allergology". Alexander Leonidovich is a member of the editorial boards of leading Russian journals in medical microbiology - "Journal of Microbiology, Epidemiology and Immunology" and "Molecular Genetics, Microbiology and Virology." Member of the Scientific Council of the Ministry of Health of the Presidium of Russia, head of the section "Microbiology".

Hans Henri P. Kluge

Regional Director for Europe, World Health Organization

Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge began his term as WHO Regional Director for Europe on 1 February 2020, following his nomination by the WHO Regional Committee for Europe and appointment by the WHO Executive Board.

He has 25 years of experience in medical practice and public health in numerous settings around the world. Having qualified in medicine, surgery and obstetrics from the Catholic University of Leuven in 1994, he began his career as a family doctor in Belgium.

On assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Belgium from 1995, his international experience started in emergencies, working in Liberia and Somalia, coordinating a tuberculosis (TB) control programme and providing medical and public health services in conflict zones. Dr Kluge’s work for MSF in the area of TB control continued with a posting coordinating programmes in prisons in Siberia, and then as the Regional TB Advisor for former Soviet Union countries in Moscow, Russian Federation.

Dr Kluge joined WHO in 1999, as TB and TB-HIV Project Manager at the WHO Country Office in the Russian Federation. During 2004–2009 his focus expanded, as Medical Officer for TB and then becoming Team Leader for the 3 diseases unit (HIV, TB and malaria) at the WHO Country Office in Myanmar, as well as working as a consultant to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on TB.

In 2009, Dr Kluge moved to the WHO Regional Office for Europe, and the following year was appointed Director of the Division of Health Systems and Public Health, and Special Representative of the Regional Director to Combat Multi/Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis. As division director, he led the development of a new WHO European Region vision on health systems for prosperity and solidarity; drove work on a regional study on universal health coverage and financial protection; prioritized a focus on service delivery including integrated and primary health care; and built strong partnerships on health system performance and reforms with the European Commission, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Bank, GAVI, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, civil society and donors.

A Belgian national, Dr Kluge is fluent in English, French, German and Russian, as well as Dutch. He is married and has two daughters. He enjoys running, cycling and gardening.

Lydia Mikheeva

Secretary, Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation; Chairman of the Board, Research Centre of Private Law under the President of the Russian Federation

Professor, Doctor (higher doctorate) of Juridical Sciences, Distinguished Lawyer of the Russian Federation, Deputy of the Secretary of the Civic Chamber
From 1993 she had worked as a lecturer, a lawyer of commercial organizations, was engaged in scientific work, consisted at government service.
Currently acting as Chairman of the Chairman of the Council of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “The Private Law Research Centre under the President of the Russian Federation named after S.S. Alekseev”.
She is a member of the Presidential Council for Codification and Enhancement of Civil Legislation.
She is a member of the research advisory boards of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, of the Ministry of Justice, of the Federal Notarial Chamber.
She is the author of a range of law drafts.

Mikhail Murashko

Minister of Health of the Russian Federation

Born on January 9, 1967 in Sverdlovsk.
1986-1988 – served in the USSR Army.
1992 – graduated from Ural State Medical Institute.
August 1992 – March 1996 – intern; Obstetrician Gynecologist, Komi Republic Hospital in Syktyvkar.
March 1996 – November 1996 – Deputy Medical Superintendent for Consulting and Diagnostics, Medical Superintendent, Komi Republic Perinatal Center in Syktyvkar.
November 1996 – December 1999 – Medical Superintendent, Komi Republic Medical Group in Syktyvkar.
January 2000 – March 2006 - Medical Superintendent, Komi Republic Perinatal Center under Komi Republic Agency of Health Care, Syktyvkar.
March 2006 – February 2011 – Minister of Health Care, Komi Republic.
February 2011 – June 2012 – Head of Department, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department (offers a course of pediatrics), Kirov State Medical Academy under the Ministry of health Care of the Russian Federation, Syktyvkar.
July 2012 – March 2013 – Deputy Head, Federal Service for Health Care Supervision, Moscow.
July 2013 – July 2015 – acting Head, Federal Service for Health Care Supervision.
July 14, 2015 – Head of the Federal Service for Health Care Supervision (has the title of the Full State 2-nd Class Counsellor of the Russian Federation).
Since January 21, 2020 - Minister of Health of the Russian Federation.

1999 – Doctor of Medicine.
2004 – postgraduate degrees in Obstetrics/Gynecology and Public Health Care Administration.
Board certified in Obstetrics/Gynecology and Public Health Care Administration.
Editor-in-Chief and Founder, Human Health in the North Journal. Editorial Board Member, Children’s Health Care in the North West Journal.

Veronika Skvortsova

Head, Federal Medical-Biological Agency of the Russian Federation

Veronika Skvortsova was born in Moscow on November 1, 1960.
She graduated from the 2nd Pirogov Moscow State Medical Institute in 1983 and completed a Postgraduate Clinical Residency Programme and an Advanced Postgraduate Programme specializing in neuropathology. In 1994, she qualified as a higher category neurologist.
After graduating, she worked for the 2nd Moscow State Medical Institute (the Russian State Medical University since 1991) for 25 years.
Veronika Skvortsova became head of one of Russia’s first neurology emergency services at Moscow’s 1st municipal hospital established on the basis of the neurology clinic of the 2nd Moscow State Medical Institute in 1989.
In 1989–1995, she served as assistant and, in 1995–1997, as assistant professor at the Neuropathology Department of the Russian State Medical University.
She became Head of the Fundamental and Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery Department in 1997.
Veronika Skvortsova was appointed Director of the Russian Stroke Research Institute in 2005.
She was Deputy Minister of Healthcare and Social Development from 2008 to 2012.
Veronika Skvortsova was appointed Minister of Healthcare by Presidential Executive Order No. 650 of May 21, 2012.
She is vice-president and co-founder of the National Stroke Association, director of the World Stroke Organization and secretary general of the European Stroke Council.
She is a Doctor of Medicine, Professor, and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.
Veronika Skvortsova is an Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation.
She has been awarded an Order of Honour and won the Pirogov Prize and Moscow Government Prize in Medicine.
She is the author of more than 400 research papers and holds seven patents for her inventions.

Konstantin Chernov

Director of Development, Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Konstantin Chernov, 1962, Development director of Chumakov Institute, has joined the team in 2013.
Prior to this, he has graduated from the Military Institute of foreign languages in Moscow and after discharge from active service in 2002 he works in pharmaceutical industry.
He has improved his managerial skills by graduating (with distinction) from the Academy of National Economy (Moscow) and Kingston University (London), obtaining MBA degree (2005).
As development director, he led departments responsible for strategic planning and development in national pharmaceutical manufacturing leader companies ‘Akrikhin” (2004-2007) and “Valenta” (2007 -2012).
Since his involvement into activities in Chumakov Institute he leads investment activity and supervises new areas of research and development. In 2014-2016 he led the reunification process of Chumakov Institute and Chumakov manufacturing site. Thus, the integrity of research, development, and manufacturing chain has been restored and now Institute is able seamlessly move on the road of development of new products – from fundamental and applied research to finished forms manufacturing and registration.
His primary mission at the moment – bring in investment to upscale manufacturing capacity of the site in regard to two potential blockbuster products recently developed by Chumakov Institute – Sabin poliovaccine and coronavirus CoviVac vaccine.
Next prospective area of research he leads now is applicability of live viruses for treatment of malignant tumors.
He is also responsible for international activity of the Institute, including supervision of XFEL (X-ray Free Electron Laser, Hamburg) collaboration project.

Vladimir Chekhonin

Vice President, Russian Academy of Sciences; Head of the Department of Medical Nanobiotechnology of Medical and Biological Faculty, N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation

Vladimir Chekhonin, born 1959.
1975-1981 studied and graduated from the Therapeutic faculty of Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University. In 1984 received a PhD (Candidate of Sciences Degree) the Biochemistry Department of the same University.
My career at the Pirogov University began with the position of junior fellow at the
Problem Laboratory for Immunochemistry of Malignant and Embryonic Tissues at the Biochemistry Department.
Since 1986 my work has been connected with the Serbsky State Scientific Center for Social and Forensic Psychiatry. At the Center, I worked as senior fellow, leading the immunochemistry group and Head of the Immunochemistry Lab. Currently working as Director of the Department of Fundamental and Applied Neurobiology at the Serbsky Center.
In 1989 I received a Doctoral Degree (Doctor of Sciences) in Biochemistry. Graduated from the International school of Neuroscience (Padova, Italy) in 1992. In 1993 I was awarded the title of Professor of Biochemistry by the Higher Attestation Commission of Russia.
Elected corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences in 2002, became full member in 2005. Since 2011 – Secretary Academician of the Medical and Biological Department of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.
In 2008 founded the Department of Medical Nanobiotechnologies at the Russian State Medical University.
Since 2013 – member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and member of the RAS Presidium.
Elected Vice-President of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2017.
Over 350 research publications, including 23 inventions and patents in Russia and 7 monographs published in Russia and abroad.
Awards
Laureate of the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University Gulevich Prize for the best paper on Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry
Medal of the Order ‘For Merit to the Fatherland’, II class (2001)
Honoured Scholar of the Russian Federation (2007)
Badge for Contributions to Healthcare (2013)
Gold Medal of Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University (2015)