The world is divided into experimenters and guinea pigs

The Ukrainian National Academy of Science’s Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics recently marked its thirtieth anniversary. Discussing the pros and cons of new technologies has been in vogue recently. Countries with advanced research potentials now and then announce discoveries in this domain. Below Vitaly KORDIUM, Corresponding Member of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, discusses the role of Ukrainian geneticists as well as Ukraine’s prospects.

KORDIUM: It’s true that we can grow human organs, which means that we’ll eventually learn to reconstruct man. Regrettably, Ukraine is in a phase long since passed by the developed countries. We work intensively on fetal cells, in other words on aborted fetuses. Practically we can’t move any further. You see, a column cell requires an average of some ten factors. Firms specializing in this field responded to the column cell boom quickly and to the point. At present, one-millionth of a gram of many such factors costs about $100. Naturally, the prime cost of such experimenting is formed not only by them; we badly need specially equipped labs and equipment. It’s a shame that Ukrainian scientists were among the trailblazers in a number of molecular biological and genetic fields, particularly in mass pathology gene therapy, a trend relying on the introduction into the organism of various gene structures in order to treat widespread diseases. In fact, this trend was initiated by Ukrainian scientists in the Soviet Union, and it remains a priority at the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. Experts believe that there will be over 250 million diabetic cases in 2010, of whom 20% will be insulin-dependent. We know that insulin therapy is anything but perfect, as it cannot always secure the required glucose count. Now gene therapy is capable of providing radical treatment, meaning that such patients will be administered preproinsulin as part of special molecular structures. Or take arteriosclerosis, the main cause of heart attacks, strokes, and arterial hypertension. A rising cholesterol count heightens the risk of arteriosclerosis. Gene therapy could be very instrumental in the development of antiatherogenic medications.

Here is one fact showing what is actually happening. In 1990-95, a prototype of anti-AIDS gene therapy was developed in line with a program adopted by the National Committee for the Eradication of AIDS under the President of Ukraine. At one of the institute’s departments they injected gene-engineering molecular constructions into hematogenic cells capable of suppressing the multiplication of the virus. Lab tests showed that such cells were highly HIV-resistant. But then financing for the program stopped. The cellular material available was conserved, meaning that all previous subsidies had been wasted.

Quite a few Ukrainian research institutes survive by cooperating with foreign counterparts...

KORDIUM: We cooperate, of course, but only in terms of fundamental sciences. Experimenting witch clones, gene therapy, and suchlike means big money. Our institute subsists on research projects, but no one will share any technologies with us. You can cooperate with a pharmaceutical firm, but you will never be granted any output technologies, for you will be paid not to learn or be taught, but simply because you’re working for them. What we do jointly with Western researchers we cannot put to practical use here. They know it in the West, and they’re using it to their advantage.

But there are grants, programs; there are wealthy individuals who want to live longer.

KORDIUM: Picture an individual making his living by begging in the street, asking passers-by to give him a million dollars. Some will give him ten kopiykas. Will this be enough? That’s exactly what’s happening to Ukraine’s geneticists. As for wealthy individuals, no one here wants to invest in a vague future. Many believe that scientists should not be trusted, for they will tell you lots of fascinating stories just to make you give them a lot of money. Of course, this is a purely post-Soviet complex, for in that society financing sciences did not conform to their level. Naturally, no one will give seven billion dollars for genetic projects here as they do in the West, but we could be given at least something to allow us to walk rather than crawl. The current attitude toward genetics in Ukraine is graphically illustrated by what happened quite recently. I have in mind the international Human Genome Project. Our institute was directly involved under the Soviets, but after Ukraine proclaimed independence Russia became the legal successor to that project. The Human Genome Project leadership proposed we join it as an independent country, but on one condition: Ukraine would have to undertake a national human genome program. I wrote to the authorities at all level, asking them to do it, even if as a pure formality, with no strings attached, so we could receive subsidies, however small, for the main thing was having that document. It all fell on the deaf ears of our officials.

You have mentioned that your institute uses fetal material, meaning aborted fetuses. How can such material be useful?

KORDIUM: Such material is used by a number of research centers. Our institute uses it very seldom and only with regard to certain research projects. Many aspects of this issue are still to be understood. I know with certainty that such material is used in neurosurgery; when dealing with grave craniocerebral injuries, fetal cells are introduced in the brain. I know that this technique proves quite effective in juvenile cases, while adult patients experience only a temporary improvement. I believe that this field of medical endeavor has been overly commercialized, so it’s difficult to understand which approach is effective and which is detrimental. Everyone says his invention is a cure-all, yet very few produce sufficient supporting evidence. By the way, only several countries, apart from Ukraine, use such fetal material. The rest have discarded the practice, and I think the ethical reasons are not the only ones.

Speaking of ethics, this aspect appears most disputable in modern genetic and molecular research. Where would you personally draw the line?

KORDIUM: In this case it’s obvious. If you have a fully developed and tested technique, if it proves truly effective, you can say it’s ethically correct. After all, standards change as the years go by. Remember the first test-tube fertilization? Everybody shouted that it was immoral and contradicted all set norms. Now we have standard test-tube procedures allowing many women to become happy mothers, something they would have never otherwise experienced. In Ukraine, considering its vast agrarian sector, such issues have to be solved not en masse but in every individual case.

How do you feel about the pros and cons of genetically modified organisms being actively debated these days?

KORDIUM: I think that there would be no problems if every gene is properly studied and tested. Condemning all GMOs is absurd, of course.. What’s wrong with developing bumper corn crops or pest-resistant potato varieties? Especially now that most African countries are on the verge of death by starvation.

At one time we heard in Ukraine that it was worth carrying out some genetic screening and introducing the so-called genetic passports in order to prevent certain hereditary diseases. What’s the current status of the project?

KORDIUM: The human genome has been deciphered and most human genes identified, meaning that we know precisely how they all function. Many puzzles concerning cancer have been solved; if a given gene betrays certain malfunctions the gene-bearing individual appears more likely to develop a malignant dysfunction. If an individual reveals lipoprotein synthesis disorders and there is a low density count, it means that this individual runs a higher ischemia and other morbid risks. Knowing of such ills, it is possible to prevent or at least to forestall their occurrence, by going on a certain diet or going in for sports. I think that the so-called genetic passport is a very useful thing. Ukraine, however, cannot afford such research projects and there is no social genetic monitoring contract. True, some steps are being taken. Our institute has studied genome disorders that cause higher iron content in the organism. Quite a few disorders appear after forty years of age, due to excessive iron content. Preventing this requires very little, really, the right kind of diet to keep the iron count low.

Oleksandr Vozianov, President of the Ukrainian Academy of Medical Sciences, stated in a recent interview with The Day that Ukraine would find itself back in the Middle Ages unless we could resume active genetic studies. Isn’t this a radical assessment?:

KORDIUM: Not at all. In fact, I believe that Prof. Vozianov was understating. The things they are doing elsewhere in the world are a true medical revolution. It’s just that this world is divided into experimenters and guinea pigs, the latter often suffering their lot without even knowing what is happening.