On March 12, 2026, a regular meeting of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine took place.
At the beginning, scientific reports by young scientists of the Academy were heard.
Senior Researcher of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the NAS of Ukraine, Candidate of Biological Sciences Nataliya Melnychuk presented the report "Antiviral activity of oligoribonucleotides and their complexes with D-mannitol: possible mechanisms of action against influenza virus and coronavirus." She noted that acute respiratory infections (ARI) are the most common human diseases and account for almost 70% of all infectious diseases. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that natural oligoribonucleotides (ORN) have antiviral effects against a wide range of DNA and RNA viruses. However, the mechanism of antiviral action of ORN remained unclear. Scientists studied the nonspecific medium-affinity interaction between ORN and the hemagglutinin of the influenza virus and demonstrated that ORN have a direct anti-influenza effect through interaction with the influenza virus hemagglutinin. In addition, the nonspecific interaction between ORN and the coronavirus Spike protein was investigated. The obtained results indicate that ORN-D-M may have anti-COVID-19 activity. The low-affinity interaction of ORN with glycoproteins of the influenza virus and coronavirus reveals insights into the mechanism of antiviral action of ORN against a wide range of viruses, which has practical applications. The young scientist also discussed the results of modulating the innate immune response to the virus by therapeutic ORN through their effect on Toll-like receptors, revealing an understanding of the normalization of innate immunity components.
Supporting this report was the head of the Laboratory of Innovative Biotechnology of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics (IMBG) of the NAS of Ukraine, Candidate of Biological Sciences Zenoviy Tkachuk.
Next, the report "Development of a method for growing diamond single crystals on a seed under high pressures and temperatures using convective carbon transfer" was presented by Senior Researcher of the V.M. Bakul Institute for Superhard Materials of the NAS of Ukraine, Candidate of Technical Sciences Andriy Burchenya. He presented results on solving the current scientific and technical problem of growing structurally perfect diamond single crystals by solution-melt crystallization on a single seed using convective methods of carbon transfer in six-anvil cubic-type presses with a load force of 6x70 MN and the use of Fe-Co solvent alloys doped with Al, Ti, Cu, and B. The results received positive evaluation for the development of industrial technology and further use for the production of structurally perfect diamond single crystals of types I, II, and II with linear dimensions up to 25-30 mm.
In the discussion of this report, the director of the V.M. Bakul Institute for Superhard Materials of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Volodymyr Turkevych, spoke.
The next report, "The struggle for statehood and identity: Ukrainian military emigration between the two world wars (1920-1939)," was presented by Researcher of the Institute of History of Ukraine of the NAS of Ukraine, Doctor of Philosophy Andriy Sydorenko. During the presentation, the main components of the activities of the Ukrainian military emigration aimed at preserving the idea of statehood and national identity were identified. The chronological periodization and geographical coordinates of this activity were revealed. Cultural, educational, and scientific initiatives of the Ukrainian military emigration, implemented in the organization and functioning of research societies, lecture, and publishing work, were analyzed. The main themes of the intellectual heritage of military emigration representatives were highlighted: National Liberation Struggles of 1917-1921, military-strategic perspectives, Ukraine in the geopolitical coordinates of the world, genesis of Ukrainian statehood.
Supporting this report was the acting academic secretary of the Department of History, Philosophy, and Law of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Valeriy Smoliy.
Members of the Presidium noted the relevance and prospects of the presented research results of young scientists, as well as the high level of their execution.
As a memento of the presentation at the meeting of the NAS of Ukraine Presidium, the President of the Academy, academician Anatoliy Zahorodniy, presented certificates to the young researchers.
The next presentation was "Novel multicomponent medical-biological materials to overcome bacterial resistance" by the head of the Laboratory of Medical-Biological Research of the Institute of Chemistry of Functional Materials of the State Scientific Institution "Scientific and Technological Complex 'Institute of Single Crystals' of the NAS of Ukraine," Doctor of Chemical Sciences Viktoriya Lipson.
She spoke about the fundamental and applied results obtained at the Institute in the field of creating novel molecular materials intended for the development of modern medicinal products in the form of ointments for the treatment of multidrug-resistant wound infections.
The scientist emphasized that the relevance of the work is due to the global spread in clinical practice of multidrug-resistant forms of infectious disease pathogens. In Ukraine, the situation with insufficient effectiveness of existing antimicrobial drugs against resistant pathogen strains in clinical practice is significantly complicated by the war. During military actions, servicemen and civilians suffer wounds and injuries often with various complications, including bacterial ones. The stay of such patients in medical institutions is prolonged, increasing the likelihood of developing polyresistant infections. Therefore, according to the speaker, creating effective agents, including ointments, for treating purulent wounds at the initial stage of the wound process (inflammation and exudation stages) based on existing active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) in combination with compounds that overcome bacterial resistance is a relevant task.
As noted by Viktoriya Lipson, during the research, scientists created a foundation for further pharmaceutical development of liquid and soft medicinal products containing antimicrobial APIs. Pharmaceutical compositions in the form of ointments containing APIs from the fluoroquinolone group (ofloxacin, levofloxacin, or moxifloxacin), BIM solution, and a water-soluble three-component ointment base were proposed. Using the composition with ofloxacin as an example, its characteristics as a material were studied, including rheological properties, API release ability, and absorption of purulent exudate by the ointment.
The speaker emphasized that the obtained data indicate the promise of simultaneous use of fluoroquinolones and BIM in preparations for local treatment of purulent wounds. Creating a high concentration of fluoroquinolone in wound tissue and overcoming bacterial resistance should contribute not only to high treatment effectiveness and reduction of side effects from systemic treatment but also to preventing the formation of resistant bacterial strains.
In conclusion, Viktoriya Lipson noted that pharmaceutical development of such drugs is advisable, which, after appropriate studies and registration, could be aimed at treating purulent wounds infected with resistant bacterial strains that are difficult to treat with currently existing methods.
In the discussion of the report, the following spoke: Director of the State Institution "L.V. Hromashevsky Institute of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases of the NAMN of Ukraine," Corresponding Member of the NAMN of Ukraine Viktoriya Hromashevska; Director of the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, Corresponding Member of the NAS of Ukraine Mykhailo Vovk; academic secretary of the Department of Materials Science of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine, Director of the E.O. Paton Institute of Electric Welding of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Ihor Krivtsun; President of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Vasyl Lazoryshynets; academician of the NAS of Ukraine Vitaliy Tsymbalyuk; academic secretary of the Department of Biochemistry, Physiology, and Molecular Biology of the NAS of Ukraine, Director of the D.K. Zabolotny Institute of Microbiology and Virology of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Mykola Spivak; Vice President of the NAS of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Volodymyr Seminozhenko.
The report aroused great interest among the meeting participants and lively discussion. All noted the importance, relevance, and prospects of wide practical application of the presented fundamental and applied results, as well as the need for further research in this direction to create combined medicinal products based on antimicrobial APIs.
Emphasis was also placed on the need to activate scientific and technical cooperation with institutions of the NAS of Ukraine and NAMN of Ukraine, medical profile institutions, as well as international scientific and medical organizations in the field of creating combined medicinal products for local treatment of purulent wounds, including through participation in joint scientific projects, grant programs, and bilateral cooperation programs.
At the end of the meeting, a number of personnel and current issues were considered. In particular, reports were heard from the Vice Presidents of the NAS of Ukraine, academicians of the NAS of Ukraine Oleh Rafalskyi and Volodymyr Seminozhenko, on the implementation of Joint Activity Programs of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine for 2023–2025, and the corresponding joint activity programs for 2026–2028 were approved.
Photo: Press Service of the NAS of Ukraine
