In close cooperation with EKUT, RUB, and ULUND, as well as the International Advisory Board COBRAIN project developed and YSMU authorized bodies approved a set of regulatory documents and guidelines to be applied in the management of the new research infrastructure - “COBRAIN” Scientific-Educational Center for Fundamental Brain Research (COBRAIN Center / the Center). The Center was established by mobilizing the financial resources of HORIZON2020 “Armenia Center for Translational Research on Chronic Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Neuroscience Initiative on Maintaining Healthy Brain Ageing” (COBRAIN) project, the “SCIENTIFIC-EDUCATIONAL CENTER FOR FUNDAMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH” project of the Education programs PIU of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport under the Competitive Innovation Fund "Education Improvement" loan program co-financed by the World Bank and the basic financing programme of the RA Government. The successful implementation of these projects enabled YSMU to establish a unique research environment within the University where talented researchers were recruited and advanced research methods were introduced. Aiming to highlight the roles and to ensure the sustainability of COBRAIN and “Scientific-Educational Center for Fundamental Brain Research” projects the newly established research infrastructure was called “COBRAIN” SCIENTIFIC-EDUCATIONAL CENTER FOR FUNDAMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH.
The new generation of skilled early-stage researchers was built through long- and short-term training programmes organized in cooperation with leading partner institutions. COBRAIN early-stage researchers (ESR) improved their skills on basic and advanced techniques on isolation and characterization of cells, gDNA, mRNA isolation, Western blot, ELISA, qPCR technique, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent staining, etc. They developed professional and soft skills and competence for being hired in advanced research projects. Further, the continuous enrolment of ESRs will be ensured by the scholarship programme developed in the frames of COBRAIN.
The implementation of long-term training programmes culminated in the introduction of advanced research methods at the newly established research facility. The trainings were exemplified on performing isolation and characterization of migratory capacities of MSC from the wild type rats and eGFP mice, intranasal delivery of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), and a neuroprotective agent invented and produced by YSMU (a novel alpha 2 adrenoblocker mesedin) in transgenic AD and HD mouse and rat models.
The Knowledge and Technology Transfer Office was established within YSMU COBRAIN Center which has initiated the technology transfer practice in the University by pioneering the establishment of links with the industry.
COBRAIN increased the visibility of YSMU and the COBRAIN Center through getting involved in international activities and increasing the number of peer-reviewed publications in highly-ranked neuroscience and stem cell research journals parallel to increasing citations and improving the Impact Factor of the journals in which the papers were published.
