Participation in national projects
Project implementation with grant support from the National Research Foundation of Ukraine (NRF)
Employees of the Cryobiochemistry Department, together with colleagues from the Cryoendocrinology Department of the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology of the NAS of Ukraine, successfully completed two stages of the project 2021.01/0276 “Therapeutic potential and safety of three-dimensional constructs based on mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of non-healing wounds” within the framework of the NRF competition “Science for the Security and Sustainable Development of Ukraine”:
stage 1 – 2023 – “Study of the influence of the microenvironment on the key morphofunctional characteristics of human MSCs”.
stage 2 – 2024 – “Storage of MSCs in suspension and 3D constructs at ambient temperature”.
The aim of the project was to investigate the proliferative, metabolic and paracrine activity of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in monolayer conditions and in a three-dimensional (3D) environment (as part of gel, spheroids, capsules and scaffolds) and their reparative effect on non-healing wound models; to establish optimal conditions and terms of safe storage of ready-to-use bioconstructs with high efficiency.
The project results:
The contractors created a cryobank of adipose tissue MSC samples obtained from adult donors aged 45-60 years for the successful implementation of the project. Work was carried out to optimize the non-healing wound model and establish the features of tissue repair after applying MSCs cultured in a monolayer.
Methods for obtaining three-dimensional constructs from MSCs have been developed, which provide different microenvironments (multicellular spheroids, alginate microspheres, macroporous scaffolds based on blood plasma) and support the viability of MSCs during 3D cultivation. The possibility of modulating the resistance of cells to the action of damaging factors of storage at ambient temperature by changing the microenvironment through the development of 3D constructs has been shown. It was found that the formation of alginate capsules, scaffolds and spheroids from MSCs with subsequent storage for at least 3 days at 22℃ allows maintaining the basic structural and functional properties of cells at a high level.
The research findings yielded the following papers published:
Petrenko O., Rogulska O., Trufanova N., Trufanov O., Hubenia O., Revenko O., Cherkashina, D. Modulation of mesenchymal stromal cells properties by the microenvironment in 3D culture // ScienceRise: Biological Science. – Vol. 3, No. 36. – R. 28-33. doi: 10.15587/2519-8025.2023.288082 category B
Rogulska O. Yu., Bozhok G. A., Trufanova N. A., Revenko O. B., Pakhomov O. V., Cherkashina D. V., Petrenko O. Yu. Formation of spheroids from human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells by the hanging drop method // Bulletin of Problems Biology and Medicine. – 2023. – Vol. 3, No. 170. – R. 423-432. doi: 10.29254/2077-4214-2023-3-170-423-432 category B
Gordiyenko O.I., Kovalenko I.F., Rogulska O.Y., Trufanova N.A., Gurina T.M., Trufanov O.V., Petrenko OY. Theory-based cryopreservation mode of mesenchymal stromal cell spheroids // Cryobiology. – 2024. – Vol. 115 – P. 104906. doi: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2024.104906. Q2 WoS Scopus IF 2.3 SJR 0.551
Trufanova N., Hubenia O., Kot Yu., Trufanov O., Kovalenko I., Kot K., Petrenko O. Metabolic mode of alginate encapsulated human mesenchymal stromal cells as a background for storage at ambient temperature // Biopreserv. Biobank. – 2024 Dec 26. doi: 10.1089/bio.2024.0103. Epub ahead of print. Q3 SJR 0.374 IF 1.2
Trufanova N.A., Trufanov O.V., Bozhok G.A., Revenko O.B., Cherkashina D.V., Pahomov O.V., Petrenko O.Yu. Hypothermic storage of mesenchymal stromal cell-based spheroids at a temperature of 22°C // Probl. Cryobiol. Cryomed. – 2024. – Vol. 34, No. 2. – P. 186–200.
doi: 10.15407/cryo34.02.186 https://cryo.org.ua/journal/index.php/probl-cryobiol-cryomed/article/view/1985/2096 SJR 0.144 Q4
The project has been extended to 2025 – the final stage is planned.
Participation in international projects
V4RM NETWORK: Bridging the gap between science, education and business in regenerative medicine
V4RM Mission
The V4RM (Visegrad for Regenerative Medicine) network unites scientific, educational and business communities to develop regenerative medicine in the Visegrad countries and Ukraine. Its main goal is to create a platform for communication, cooperation and exchange of experience, which will contribute to the formation of international consortia, joint grant projects and support for student exchange programs.
Why is it important?
Regenerative medicine is a rapidly developing field, requiring an interdisciplinary approach and attracting innovations from different industries. However, the communication gap between scientists, educators and business can limit the possibilities for regional development. V4RM seeks to overcome these barriers by using the best practices of neighboring countries and creating new opportunities for cooperation.
V4RM activity key areas:
Joint grant applications: Pooling resources and ideas for participation in international grant programs.
Exchange of students and young scientists: Increasing the mobility of young specialists to study and work in leading institutes.
Competitiveness development: Strengthening the positions of regional organizations in the global scientific and business community.
Innovative cooperation: Supporting innovative research, technologies and business projects in the field of regenerative medicine.
V4RM network partners:
- Czech Republic: Institute of Experimental Medicine CAS, v. v. i.
- Hungary: BioTalentum, Ltd. Gödöllő
- Poland: Mossakowski Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw
- Slovakia: Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava
- Ukraine: Institute for Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine of the NAS Ukraine, Kharkiv
Long-term goals of V4RM
The network aims to increase the success of joint research projects, create opportunities for innovative learning and improve the integration of science, education and business. We are convinced that our initiative will have a significant impact on the development of regenerative medicine, contributing not only to scientific progress, but also to the general well-being of the region.
More information learn on the official website: https://v4rm.net/en
CryoStore Project
The IPCC actively participates in international scientific projects aimed at the development of cryobiology and biodiversity conservation. One of such projects is CryoStore, an innovative initiative funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (Grant Agreement No 101120454), directly performed by Oleksandra S. Gubenya
The purpose of the CryoStore project: CryoStore is aimed at providing high-quality training to a new generation of researchers in the fields of cryobiology, reproduction, animal husbandry and animal conservation. The project focuses on the development of innovative cryopreservation methods that increase the efficiency of assisted reproductive technologies in animal husbandry and aquaculture in Europe, as well as contribute to the preservation of the unique biodiversity of rare and endangered breeds of farm animals.
The role of the IPC in the project: The Institute is one of the key partners of the CryoStore consortium, which unites 7 full members from 6 European countries and 15 associated partners. The Institute’s employees participate in the development and improvement of methods for cryopreservation of biological objects, the study of mechanisms of cryodamage and cryoprotection, as well as in the training of young scientists.
The importance of international cooperation: Participation in the CryoStore project allows the Institute of Cryobiology and Biotechnology to integrate into the European scientific community, exchange experience and advanced technologies, and also contributes to the development of cryobiology and cryomedicine in Ukraine. Joint research and development within the project contribute to increasing the efficiency of agricultural production and preserving animal genetic resources, which is important for ensuring food security and sustainable development.
Additional information: More information about the CryoStore project can be found on the official website: https://www.cryostoreproject.com
The IPCC is a member of the Regional Cooperation in Health, Science and Technology Association (RECOOP HST: https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/research/administration/recoop.html). As part of this initiative, the staff of the Cryobiochemistry Department participated in the 19th annual RECOOP conference “Bridges in Life Sciences”, which was held in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, on April 11-12, 2024.
The activity within the framework of the DAAD project “Ukraine Digital Project 2024” (01.02.2024 – 31.07.2024). Participants: Petrenko O.Yu., Sukach O.M., Prokopyuk V.Yu., Kaverinska A.I., Gubenya O.S., Goydina V.S., Oberemok R.A., Mayorova O.R. The project included preparing reports, filming and editing videos. All these videos are published on the Internet. https://www.daad.de/en/information-services-for-higher-education-institutions/further-information-on-daad-programmes/ukraine-digital/
COST Action HAPLO-iPS Project
Employees of the Cryobiochemistry Department have joined the COST Actions (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) research network and are participating in the implementation of the COST Action HAPLO-iPS project. HAPLO-iPS (GENERATION OF INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS FROM SELECTED UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD SAMPLES (HAPLO-iPS) CA21151) was established to build a joint European collaboration network that will support research and development of induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) for use in clinical trials of cell therapy: https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA21151.
Open Educational Resources Project
Employees of the IPCC in particular the Director of the Institute, Prof. Oleksandr Yuriyovych Petrenko, and a postgraduate student of the Department of Cryobiochemistry Oleksandra Gubenya, attended the final workshop of the international Open Educational Resources project (https://av.tib.eu/publisher/Projekt__Open_Education_Resources_with_Ukraine_) in Hannover, Germany.
During the event, scientists and educators from Ukraine, including representatives from Dnipro, Kharkiv, Kyiv and Lviv, shared the results of the work achieved in cooperation within the project. The Institute team presented the results of the development of open educational video lectures on Cell Biology, Cell Culture and Experimental Medicine.
This workshop was the final stage of many months of joint work, which aimed to develop modern approaches to the integration of open educational materials into the academic sphere of Ukraine. Discussion of the results and exchange of experience will contribute to the further popularization of open resources in science and education, as well as strengthening international cooperation.
Such initiatives are important for the formation of a modern educational environment and the introduction of innovations in Ukraine.
