Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NAR-SAR-IPH (Regional Center of Excellence at the Orbeli Institute of Physiology)
Reporting period: 2022-12-01 to 2024-02-29
The Regional Center of Excellence at the Orbeli Institute of Physiology (IPH thereafter) aims to enhance the research and innovation environment at the IPH, one of the Armenia’s prominent biomedical institutions with over 80 years of history. IPH is currently revitalizing its scientific standing, engaging in grant programs, upgrading infrastructure, and expanding the use of digital technologies. The Project perfectly aligns with the priorities of Armenia’s scientific strategy, enhancing IPH’s capacity to secure additional state funds for sustainability beyond the current grant period.
The Project, led by the ERA Chair Holder, has several inter-related aims. These aims include: establishing a biovisualization research core, creating a research group focused on spectroscopy and autofluorescence imaging, implementing several tissue engineering protocols, and enhancing overall institutional compliance with international norms. The new research group will primarily concentrate on advanced hyperspectral imaging techniques for various physiological targets, particularly relevant to surgical procedures. In addition, new protocols for tissue-engineered skin substitutes and other biological scaffold materials will be also implemented. Long-term sustainability will be ensured through initiatives such as the creation of grant support and scientific writing unit and fostering collaborations with medical centers.
Another important aspect of the Project is to improve IPH compliance and regulatory framework. This is being accomplished by establishing an Ethics and Compliance Committee (ECC) with three sub-committees covering issues of animal care, human subjects and biohazard management. These efforts will align with the renovation of the animal facility to meet Directive 2010/63/EU standards.
The Project, led by the ERA Chair Holder, has several inter-related aims. These aims include: establishing a biovisualization research core, creating a research group focused on spectroscopy and autofluorescence imaging, implementing several tissue engineering protocols, and enhancing overall institutional compliance with international norms. The new research group will primarily concentrate on advanced hyperspectral imaging techniques for various physiological targets, particularly relevant to surgical procedures. In addition, new protocols for tissue-engineered skin substitutes and other biological scaffold materials will be also implemented. Long-term sustainability will be ensured through initiatives such as the creation of grant support and scientific writing unit and fostering collaborations with medical centers.
Another important aspect of the Project is to improve IPH compliance and regulatory framework. This is being accomplished by establishing an Ethics and Compliance Committee (ECC) with three sub-committees covering issues of animal care, human subjects and biohazard management. These efforts will align with the renovation of the animal facility to meet Directive 2010/63/EU standards.
The Project implementation began promptly after signing the grant agreement, utilizing IPH existing infrastructure to integrate the ERA Chair, recruit team and start research and other activities. These included:
• Creation of Amenia’s Biovisualization Research Excellence Core (ABREC), aiming to educate local researchers in advanced bioimaging techniques. Recruitment of ERA Chair Holder enabled the addition of hyperspectral imaging modalities to the existing IPH equipment and the development of training materials for Atomic Force and Confocal Microscopy.
• Identification of scientific support needs. In close dialogue with IPH management, renovations and upgrades to 100sq.m. of lab space were completed. An additional 120sq.m. will be finished by fall 2024.
• Recruitment of the ERA Chair team. This involved posting ads in various media outlets and conducting interviews. The team currently has 8 members, with plans for growth
• Collaboration with BIO-SEE regional bioimaging network allows ABREC to organically take over to continue trainings, workshops, and hands-on demonstrations developed previously for the BIO-SEE.
• Development of a bilingual database of scientific equipment across Armenia’s research institutions and making it accessible through the upcoming ERA website.
• Selection and installation of necessary scientific equipment for the development of the advanced hyperspectral imaging approach
• Adaptation of several tissue engineering protocols. Different protocols have been compared for the effect on the final structure of scaffold material.
• Fabrication of an in-house pulsed field ablation (PFA) generator. PFA is rapidly gaining worldwide acceptance for surgical ablation procedure. Creation of a custom build PFA catheter opens the door to several lines of future investigations by the ERA Chair team.
• Conducting experiments with the advanced 4D version of hyperspectral imaging approach. The activity involved the examination of ablated heart tissue, isolated nerve fibers and other rodent organs.
• Collaboration with the American University of Armenia students to test different computational means to analyze large 4D datasets.
Other activities included:
• Kickoff event with representatives from local institutions and officials from the government and the EU Country Office.
• Briefing of IPH staff and the Academic Council on the need to improve compliance environment.
• Drafting a comprehensive Animal Care and Use manual. The document will be in Armenian and English languages to ensure compliance with Directive 2010/63/EU
• Defining roles, composition, and IACUC responsibilities. Developing training materials on animal care, occupational safety practices for research personnel, including tailored models
• Creating a technical description to renovate the IPH animal facility per EU standards outlined in the Animal Care and Use manual. Key areas include ventilation, temperature control, veterinary care, and animal housing.
• Drafting policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for animal care and use.
• Securing additional funds to obtain animal cage washing machine via a grant call for equipment from the Higher Education and Science Committee of RA.
• Recruitment of a webmaster to develop compliance sections of the ERA website. This includes a section focusing on animal care and use, a platform for submitting animal research protocols, access to training modules, relevant policies, SOPs and resource materials. The content of the section will be expanded throughout the Project implementation.
• Initial steps to establish the Office of Grant Support and Scientific Writing. The ERA Chair holder conducted seminar for junior researchers on grant writing and review processes, offering practical advice and addressing common mistakes. Weekly searches for funding opportunities were conducted, and summary information compiled in English and Armenian for accessibility on the Project website.
• Discussions with clinical entities for potential use of HSI technology and prospective sources of human tissues with the aim to establish new partnerships for future collaboration.
• Creation of Amenia’s Biovisualization Research Excellence Core (ABREC), aiming to educate local researchers in advanced bioimaging techniques. Recruitment of ERA Chair Holder enabled the addition of hyperspectral imaging modalities to the existing IPH equipment and the development of training materials for Atomic Force and Confocal Microscopy.
• Identification of scientific support needs. In close dialogue with IPH management, renovations and upgrades to 100sq.m. of lab space were completed. An additional 120sq.m. will be finished by fall 2024.
• Recruitment of the ERA Chair team. This involved posting ads in various media outlets and conducting interviews. The team currently has 8 members, with plans for growth
• Collaboration with BIO-SEE regional bioimaging network allows ABREC to organically take over to continue trainings, workshops, and hands-on demonstrations developed previously for the BIO-SEE.
• Development of a bilingual database of scientific equipment across Armenia’s research institutions and making it accessible through the upcoming ERA website.
• Selection and installation of necessary scientific equipment for the development of the advanced hyperspectral imaging approach
• Adaptation of several tissue engineering protocols. Different protocols have been compared for the effect on the final structure of scaffold material.
• Fabrication of an in-house pulsed field ablation (PFA) generator. PFA is rapidly gaining worldwide acceptance for surgical ablation procedure. Creation of a custom build PFA catheter opens the door to several lines of future investigations by the ERA Chair team.
• Conducting experiments with the advanced 4D version of hyperspectral imaging approach. The activity involved the examination of ablated heart tissue, isolated nerve fibers and other rodent organs.
• Collaboration with the American University of Armenia students to test different computational means to analyze large 4D datasets.
Other activities included:
• Kickoff event with representatives from local institutions and officials from the government and the EU Country Office.
• Briefing of IPH staff and the Academic Council on the need to improve compliance environment.
• Drafting a comprehensive Animal Care and Use manual. The document will be in Armenian and English languages to ensure compliance with Directive 2010/63/EU
• Defining roles, composition, and IACUC responsibilities. Developing training materials on animal care, occupational safety practices for research personnel, including tailored models
• Creating a technical description to renovate the IPH animal facility per EU standards outlined in the Animal Care and Use manual. Key areas include ventilation, temperature control, veterinary care, and animal housing.
• Drafting policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for animal care and use.
• Securing additional funds to obtain animal cage washing machine via a grant call for equipment from the Higher Education and Science Committee of RA.
• Recruitment of a webmaster to develop compliance sections of the ERA website. This includes a section focusing on animal care and use, a platform for submitting animal research protocols, access to training modules, relevant policies, SOPs and resource materials. The content of the section will be expanded throughout the Project implementation.
• Initial steps to establish the Office of Grant Support and Scientific Writing. The ERA Chair holder conducted seminar for junior researchers on grant writing and review processes, offering practical advice and addressing common mistakes. Weekly searches for funding opportunities were conducted, and summary information compiled in English and Armenian for accessibility on the Project website.
• Discussions with clinical entities for potential use of HSI technology and prospective sources of human tissues with the aim to establish new partnerships for future collaboration.
Further research and commercialization activities include:
• Pre-clinical studies to validate the effectiveness and accuracy of HSI use for various medical applications.
• Tailoring the newly created 4D HSI system and catheters for specific procedures such as endoscopic examinations or minimally invasive surgeries is planned. Exploring possibility of combining HSI with other devices such as MRI, ultrasound or CT.
• Advanced algorithms and software for the real-time image analysis of 4D HSI data.
• Studies exploring growth factors and skin-specific cell types to optimize protocols and create collagen layers with improved mechanical properties, biocompatibility and regenerative potential.
• Collaboration with the 3D bioprinting group at IPH to develop multi-layered skin substitutes with enhanced functionality and structural mimicry.
• Testing different computational means to analyze these large 4D datasets.
• Establishment of IACUC to ensure compliance with ethical guidelines and international regulations.
• Access to IACUC educational resources. Demonstrating ethical research and accountability will enhance the Institute’s reputation, attract funding, collaborations, and enhance public trust.
• Pre-clinical studies to validate the effectiveness and accuracy of HSI use for various medical applications.
• Tailoring the newly created 4D HSI system and catheters for specific procedures such as endoscopic examinations or minimally invasive surgeries is planned. Exploring possibility of combining HSI with other devices such as MRI, ultrasound or CT.
• Advanced algorithms and software for the real-time image analysis of 4D HSI data.
• Studies exploring growth factors and skin-specific cell types to optimize protocols and create collagen layers with improved mechanical properties, biocompatibility and regenerative potential.
• Collaboration with the 3D bioprinting group at IPH to develop multi-layered skin substitutes with enhanced functionality and structural mimicry.
• Testing different computational means to analyze these large 4D datasets.
• Establishment of IACUC to ensure compliance with ethical guidelines and international regulations.
• Access to IACUC educational resources. Demonstrating ethical research and accountability will enhance the Institute’s reputation, attract funding, collaborations, and enhance public trust.