Established in December, 1992.
Its basic lines of research activities are:
- investigations of Man–Environment–Space interrelations;
- studies of kinematic and physical properties of celestial bodies (galaxies, stars, the Sun);
- investigations of basic pathophysiological, physiological, immune, molecular and genetic mechanisms of high-altitude effect on humans and animals;
- development of technologies of high-altitude training of sportsmen, treatment and rehabilitation of patiens with heart and circulatory diseases, diabetes, immune disorders, and victims of human-induced disasters;
- environmental studies in the Elbrus region with astronomical and geophysical methods;
- development and implementation of astronomical and medical research complexes on the basis of advanced computer technologies.
Major achievements and developments:
- commissioning on Terskol Peak of a 2-meter telescope complex equipped with facilities developed by the Center: CCD-photometer with a focal reductor; CMMC Cassegrain multimode spectrograph; MAESTRO coude echelle spectrograph (upgraded for UV spectral range); and a two-channel photometer. The astronomical complex on Terskol Peak was included to the Ukrainian register of National Assets;
- developing and putting into operation a high-resolution mosaic echelle spectrograph in the coude focus. It operates in the 300–1000 nm spectral range and is one of the first three instruments with such resolution:
- the results obtained with the echelle spectrometer: fine structures in the spectra of Sun-like stars, stars with planets, accretion flows in close binary stars and diffuse interstellar bands, which specify chemical composition and physical processes in the interstellar matter;
- observation results of the Solar system bodies with the focal reductor: gas-dust component of comets (Hall-Bopp and Borelly); water ions in the atmosphere of Wirtanen comet; the composition of plasma-torus of Io (a Jovian satellite); desruption of C/1999 S4 (LINEAR) comet etc. The data obtained were validated by ‘Deep Space’ spacecraft;
- studying the ability of high-altitude hypoxia to induce gene expression and cause phenotype re-programming, regulate energy and lipid metabolism, focal blood supply etc.;
- finding mitochondria-mediated mechanisms of onset and reduction of hypometabolic state; studies of its effects in humans and experimental animals at high altitudes;
- revealing differences in HIF-genes, HSP70- and iNOS-protein expression in tissues of experimental animals – both high-altitude and plain residents; of gene expression dynamics during adaptation to various hypoxic regimens;
- discovering differences in pro-, antiapoptotic, and FAS-markers, iNOS expression in immunocompetence cells of humans and animals at high altitudes, studying their role and dynamics under treatment.
