Completed Projects: January-June 2009

Project #B-1375 carried out at the Belarusian State University was recently completed. As a result of the project, a new approach to audio indexation was developed. In order to provide an effective recognition, new algorithms were created. The new models provide high segmentation and classification scores for audio signals. Based on the proposed approach the algorithms for voice and language identification, music classification and recognition were developed and tested. This novel method could find applications in other fields such as biomedical signal processing tasks, especially for vocal cord pathology detection based on speech signals.

More technical information:

Project #3737, carried out at the Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology (Moscow)came to completion. The research was aimed at the identification of diagnostic and prognostic markers of colon cancer – one of the most widespread and deadly of tumor types. The project resulted in the identification of three genes, whose synthesis is drastically reduced in more than 95% of patients already at early stages of the disease. Meticulous analysis of gene expression in hundreds of tumors (including surgical materials and biopsies collected during colonoscopy at Moscow Oncology Center) clearly demonstrated the diagnostic and prognostic value of gene expression monitoring, as well as its usefulness for selection of optimal treatment of patients and evaluation of possibility of metastasis.

The results of the work were described in three scientific papers and nine presentations at three international conferences. Two patents were filed in order to protect intellectual property rights. The project, which was completed in 36 months (total budget $330,000), has widespread clinical applications and obvious commercial value.

ISTC Project 3548p Anti-tumor Heterocyclic Agents

The purpose of the project is to interrupt prostate tumor progression using new targeted protein kinase inhibitors. In this study, several lines of androgen independent PC (Prostate Cancer) cells (PC-3 & DU-145) were used for further pre-clinical or clinical development.

Currently, around 350 agents and drug compositions are under pre-clinical and clinical studies. However, only about half have a sufficient level of efficacy accompanied by limited side effects. Five chemotypes were selected for optimization and patenting (3 applications). About 10 compounds were selected for advanced investigations

Synthesis and evaluation of various complicated molecules and nano-compositions for cancer treatment and prevention have been initiated.

All in all, about 100 compounds were sent to the US Department of Energy for independent evaluation and investigation.

Project #3003 was recently completed and the following results have been achieved:

- Creation of a methodology for a comparative analysis of the radiation impact on humans and the environment

- Assesment of irradiation on Humans and other species.

- Estimation of radiation exposure levels

- Creation of dosimetric computer models

- Recommendations on the use of standards limiting radiation effects on the environment and justification of situations when their use is necessary.

The project lasted for 36 months and the total budget was 368,208 US dollars.

Twenty-five papers have been published in scientific journals or Conference proceedings and 9 presentations have been made at 6 international conferences or workshops during the course of the project.

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The Russian Research Center Kurchatov Institute (RRC KI) has completed project #3254. The main objective of the project was to gather and analyze data on Nitrogen Oxide (NO2), a prominent air pollutant, using novel techniques and the global aerosol network AERONET. The project consisted in complex theoretical and experimental research based on a combination of mathematical modeling of radiative transfer processes for specific measuring circuits and a wide range of complex in-situ measurements.

During the Project, intensive cooperation was established with German collaborators for validation of the NO2 data coming from the SCIAMCHY satellite spectrometer and AERONET network. Presentations of joint reports and their publications in the conference proceedings were made. It is expected that further research on the problem of anthropogenic NO2 will require further use of the experimental data gathered through the project.

The Russian research team included representatives from four leading scientific institutions of Moscow. Besides RRC KI and MSU, it also included two institutes under the Russian Academy of Sciences: namely, Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics and Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics. The project participants published 17 papers both in Russian and international journals.

The project lasted 36 months with a total budget of 252,957 USD.

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Through Project #3401, a complex nondestructive approach for the test of nanostructures, based on X-ray reflection and scattering analysis, was developed. The x-ray reflectometry method allows obtaining information about surface morphology and film-substrate including the structure of buried interfaces within a uniform cycle of measurements. High sensitivity of x-ray reflection spectroscopy of crystalline structure of synthesized films is very important for future development of nanoelectronics.

The leading institute on the project was the St Petersburg State University / Institute of Physics, with the assistance from VNIIEF as supporting institute and the Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser

The total budget for the project was $350,000 including $180,000 in research grants to scientists.

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In May 2010, project #A-1239, carried out at the "Chemtech" Scientific Research Institute of Chemical Technology in Armenia, was completed. The aim of the Project was the development of general principles to obtain relatively cheap organo-ceramic monolithic sorbents for separation, isolation and purification of biologically active substances. New types of sorbents have been successfully studied and created.

The project lasts for 42 months and the total budget was US $ 71,943.

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