On July 8, 2026, a regular meeting of the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine took place under the chairmanship of Anatoly Zagorodny, Academician of the NAS of Ukraine, President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
The event began with the solemn presentation of the Certificate of Appreciation of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to Oleksandr Volkov, PhD in Engineering, Senior research fellow, Director of the Institute of Information Technologies and Systems of the NAS of Ukraine. The government decided to award him this distinction for his significant personal contribution to ensuring the development of scientific and educational activities, active assistance in strengthening Ukraine's defense capability under martial law, conscientious work, and high professionalism.
After that, the attendees listened to three scientific reports by young scientists of the Academy.
Yevhen Vasylkivsky, PhD in Physics and Mathematics, Senior research fellow at the Institute of Radio Astronomy of the NAS of Ukraine (Kharkiv), spoke on “Multi-antenna universal survey of the Universe's radio emission at low frequencies”.
The scientist recalled that Ukraine is a recognized leader in the field of low-frequency radio astronomy. Its experimental base includes the world's largest decameter-wave radio telescope UTR-2, the decameter interferometer system URAN, and the radio telescope GURT of a new generation. Most instruments are equipped with highly sensitive next-generation radio receiving equipment – broadband digital spectrum analyzers DSP-Z. Over many years of research, Ukrainian radio astronomers have obtained many important astrophysical results of global significance.
The main method of radio astronomical research remains sky surveys. A large number of sky surveys with broadband registration using DSP-Z spectrum analyzers were performed on the UTR-2 radio telescope for a range of declinations. Unfortunately, due to the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine in 2022, the laboratory building of the UTR-2 observatory was severely damaged. The phasing system and the radio telescope control system were destroyed. A plan has already been developed to restore the UTR-2 radio telescope with significant modernization.
Despite this, other Ukrainian radio telescopes fully allow conducting a complete universal survey of the Northern sky in the decameter range. Its main goal is the search and study of new phenomena and features in the low-frequency radio emission of many types of astrophysical objects. Experiments will be supplemented by detailed theoretical interpretation of results to build physical models of objects, clarify mechanisms of their non-thermal radio emission with extreme energy release, study the interaction of cosmic matter with radiation, including cosmological phenomena and subtle atomic effects.
According to Yevhen Vasylkivskyi, PhD in Physics and Mathematics, the key features of the proposed research, which have not been implemented earlier either in Ukraine or worldwide, are the long-term comprehensive multi-antenna coordinated observations on Ukrainian radio telescopes with unique parameters. The relevance of the research is also evident because, for the first time, it is proposed to simultaneously register all known types of cosmic radio emission – spatially dependent, continuous, monochromatic, pulsed, sporadic, and polarization. Detailed studies of the distribution of recombination radio lines of carbon and hydrogen in our Galaxy are of particular interest and importance. Combined with data on the absorption of the Galactic background, this provides a new unique method for searching and diagnosing cold partially ionized interstellar plasma in the Galaxy. New opportunities open for studying other astrophysical phenomena and objects as well. This concerns the search for the global signal in the neutral hydrogen HI line, studies of radio emission from pulsars and transients, research of interplanetary and ionospheric scintillations, etc. As the speaker emphasized, these studies and their results consolidate Ukraine's priority in one of the most relevant fields of astronomical science.
Iryna Vavilova, corresponding member of the NAS of Ukraine, Director of the Main Astronomical Observatory of the NAS of Ukraine, Volodymyr Reshetnyk, PhD in Physics and Mathematics, Associate professor of the Department of Astronomy and Space Physics of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, and Mykhaylo Bondar, Academician of the NAS of Ukraine, Academician-Secretary of the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the NAS of Ukraine took part in the discussion of the report.
Artur Zaporozhets, DSc in Engineering, Deputy Director for Science of the Institute of General Energy of the NAS of Ukraine, reported on the “Information-analytical system for assessing the potential of renewable energy sources based on retrospective satellite data”.
The scientist shared results regarding the development of an information-analytical system designed for comprehensive assessment, analysis, and forecasting of the potential of renewable energy sources in Ukraine based on many years of retrospective satellite meteorological data. According to him, the developed system forms a modern information basis for planning the development of renewable energy, assessing the resource potential of territories, and modeling the functioning of hybrid energy systems.
The basis of the system, as explained by the speaker, is a database of retrospective satellite data exceeding 20 GB, containing hourly values of more than twenty meteorological parameters over a period of more than twenty years of observations. The system provides interactive spatial-temporal visualization, statistical analysis, and assessment of regional features of wind and solar potential in Ukraine.
During the research, a comprehensive statistical analysis of Ukraine's wind regime was performed based on over 400 spatially distributed observation points for 2005–2024. The conformity of empirical wind speed distributions to known statistical models was evaluated.
The system implements a module for modeling the autonomous functioning of “wind power plant – energy storage system” complexes. A new integral indicator – the coefficient of self-sufficient generation provision – was proposed, characterizing the ability of a hybrid system to maintain a specified power level without using external electricity sources. This allows assessing the impact of generating units and energy storage parameters on the efficiency of autonomous energy complexes.
The information-analytical system also contains structured databases of renewable energy objects in Ukraine and industrial wind turbines, which formed the basis for analyzing the level of integration of renewable energy sources in Ukraine's regions. A system of indicators was proposed to assess the provision of regions with renewable generation, the level of technological diversification, and the coverage of population electricity consumption by renewable energy sources. The obtained results can be used in forming state and regional energy policies.
As emphasized by Artur Zaporozhets, DSc in Engineering, the practical significance of the work consists in creating a universal information-analytical platform for scientific support of renewable energy development, supporting decision-making regarding the placement of new generating capacities, assessing the investment attractiveness of projects, and optimizing the structure of energy systems. The developed software complex is registered as a copyright object and tested in cooperation with relevant industry organizations and government authorities.
The discussion of the report involved Vitaliy Babak, Academician of the NAS of Ukraine, Director of the Institute of General Energy of the NAS of Ukraine, and Andriy Rusanov, Academician of the NAS of Ukraine, Academician-Secretary of the Department of Energy and Power Technology of the NAS of Ukraine.
“Dioxaborines as fluorescent probes for bioimaging” was the subject of a presentation by Vladyslav Polishchuk, Doctor of Philosophy, Research fellow at the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the NAS of Ukraine.
As the speaker explained, fluorescent probes are key tools of biomedical imaging that allow detailed study of biological processes at the level of living cells and biomolecules. Fluorescent probes based on organic dyes have broad possibilities for structural modification to obtain compounds with a predetermined set of properties. The most important of these properties are high fluorescence intensity, fluorescence selectivity, and emission in the near-infrared range. Vladyslav Polishchuk, PhD, noted that dyes containing the dioxaborine cycle are highly fluorescent compounds and have proven effective as fluorescent probes for bioimaging; however, the dioxaborines described in the literature have narrow limits for tuning their physicochemical properties, which limits their practical use. “We expanded the structural diversity of dioxaborine dyes by synthesizing meso-cyano-substituted dioxaborine, whose high reactivity allowed obtaining dyes of completely new types”, the scientist reported. “In particular, dianionic dyes characterized by very high fluorescence intensity. For example, a dianionic dye with 1,3-indandione terminal groups is non-fluorescent in aqueous buffer solution but shows significant fluorescence enhancement in the presence of albumins, characterizing it as a promising fluorescent probe for albumins. Additionally, some of the dioxaborine dyes that we have obtained exhibit the ability to generate singlet oxygen, which is a key property for studying their application in photodynamic therapy. Testing these dyes on cancer cells revealed that in the dark, the dyes do not initiate cell destruction, but after irradiation, they show a strong photodynamic effect, reducing the number of cancer cells by more than 60%.”
Andriy Kulinich, DSc in Chemistry, Leading research fellow of the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, and Petro Stryzhak, Academician of the NAS of Ukraine, Academician-Secretary of the Department of Chemistry of the NAS of Ukraine spoke in the discussion of this young scientist's report.
Anatoly Zagorodny, Academician of the NAS of Ukraine, President of the NAS of Ukraine, thanked the young colleagues for their interesting scientific reports, wished them fruitful research, and presented them with respective certificates as a memento of their first presentation at the meeting of the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine.
Next, Kostiantyn Dmytruk, Corresponding Member of the NAS of Ukraine, Deputy Director for Science (recently elected Director) of the Institute of Cell Biology of the NAS of Ukraine (Lviv) delivered a scientific report on “Designing yeast platforms for the production of biofuel and biologically active compounds for medical purposes”.
As the scientist explained, yeasts as unicellular eukaryotic organisms are a convenient and well-studied object of molecular genetics, biochemistry, and cell biology. Their ability to synthesize target proteins with characteristic biochemical modifications and the availability of cheap nutrient media make yeasts an optimal tool for modern industrial biotechnology.
In the bioenergy focus area, recombinant strains of non-conventional yeast species Ogataea polymorpha capable of fermenting pentose sugars (xylose, as products of lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis: straw, sawdust, etc.) to ethanol at elevated temperatures (up to 50 °C) have been created for the first time. Enhancing the expression of genes involved in xylose transport and catabolism, combined with deletion of genes that are negative regulators of this process, increased bioethanol production from xylose more than 30-fold. The obtained results are extremely important for the development of biofuel production technologies from non-food raw materials, emphasized Kostiantyn Dmytruk, Corresponding Member of the NAS of Ukraine.
Significant results have been achieved in the medical-biological sphere. In particular, riboflavin (vitamin B₂) production by Candida famata yeast strains has been significantly increased using genetic and metabolic engineering methods, and the substrate range for its synthesis has been expanded, including bagasse and whey hydrolysates. According to the speaker, yeast producers of roseoflavin (a structural derivative of riboflavin with pronounced antibiotic activity) were obtained for the first time, which outperform the best recombinant bacterial strains in productivity by almost ten times. An approach to adaptive laboratory evolution of baker's yeast, including strains produced by the “Enzym” company (Lviv), was developed, increasing vitamin B₂ content in bakery products by 50%.
The scientist reported that to combat antibiotic-resistant wound infection pathogens, a yeast producer of glucose oxidase immobilized on nanoparticles was developed. The composite exhibits pronounced antimicrobial activity against a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms and positively affects the healing of infected wounds.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a prototype oral vaccine based on the yeast strain Komagataella phaffii with the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein exposed on the cell surface was developed. Serum from immunized mice demonstrated neutralizing activity at the level of 93%. Besides, yeast producers of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, which stimulates tissue regeneration and burn healing and can significantly reduce the cost of corresponding drugs for treating wounded patients, were developed.
These research results are reflected in about 40 scientific publications in international journals of the first and second quartiles, and protected by 15 patents, including 4 US patents and 3 European Union patents as well. The research was carried out in cooperation with leading international scientific and industrial partners, including the University of Rzeszów (Poland), Vienna University of Life Sciences (Austria), Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), the American ADM company, and AB Mauri company. The presented developments are at the stage of searching for partners for experimental testing and practical implementation.
Valeriy Filonenko, Academician of the NAS of Ukraine, Deputy Director for Science and innovation activities of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the NAS of Ukraine, Head of the cell signaling systems department of the Institute, Sergiy Kosterin, Academician of the NAS of Ukraine, Deputy Director for Science of the Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, Head of the muscle biochemistry department of the Institute, Sergiy Komisarenko, Academician of the NAS of Ukraine, Advisor to the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine, Director of the Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, Mykola Spivak, Academician of the NAS of Ukraine, Academician-Secretary of the Department of Biochemistry, Physiology, and Molecular Biology of the NAS of Ukraine, Valeriy Heyets, Academician of the NAS of Ukraine, Academician-Secretary of the Department of Economics of the NAS of Ukraine, participated in the discussion.
Anatoly Zagorodny, Academician of the NAS of Ukraine, President of the NAS of Ukraine, capsuled the discussion. “Kostiantyn Vasyliovych Dmytruk, Corresponding Member of the NAS of Ukraine, elected Director of the Institute of Cell Biology of the NAS of Ukraine this June, presented modern approaches in his report to solving urgent tasks in bioenergy and medicine using yeast platforms. As we see, yeasts are widely used as model organisms in biology and biotechnology. They are well studied in terms of genetics, biochemistry, physiology, and are a convenient experimental system. Yeasts can synthesize target proteins, including those with certain biochemical modifications characteristic of human cells.
An important aspect is the use of yeast platforms in “green” energy. The superproducers of ethanol developed at the Institute of Cell Biology of the NAS of Ukraine, as a biofuel component from non-food raw materials, can become critically important for reducing our dependence on fossil resources.
The work carried out at the Institute during the COVID-19 pandemic is very interesting and extremely important. The biotechnologies developed here open the possibility to obtain fragments of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using yeast platforms for further creation of oral protein vaccines. Promising research continues on the creation of drugs that stimulate tissue regeneration and burn healing.
Summarizing the above, it should be noted that the speaker, and Andriy Andriyovych Sybirnyi, Academician of the NAS of Ukraine, the previous Director of the Institute, and their colleagues actively cooperate with Ukrainian manufacturers and foreign colleagues, which undoubtedly contributes to the development of scientific research and the implementation of obtained results and technologies, including in medical practice. Yeast platforms are an effective tool for developing innovative applied solutions in energy and biomedical technologies. It is extremely important that these developments are protected by patents and have prospects for practical implementation in Ukraine.”
Finally, the participants of the meeting considered a number of personnel and current issues, including the nomination of candidates from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine for participation in the competition for the election of members of the Scientific Council of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, amendments to the Regulations on the NAS of Ukraine grants for research laboratories/groups of young scientists of the NAS of Ukraine, elections of directors of scientific institutions of the Section of Physical, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences of the NAS of Ukraine, the Section of Chemical and Biological Sciences of the NAS of Ukraine, and the Section of Social Sciences and Humanities of the NAS of Ukraine, as well as approval of the Procedure for monitoring the implementation of scientific and scientific-technical works funded under the focus area “Support for priority state scientific research and scientific-technical (experimental) developments” of the budget program, Code for the program classification of expenditures and lending 6541230 “Support for the development of priority scientific research focus areas”.
Photo: Press Service of the NAS of Ukraine
