History of SB RAMS
SIBERIAN BRANCH OF RAMS
ESTABLISHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
Siberian Branch of Academy of Medical Sciences was established in connection with the set-up and development of powerful territorial production complexes in Siberia, circumpolar (northern) regions, Far East, Kazakhstan in 1950s-1960s. The intensive industrial development involved increase in free migration and significant population growth in the eastern part of the country. Medical scientists of Siberia had to address the complex problem of health protection in the vast territory. The first major issue to be addressed was adaptation of young migrants to the new climatic and geographical conditions. The second challenge was mitigation of the hazardous factors (environmental, climatic and geographical, industrial, social etc.) aggravated by urbanization and affecting the health of modern and future generations. The third problem was the effect of urbanization on the health of indigenous people and native minorities inhabiting Siberia, Far East and Far North (circumpolar regions.)
In the late 1960s there had already been a large net of medical schools, colleges and research institutions of the RSFSR Ministry of Public Health Service carrying out research in various problems of medicine and public health service. In addition, investigation of several major biomedical problems connected with the effect of various factors of internal and external environment on physiological functions of living organism were carried out by the Institutes of Siberian Affiliation of USSR Academy of Sciences. The activity of different research teams were, however, atomized often overlapping or repeating each other, had no adequate infrastructure and facilities and were unable to solve the emerging biomedical and medical (health) problems becoming crucial for Siberia, Far East and Far. The situation called for coordination and long-term planning of medical and biomedical studies performed by research institutions of the region and for in-depth study of the problems of regional pathology (endemic medicine) and human adaptation acclimatization in northern and eastern parts of the country.
In the spring of 1968, a session of the USSR Supreme Soviet adopted a resolution on the establishment of a research center in the east of the country. By the Resolution of the CPSU Central Committee and the USSR Council of Ministers No 517 as of July 5, 1968 “On measures for further improvement of public health service and development of medical science in the country.” USSR Ministry of Public Health Service, USSR Gosplan, and State Committee for Science and Technology at the USSR Council of Ministers were instructed to consider the problem of setting up a Affiliation of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences in the east of the country.
On July 2, 1968 a group of medical scientists of Western Siberia submitted a memorandum to the President of USSR AMS Academician V.D. Timakov about the feasibility of setting up a Affiliation of USSR AMS: initially, in Novosibirsk, in close cooperation with the institutes of Siberian Affiliation of the USSR Academy of Sciences, followed by the subsequent deployment of the Affiliation in larger cities of the Asian part of the country. The suggestion of medical scientists was supported by the leading researchers from the Siberian Affiliation of the USSR Academy of Sciences: academicians M.A. Lavrentyev, G. I. Budker, corresponding members of the Academy D.K. Belyayev, A.A. Lyapunov etc.
In June of 1969, Presidium of the USSR AMS in order to intensify the research of human adaptation to different climatic and geographical and industrial conditions in the regions of Siberia, Far East and Far North and their disturbances – one of the crucial problems of the projected Siberian Affiliation of USSR Academy of Medical Sciences set up a task force headed by the corresponding member of the Academy USSR AMS V.P. Kaznacheyev.
Publications and support of many eminent scientists in the USSR and policy-makers in the Soviet medical science including academicians B. V. Petrovskii, V.D. Timakov, V. V. Parin, Chairman of Siberian Affiliation of the USSR Academy of Sciences academician M.A. Lavrentyev and academician V. A. Trapeznikov convinced the Soviet Government that Siberia satisfies all requirements to the establishment of the regional research center of the USSR AMS. In accordance with the Resolution of the Presidium of the USSR Council of Ministers as of May 6, 1970, Resolution of the State Committee for Science and Technology at the USSR Council of Ministers as of August 4, 1970, by the Order of the USSR Minister of Public Health Service No 545 as of August 10, 1970, and the Resolution of the Presidium of USSR AMS The Siberian Affiliation of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences with the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKEM) was set up in Novosibirsk in September of 1970. V.P. Kaznacheyev, corresponding member of the Academy of Medical Sciences, was appointed the Chairman of its Siberian Affiliation.
The following research directions were assigned to the Affiliation:
· integrated research of social, hygienic, and biomedical problems pressing for the regions of Siberia, Far East and Far North with allowance for the developing industrial basis;
· study of physiological, biological, immunologic changes in living organisms in the process of adaptation;
· working out systems of prevention and treatment of acute and chronic diseases affecting different organismic systems in the course of acclimatization;
· working out social, hygienic, general hygienic principle of optimizing working and living conditions, and prevention of occupational diseases in the regions of Siberia, Far North and Far East allowing for development prospects of new industries in national economy.
The following basic principle of the activity were formulated for newly established Siberian Affiliation of the Academy of Medical Sciences:
1. Integration of all the institutions and specialist aiming at the solution of the stated problems;
2. Nurturing gifted young scientists, on-going retraining of researchers;
3. Carrying out sets of investigations providing integrated solution for particular health protection problems of Siberian population;
4. Continuous (on-going) development and reforming of the structure determined by topicality of particular problems;
5. Organizing the research of fundamental basis for human vital activity, applied research and implementation in public health service of new diagnostic aids and methods, treatments and preventive means, new drugs and medical equipment.
In spring of 1973, a cut-through in the pine wood showed the future drive way to the site of several institutes of Novosibirsk scientific center of the AMS Siberian Affiliation signifying that construction had been started.
In 1973, a laboratory of (circum)polar medicine was set up in Norilsk. The Institute for Physiology was transferred from the Siberian Affiliation of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Novosibirsk to the Siberian Affiliation of the Academy of Medical Sciences.
At the initial stage of the Affiliation establishment, research activities were focused on the problems of adaptation of non-indigenous population to inclement climatic and working conditions and adjustment of indigenous population of Siberia to urbanization-induced environmental changes. In order to address these issues systematically and comprehensively, an integrated program “Human adaptation” was worked out at the Siberian Affiliation (chaired by V.P.Kaznacheyev, full member of the Academy of Medical Sciences) that envisaged large-scale integrated research in various climatic and geographical and production zones at three basic levels, i.e. social and hygienic, population and biological, and organismic levels.
On May 28, 1975, the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences considered and discussed the establishment and development of the second extension of the USSR AMS Siberian Affiliation. The results attained by Siberian Affiliation in building up research facilities in the east of the country based on the principle of large-scale integrated programs (“Human adaptation,” “North,” “Rotation shifts,” etc.). Presidium of the Siberian Affiliation of the Academy of Medical Sciences was recommended to focus attention on fundamental research of human adaptation and endemic pathology, especially in the field of social, hygienic, endocrinological, immunologic, helioclimatic, physiological, and biophysical aspects of human adaptation to the conditions of Siberia, Far East, and Far North.
In 1976, two institutes were set up within the Affiliation: in Krasnoyarsk Institute for medical problems of northern [circumpolar] regions - (Director - Professor Orekhov K.V.) and in Novokuznetsk of Kemerovo oblast – Institute for integrated problems of hygiene and occupational diseases (Director - Bessonenko V. V. , Candidate of Medicine).
In 1977, integrated target-oriented research programs were launched: “Rotation shift” focused on biomedical problems of rotational team method; “Five years of health” concentrated on optimization problems of health protection in a city or district; “Sun-climate-man” devoted to study how solar activity, Earth"s magnetic field, climate, and weather affect people envisaging the development of scientifically based preventive measures; “Economic area,” “City” focusing on social and hygienic problems of territorial production complexes of major industrial centers; “Man and Ocean” projecting the investigation of work physiology of sailors and fishermen employed in Pacific, North Sea and Black Sea basins; «Zooanthroponoses and adaptation» treating the problems of natural focal diseases in Siberia, Far East and Far North; subprogram «BAM» intended to address the biomedical problems of labor force employed at the construction of Baikal-Amur Railway etc. The implementation of these programs was accompanied by fast developing international cooperation.
By the end of 1979, main fundamental aspects of adaptation were studied at organismic, population and social and hygienic levels, which resulted in identifying special forms of interaction between human organism and a complex of factors characteristic of Siberia and Far North. This interaction involves psychoemotional sphere, immune endocrine, and other homeostatic systems; and results in a new physiological state called “polar metabolic type.” Later, on the basis of regional individual norms recommendations were worked out, specific methods and means for preventing and correction of dysadaptation, principles of controlling adaptive processes. Main results and conclusions were successfully applied and practically confirmed by the rotational team work. An in-depth analysis was performed of indigenous population morbidity at the time of drastically changing way of life.
The resolution of the CPSU Central Committee and the USSR Council of Ministers No 778 “On the further development of medical science in the regions of Siberia and Far East was issued on August 13, 1979. The Affiliation was transformed to the Siberian Branch of USSR AMS. The Siberian Branch of the Academy of Medical Sciences was assigned the tasks of planning, coordination and forecasting of research carried out by medical institutions of Siberia and Far East on topical problems of medicine. On February 15, 1980, the General Meeting of Siberian Branch of the USSR AMS elected Yu.I. Borodin, full member of the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Chairman of the Siberian Branch of the USSR AMS. 
This was the beginning of a new stage of the intensive development of Siberian Branch of the Academy of Medical Sciences. The main objective of the SB of USSR AMS was the study of medical problems of Siberia, Far East, and Far North. In order to accomplish this task the following research directions were determined:
· to study fundamental and application aspects of biomedical, social, and hygienic problems of Siberia, Far East, and Far North with allowance for natural, geographical, territorial, and industrial regions;
· to study peculiarities of children’s physical development in individual regions, as well as the progression of acute and chronic diseases in the conditions of Siberia, Far North and Far East;
·to study natural focal parasitic, viral, and other diseases and work out recommendations about their prevention, particularly in the new regions of industrial development in the eastern and northern parts of the country;
·to work out new methods for diagnostics, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular, pulmonary, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, hereditary and immune diseases with allowance for their regional specific features;
· to investigate the optimum mode and structure of balanced nutrition for children and adult population of Siberia, Far East, and Far North;
· to carry out the integrated research of wild-growing medicinal herbs and plants of Siberia and Far East with the purpose of their practical medical application and to study biologically active substances from natural sources;
·to continue investigation of natural salubrious factors in Siberia and Far East with the purpose of developing the optimum sanatorium-resort system for children and adult population;
· to work out the scientific basis of health protection in the eastern regions of the country using advanced mathematical methods and computerization
·to work out long-term social and hygienic and biomedical forecasts for development of regions in Siberia and Far East.
In 1980, in order to design and produce customized biomedical equipment and facilities to support and accelerate practical implementation of methodical and device developments made by medical scientists in Siberia, a special pilot planning and design technological office with prototype production "Medbiophizpribor” was set up in Novosibirsk as the part of the Siberian Branch of the USSR AMS. Vladivostok Institute for epidemiology and microbiology was transferred from the RSFSR Ministry of Public Health Service to the Siberian Branch of USSR AMS.
In 1981, Institute for clinical immunology was set in Novosibirsk on the basis of a department of the Institute for clinical and experimental medicine (Director - the corresponding member of the Academy of Medical Sciences V.P.Lozovoy). In the same year, the Institute for Internal Medicine (Director - the corresponding member of the Academy of Medical Sciences Yu. P. Nikitin) was established and united with the Chair of Internal Medicine of Postgraduate Medical School at Novosibirsk Medical Institute. In Blagovshtchensk, the Institute for Physiology and Respiratory Pathology and the Institute for Physiology and respiratory pathology (Director - the corresponding member of the Academy of Medical Sciences M. T. Lutsenko). In 1986, the Institute for mother and child welfare of SB of the Academy of Medical Sciences was set up in Khabarovsk (Director - the corresponding member of the Academy of Medical Sciences A. K. Piotrovich).
In the same years, parallel to the development of the Siberian Branch of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Tomsk research center of the Academy of Medical Sciences was set up in Tomsk on the basis of local affiliations of research and clinical centers of the USSR AMS (cardiological, oncological, and of mental health; up to 1986 all three centers had been headed by A.I. Potapov, the corresponding member of the Academy of Medical Sciences), affiliation of the Institute for pharmacology of the Academy of Medical Sciences, department of the Institute for medical genetics of the Academy of Medical Sciences, supported and sponsored by Tomsk Oblast Committee of the CPSU.
In 1984, in Vladivostok Institute for Medical Climatology and Rehabilitation Treatment (Director - Professor Ye. M. Ivanov) was transferred from the system of the USSR Public Health Ministry to the Siberian Branch of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and in 1987 the similar transfer of several Irkutsk Institutes of RSFSR PH ministry was effected, including the Institute for epidemiology and microbiology of SB RAMS, (Director - Candidate of Medicine, V. I. Zlobin), Institute for Traumatology and Orthopedics (Director - Professor T. D. Zyryanovŕ) and Angarsk Institute for Integrated Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases (Director - Candidate of Medicine, Yu.A. Manyashin). The above Institutes formed the basis of the newly established East-Siberian Branch of SB RAMS, its elected Chairman was S. I. Kolesnikov, Doctor of Medicine.
.In 1988, the Siberian Affiliation of USSR AMS Research Center for Surgery was transferred to the East-Siberian Branch of the Academy of Medical Sciences, and on the basis of the research center the Institute for surgery (Irkutsk) (Director - Professor Yu. I. Morozov). In the same year, Institute for pediatrics (Director - V. V. Podkamenev, Doctor of Medicine) was set up in Irkutsk. On the basis of the Tyumen Affiliation of All-Union Cardiological Research Center of USSR AMS the Institute for Clinical and Preventive Cardiology of SB RAMS (Director - Professor O. S. Antonov) was established. In Novosibirsk the ICEM biochemistry department was converted into the Institute for Biochemistry (Director – L. Ye. Panin, corresponding member of the USSR AMS).
Some of the Institutes set up their laboratories, departments, research and practical centers (offices), usually interdepartmental, in Barnaul, Novosibirsk, Tyumen, Surgut, Belokurikha, Krasnoyarsk, Magadan, Yakutsk, Mirny, Anadyr.
At this stage, the Siberian Branch was widely implementing a programmed target-oriented approach to planning and performing the research. In compliance with its principal organizational task of coordinating medical science in the east of the country, Siberian Branch of the USSR AMS worked out a part of regional state program “Siberia” – applied research Program “Human Health in Siberia” including 6 priority directions:
· study the health status, organization and control of the health care in connection with the regional specifics and mode of life in Siberia, Far East, and Far North;
· work out and implement a set of hygienic measures to improve the quality and efficient protection of health, environment of the territorial production complexes in different environmental areas of Siberia, Far East and Far North;
· study general mechanisms underlying adaptation, environmental, physiological, morphological, functional, and ontogenetic aspects of human health in the conditions of Siberia, Far East and Far North;
· work out and implement recommendations about optimizing the conditions for maintaining and improving the health of indigenous ethnicities in Siberia and Far North based on integrated biomedical, social, and hygienical research;
· work out and implement new methods for prevention, diagnostics, and treatment for parasitic, viral, and bacterial diseases, common to children and adult population of Siberia, Far East, and Far North;
· work out and implement methods for prevention (including the identification of high risk groups), early diagnostics, treatment and aftercare of patients suffering from non-contagious diseases the most common to children and adult population of Siberia, Far East, and Far North.
In 1984, the program «Siberia» was awarded the status of the national program. The program “Human Health in Siberia” was also considerably expanded as the USSR Ministry of Public health service was officially included into it: in 1984, it was approved as an interdepartmental program (it was headed by the Chairman of the Siberian Branch of the USSR AMS, Yu.I. Borodin, full member of the Academy of Medical Sciences and the RSFSR Minister of Public Health Service N. T. Trubilin).
The subsidiary territorial programs “Health” in Norilsk, Novokuznetsk, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, and other cities were beneficial for maintaining health of the population. Thus, two “five years of health” projects (1975-1985) implemented in Norilsk reduced two times the incidence of ischemic heart disease and chronic liver diseases.
Alongside the main program “Human Health in Siberia,” the active implementation of large-scale inter-regional applied research programs “Rotational shifts,” “North,” “BAM” was continued. These programs were mostly implemented through field research. Fundamental research results made it possible to develop advanced and unique methods and facilities for diagnostics, treatment and prevention, which were tested in 13 clinics of research institutions at the Siberian Branch of the USSR AMS.
At the Session of the General Meeting of SB of the USSR AMS on June 7, 1990 in Moscow V.A. Trufakin, corresponding member of the Academy of Medical Sciences was elected the Vice-President of the Academy of Medical Sciences.
 1990 signified the beginning of the third stage of the history of characterized by the drastic changes in the social and economic situation in the country. The crucial task was to secure survival and preservation of the scientific potential of the Branch. It was necessary to establish its own research and integrate practical centers already supported by various ministries, agencies, and enterprises in cooperation with regional administration to find sources of financial support of science, to attract and support young scientists, to reform the existing research institution and organize their activities. Even though the conditions were far from favorable, the Siberian Branch of RAMS is successfully coping with its main goal of expanding and intensifying the research of priority regional problems.
 1991, Institute for clinical and experimental lymphology was set up in (Director – Yu.I. Borodin, full member of the USSR AMS).
In 1992, the status of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences: was changed and it became the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (RAMS); this correspondingly changed the status of all of its members and branches.
In the same year RAMS Siberian Branch was granted the functional control of the RAMS Tomsk research center including 5 Institutes (Research Institute for Cardiology, Director – R.S. Karpov, full member of RAMS; Research Institute for Pharmacology, Director - E.D. Goldberg, full member of RAMS; Research Institute for Oncology, Director - B. N. Zyryanov, full member of RAMS; Research Institute for Mental Health, Director - V. Ya. Semke, full member of RAMS; Research Institute for Medical Genetics, Director - V.P. Puzyrev, corresponding member of RAMS) and one independent Laboratory for Experimental Biomedical Modeling (Director - Candidate of Medicine S.A. Kusmartsev). In Novosibirsk, the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine was reorganized into four independent Institutes, i.e. Institute for General Pathology and human ecology (Director - V.P.Kaznacheyev, full member of RAMS); Institute for Molecular Pathology and Ecological Biochemistry (Director – V.V. Lyakhovich, corresponding member of RAMS); Institute for Regional Pathology And Pathomorphology (Director - Professor L. M. Nepomnyashchikh); Institute for Medical and Biological Cybernetics (Director – M.B. Shtark, corresponding member of RAMS).
In 1994, the Department of Social and Hygienic Planning and Forecasting Siberian Population Health was set up at the Presidium of the SB RAMS. In the same year and later, the following organizations were included in the Department: Center for Miners’ Health Protection in Leninsk-Kuznetsk (Kemerovo oblast) (in 1994), - Tyumen Research Center for Protective Diet and Nutritional Care (in 1995,) Primorsk Research and Clinical Center for Mother and Child Welfare (Vladivostok) (in 1996), Omsk Research Center for Neural and Immune Rehabilitation (in 1997), Kemerovo Scientific and Production Fundamental Research Laboratory for reconstructive cardiovascular surgery (with clinics) (in 2000), Center for orthopedics and medical supplies of the Tomsk Research Center (TRC) (Tomsk) and TRC Seversk Gastroenterological Center.
In 1997-1999 the structure of the Branch was reformed in order to concentrate the resources on the priority directions of the medical science through preservation of the system of research institutions of the SB RAMS and providing organizational, regulatory, juridical, and economic conditions conducive to the competitive market of scientific and technical developments. Measures taken to preserve the scientific potential and to adjust science to the conditions of market economy included the clear definition of the priority research directions, focusing activities and resources on these priority directions, restructuring the system of research institutions (amalgamating some of them or transforming them into departments). This restructuring reduced the number of RAMS-financed research institutions from 29 to 17, all of which were awarded certificates of state accreditation as research organizations. This helped SB RAMS to preserve the scientific basis and the research staff of all the Institutes.
In 2001 Research Institute for Integrated Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases and Research Institute for Regional Pathology and Pathomorphology were separated from the Research Center for clinical and experimental medicine of SB RAMS and became independent state institutions. In 2002, a state institution Research Institute for Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology was set up at Tomsk Research Center of SB RAMS; 2 Branches of SB RAMS were established: “Kuzbass research center” in Kemerovo and “Far East Research Center” in Vladivostok, which are responsible for coordination and organization of research activity of SB RAMS institutions in the region. To promote fundamental and applied research in the regions of Siberia and Far East, 13 affiliations of SB RAMS research institutions were set up in Ulan-Ude, Chita, Vladivostok, and Barnaul.
Over 33 years of the Siberian Branch research activity its scientific potential has increased more than 80 times. At present, there are 21 state research institutions at SB RAMS, including 4 research centers and 17 research institutes.
The total staff on the payroll of the Siberian Branch is 5916 persons including the research staff of 2329 persons, the staff of the clinics of 3587 persons. Research activities are carried out by 20 full members of RAMS, 34 corresponding members of the Academy, 318 Doctors of Medicine, and 621 Candidates of Medicine.
On the basis of the Siberian branch research institutions 20 clinics are opened with the patient capacity of 3370 ward beds. 13 clinics have also outpatients departments. 9 clinics of Siberian Branch (NB!! (äâóő íĺ őâŕňŕĺň) including the clinic of RI for clinical immunology (Novosibirsk), the TSC clinic for medical genetics, the TSC clinic for oncology, the TSC clinic for pharmacology, the clinic of Scientific and Production fundamental research laboratory for reconstructive cardio-vascular surgery (Kemerovo), the ESSC clinic of RC for medical ecology of (Irkutsk), the ESSC clinic for reconstructive and plastic surgery) offer high-tech (expensive) medical services. The medical staff of the clinics is 1045 physicians.
In 2001-2002, the scientific results of Siberian Branch researchers were granted 114 patents of the Russian Federation (including 24 patents for diagnostic aids, 47 patents for treatment methods, 4 patents for prevention means, 3 patents for culture media and substrates, 4 patents for methods of modeling diseases, 28 patents for drugs, 4 patents for medical devices and supplies, and 6 certificates for useful models. 71 sets of methodological recommendations, manuals and instructions for doctors were worked out and approved. 218 Candidate Degrees and 113 MD Degrees were awarded.
In 2001-2002, the clinics of Siberian Branch treated 99852 patients and 16282 were operated. The caseload of the outpatient departments of the clinic was 689526 appointments.
The functions of the Siberian Branch of RAMS include organization, coordination, and implementation of fundamental and applied research in Siberia. The main goal is obtaining, systematization, and application of new knowledge in the area of biomedical sciences.
The priority research direction is:
Study of complex mechanisms of health sustaining and impairment, mobilization and dysregulation of life-support systems, extending period of activity and improving quality of life on exposure to adverse environmental factors in Siberia, the Far East and Far North and working out efficient treatment for priority health conditions based on technologies of bioengineering, immunocorrection, gene therapy, and development of new drugs and medical preparations.
Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences:
·Organizes and coordinates biomedical research in the region;
· Determines the integrated system of forecasting, planning, coordination, accounting, reporting and control of research in the areas of fundamental and applied problems of medicine at research institutions;
· Coordinates the implementation of research or scientific and technological programs; performs research and experiments for the public needs on the contract or competitive basis;
· Analyzes medical, demographic, sanitary, and hygienic state of the region, takes part in the expertise of large scale research, social, and business projects and development of environment enhancement programs;
· Participates in the integration of research at the Academy, Universities, and in the industry of Russia to provide its comprehensive development and effective strengthening of the interaction between science and practical public health service;
· Works out recommendations about effective use of the results attained by biomedical science in practical public health service in cooperation with interested administrative entities and Subjects of Federation.
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