Research Institute of Biology

The Research Institute of Biology of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University was founded in 1944 by the famous gerontology researcher, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine O. Nahornyi. In 1953-1989, the Institute was headed by the Academician of the NAS of Ukraine V. Nikitin. During those years, the Institute became one of the leading gerontological centers of our country. Every two years, the Institute holds the Biological Mechanisms of Aging international symposia. The Institute has the Thesis Committee for conferring doctoral degrees in Biochemistry; Human and Animal Physiology. The Institute offers postgraduate studies in four specialties: Biochemistry, Human and Animal Physiology, Biotechnology, Ecology. The Institute of Biology is the main biological organization of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

Today, the Institute employs 5 Doctors of Sciences and 20 PhDs in Biology. Much of the research conducted at the Institute focuses on the mechanisms of development and aging of the body. These studies are conducted at the Molecular Biology of Ontogenesis Department (Head — A. Bozhkov, Doctor of Biology, Professor), the Membrane Biophysics Department (Head — Yu. Nikitchenko, PhD in Biology, Senior Researcher), the Genetics Department (Head — Yu. Shkorbatov, Doctor of Biology, Professor), and the Physiology of Ontogenesis Department (Head — N. Babenko, Doctor of Biology, Professor). Along with this, the staff of the Institute studies adaptation mechanisms (Cell Biology and Biotechnology Department, Head — N. Menzianova, PhD in Biology), ecological issues (Applied Animal Ecology Group, Head — A. Atemasov, PhD in Biology, Senior Researcher), and also develops modern methods of biotechnology (Molecular Biology of Ontogenesis Department, Cell Biology and Biotechnology Department).

Students from the School of Biology, School of Radiophysics, School of Medicine undergo on-the-job training at the laboratories of the Institute. The Institute’s specialists develop and teach lecture courses on biotechnology, genetic engineering and pay great attention to popularization of modern achievements in biology.