National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

12.09.2019

NASB scientists take part in press conference on innovative technologies in high-level sports

A press conference on “Innovative technologies in high-level sports” took place in the Press center of the Press House on 12 September. Press-conference speakers: Sergei Gubkin, Director of the Institute of Physiology, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Tigran Melik-Kasumov, head of the laboratory of nutrition physiology, Institute of Physiology, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Zoya Kuvaeva, head of the Department of medicinal substances, Institute of Physical and Organic Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Irma Mosse, head of the laboratory of human genetics, Institute of Genetics and Cytology, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, and Irina Gaidukevich, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

The NASB representatives told about innovative technologies helping Belarusian athletes to achieve high results. According to Sergei Gubkin, Director of the Institute of Physiology of the NAS of Belarus, many innovative developments have been already created in the country. A scientific cluster combined with the Belarusian National Technical University has been launched with modern laboratories and equipment allowing to examine certain techniques. However, a lot depends on how these developments will be of interest to specialists and will be applied in their work. Tigran Melik-Kasumov, PhD in Biological Sciences, head of the institute’s laboratory of the physiology of nutrition and sports, told reporters that the Institute of Physiology of the NAS of Belarus has launched a pilot project to personalize the nutrition of athletes. “The project was launched this year and is designed for two years. Now we are starting the practical part of the study to determine the individual genetic predisposition of athletes to a particular diet,” Tigran Melik-Kasumov said.

Irma Mosse, head of the laboratory of human genetics at the Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the NAS of Belarus, told about athletes’ genetic certification. According to Professor Zoya Kuvaeva, D.Sc. in Chemical Sciences, head of the Department of medicinal substances at the Institute of Physical and Organic Chemistry of the NAS of Belarus, Belarusian scientists are ready to work for the needs of high-level sports. The Institute is engaged in the development and production of medicines, dietary supplements and sports nutrition. “We already have 13 dietary supplements and 8 positions of sports nutrition. We are ready to cooperate with coaches and athletes,” Zoya Kuvaeva said. Irina Gaidukevich, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the NAS of Belarus, spoke about the development of a system which will allow a comprehensive study and analysis of all data of the athlete's body and help not only to make his training as effective as possible, but also, for example, to exclude cases of sudden death syndrome.

Photo by V. Lesnova, newspaper “Navuka”