Sergei Kutsev: “Institute of Higher and Supplementary Professional Education (IHSPE) of the Research Centre for Medical Genetics (RCMG) Becomes a Leader in Education of Human Resources for Medical Genetics “

The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, has recently ordered to approve a set of measures that could provide the country with the highly qualified human resources for genetics until June 1, 2022. Kremlin’s website reported that message: "To approve a set of measures aimed at meeting the Russian Federation’s need for highly qualified human resources for genetic technologies by 2030, and to ensure its implementation".

Registrars, postgraduate students, and doctors specialising in various fields have been learning in the Institute of Higher and Supplementary Professional Education of RCMG in eleven departments specialising in different areas of medical genetics. There are the Departments of Medical Genetics, Ophthalmogenetics, Molecular Genetics and Bio Information Science, Biochemical Genetics and Hereditary Metabolic Diseases, Cytogenetics and Chromosomal Diseases, Genetics of Neurological Diseases, Genetics of Respiratory System Diseases, Onco-genetics, Endocrine Diseases Genetics, the Department of Bioethical Issues in Medical Genetics. The teaching staff is composed of leading experts who are members of expert groups to develop clinical recommendations educational and professional standards in the field of medical genetics. Overall, there have been working fifty teachers, including eminent scientists recognised both in Russia and worldwide, and International Consortium Orphanet experts.

The Institute of Higher and Supplementary Professional Education also conducts a postgraduate study in the scientific speciality 1.5.7 «Genetics» using the developed laboratory base of RCMG under the guidance of leading Russian scientists in the most relevant directions of genetic technologies for medical research, including genomic editing technologies. Development programmes have been implemented to improve the professional skills of doctors, teachers and researchers in clinical and laboratory genetics, genetic technologies, practice- oriented internships.

Sergey Kutsev, Director of RCMG, Chief External Expert in Medical Genetics of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences: “IHSPE was established in 2020 as a unique institute, which teaches experts for the most promising field of modern medical science - genetics. Today, IHSPE has become a leader in human resources training for medical genetics. IHSPE has been graduating world-class experts to provide advanced research in genetic technology and genomic medicine, to provide medical care to patients with hereditary diseases in the area of prevention, diagnostics and treatment».

Tatiana Bukharova, Director of IHSPE: “The Institute, which is the part of the Research Centre for Medical Genetics, has enormous human resource potential. Leading practical experts whose scientific and medical experience allows to educate the highest-level human resources to develop the most advanced genetic technologies, including genomic editing technologies, have been working here. The mission of the new IHSPE is to develop the human resources potential of Russian science, education and healthcare in the field of medical genetics to solve the strategic priorities of the Russian Federation».

Today, there are only three hundred and forty doctors-geneticists who have been working in the medical genetics service of the Russian Federation, according to the estimation of the Research Centre for Medical Genetics, the head institution of the service. A geneticist and a laboratory geneticist are rare specialisations in medicine. The high level of medicine and science development in Russia is impossible without training qualified specialists in medical genetics.