News
March 1, 2023
Scientists from the Karelian Research Centre RAS are among the winners of two regional competitions organized by the Russian Science Foundation. Eight research projects will be supported. Congratulations to our colleagues!
The Russian Science Foundation (RSF) announced the results of two regional competitions: projects for separate research groups and for small research groups. Projects for small research groups will be supported by two-year grants of up to 1.5 million rubles per year. Projects for separate research groups will receive three-year grants of 4 to 7 million rubles per year. The grants will be made up of funds from the foundation and from the region on parity basis (50% + 50%).

Projects by staff of KarRC RAS institutes supported under RSF grant competition 2023

For separate research groups (4–10 persons):

- “Assessment of the current state of the water ecosystem in Lake Onego Kizhi Skerries (in the buffer zone of the Kizhi Pogost World Heritage Site) based on hydrochemical and hydrobiological indices in the situation of long-term anthropogenic pressure”, Leader Anastasiia Sidorova, Cand. Sci. (Biol.), Researcher, Hydrobiology Laboratory, Northern Water Problems Institute KarRC RAS.

- “Assessment of the current state of natural foci of transmissible diseases of humans and animals in boreal ecosystems of Russia (the Republic of Karelia case study)”, Leader Sergey Bugmyrin, Cand. Sci. (Biol.), Head of Laboratory for Plant and Animal Parasitology, Institute of Biology KarRC RAS.


For small research groups (2–4 persons):

- “Research of natural seismicity in Karelia”, Leader Irina Zueva, Junior Researcher, Geophysics Laboratory, Institute of Geology KarRC RAS.

- “Content of essential and toxic elements in tissues of ungulate game species in Karelia and assessment of health risks for humans consuming their meat and offal”, Leader Svetlana Kalinina, Cand. Sci. (Biol.), Head of Laboratory for Ecological Physiology of Animals, Institute of Biology KarRC RAS.

- “Unification of avifauna monitoring studies in Karelia as a way to track and control trends in bird numbers and species composition”, Leader Sergey Simonov, Cand. Sci. (Biol.), Senior Researcher, Zoology Laboratory, Institute of Biology KarRC RAS.

- “Agrobiological efficiency of launching agricultural production of northern medicinal plants”, Leader Maria Yurkevich, Cand. Sci. (Agr.), Head of Laboratory for Soil Ecology and Geography, Institute of Biology KarRC RAS.

- “Parasitological monitoring of northern freshwater ecosystems by the e-DNA method”, Leader Aleksey Parshukov, Cand. Sci. (Biol.), Senior Researcher, Laboratory for Plant and Animal Parasitology, Institute of Biology KarRC RAS.

- “Epitranscriptome modifications in the development of SARS-COV-2 persistence in patients after COVID-19: involvement of N6-adenosin-methyltransferases from host’s cells”, Leader Olga Balan, Cand. Sci. (Biol.), Senior Researcher, Genetics Laboratory, Institute of Biology KarRC RAS.

The key objective of RSF regional competitions is to involve and use the scientific potential of Russian regions to solve problems in their social and economic development. Prior to the competitions, the regions themselves determined the research and development areas in which studies are required.

We congratulate the winners and wish them productive research!

Photo by RSF Press Office

See also:

April 28, 2025
Karelian biologists ran successful trials of a technique for detecting fish infection with helminths based on traces of their DNA in water

Specialists of the Institute of Biology KarRC RAS were the first in the republic to test the method of environmental DNA analysis (eDNA) to detect a model fish parasite in an area impacted by trout farms. This is especially important in the context of a growing number of fish farms that use the practice of transporting stock (fry) from between water bodies, which creates a risk of new parasites appearing in lakes. Currently, fish have to be captured and examined to detect an infection, and for the output to be accurate the sample should be at least 15 fish. This may be problematic in the wild and costly in cage facilities. The eDNA diagnosis system can detect the presence of parasites directly in water samples.