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The 2023 Russian Federation National Award in science and technology has been awarded to Mikhail Kovalchuk, Yevgeny Adamov and Vladimir Asmolov for a series of fundamental and applied research, development and technological works that made an outstanding contribution to the development of a scientific and technical basis, substantiation and implementation of the strategy of two-component nuclear power system in the Russian Federation.

Mikhail Kovalchuk was born in Leningrad on September 21, 1946, PhD (Physics and Mathematics), member of Russian Academy of Sciences, President of the National Research Centre (NRC) Kurchatov Institute.

Yevgeny Adamov was born in Moscow on April 28, 1939, PhD (Technology), Research Director of the Dollezhal Research and Development Institute of Power Engineering (NIKIET).

Vladimir Asmolov was born in Moscow on April 10, 1946, PhD (Technology), Adviser to the Director General of the Rosatom State Corporation.

The project focused on and resulted in the creation of the foundation for the world’s first nature-like nuclear power system integrated in the eco-friendly natural fuel and energy resources turnover.

The fundamental elements of this power generation system include, first, the full use of the initial raw materials’ fuel value through the deep afterburning of nuclear fuel, and second, the reduction of the radioactive activity of waste generated at nuclear power plants to a nature-like radioactivity level of fertile materials (the radiation-equivalent principle of radioactive waste management).

To achieve these goals, the scientists have proposed, substantiated and started applying a fundamentally new concept of the coordinated development of nuclear and thermonuclear power generation based on fission (thermal and fast neutron) and fusion (thermonuclear neutron source) reactors.

The project was implemented in two stages.

The first stage involved the implementation of a two-component nuclear power system based on thermal neutron and fast neutron reactors. In that system, thermal neutron reactors generate energy, while fast neutron reactors not only generate energy but also accumulate fissile isotopes from the raw isotope for its own purposes and for replenishing the shortage of fissile isotopes in thermal neutron reactors. The most hazardous radioactive waste is burned in molten salt (waste burning) reactors or fast neutron reactors.

At the second stage and with advances in thermonuclear technology, neutrons generated in a thermonuclear reactor (a fusion neutron source) will be used to produce fissile isotopes from raw isotopes or nuclear waste.

The results of the research and development projects conducted by the authors have been used to create and implement unique high-tech components of this new power system. This has advanced Russia to a leading position in power generation and ensured a high level of scientific, technological and socioeconomic development in the country as a whole and its national security.

Mikhail Kovalchuk advanced the concept and formulated the principles for creating and developing nature-like technologies as the basis for a fundamentally new nature-like technosphere, proposed a fundamentally new concept of the coherent development of nuclear and thermonuclear power generation in the 21st century, which opens the door to the creation of clean nuclear energy based on the radiation-equivalent principle of radioactive waste management, and made a substantial contribution to research and development in the field of thermonuclear fusion and plasma technology, which has produced significant results for the national economy and is of crucial importance for the development of nuclear power engineering. Under his guidance, NRC Kurchatov Institute has created and launched Tokamak T-15MD, Russia’s largest innovative thermonuclear device of the world class, which will become the key infrastructure element of thermonuclear research in Russia and will ensure necessary preparations for launching the ITER international thermonuclear experimental reactor.

Yevgeny Adamov is a co-author of a new development concept of large-scale nuclear power industry in Russia with the gradual transfer from energy carrier exports to the exports of electricity produced at nuclear power plants. The results of the projects implemented with contribution from and under the scientific guidance of Adamov formed the basis of the initiative on ensuing access to energy for the sustainable development of humanity, finding a comprehensive non-proliferation solution and the ecological recovery of planet Earth, which President Putin advanced at the UN Millennium Summit on September 6, 2000. At roughly the same time, Adamov initiated an international project on innovative nuclear reactors and fuel cycles at the IAEA, which nearly 30 countries subsequently joined.

Vladimir Asmolov is an acknowledged international expert on the safety of nuclear installations, research director of the design of Russian nuclear power plants with VVER reactors. He also supervised a number of international projects to study the phenomena and processes taking place during a serious accident in a light-water reactor. Asmolov also conducted experiments during which he completed full-cycle research into the retention of a melted core in-vessel. The results of the experiment were used for substantiating a security concept and designing nuclear power plants with improved technical and economic characteristics. Asmolov took part in relief operations at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant as the research director of the Ukrytie (sarcophagus or shelter) project. He also prepared practical proposals on enhancing the safety and stability of Russian nuclear power plants.

The 2023 Russian Federation National Award for outstanding achievements in science and technology has been awarded to Sergei Gauthier, Marina Minina and Mogeli Khubutiya for developing and substantiating an original method for transplanting vital organs and introducing it in clinical practice in Russia.

Sergei Gauthier was born on September 23, 1947 in Moscow, PhD (Medicine), full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Merited Doctor of the Russian Federation, Director of the Shumakov Federal Research Centre for Transplantology and Artificial Organs of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russia.

Marina Minina was born on May 22, 1972 in Shakhty, Rostov Region, PhD (Medicine), Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Moscow City Coordination Centre for Organ Donation at the Sergei Botkin Hospital of the Moscow City Department of Healthcare.

Mogeli Khubutiya was born on June 17, 1946 in Sukhumi, Abkhazian ASSR, PhD (Medicine), full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Merited Doctor of the Russian Federation, President of the Sklifosovsky Research Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Moscow City Department of Healthcare.

The team has scientifically substantiated, developed and implemented a highly effective complex treatment of patients, both adults and children, with congenital and acquired diseases of vital organs in the terminal (final) stage, and created original surgical methods for organ transplantation.

This novel system for the transplantation of vital organs has been scientifically substantiated and introduced into clinical practice in Russian regions.

Sergei Gauthier developed and implemented new surgical methods and programmes for the transplantation of liver, heart, lungs, and multi-organ transplants; some of them have no analogues in the world. He created a unique critical heart failure treatment programme, which provides for the world’s largest number of heart transplants in one medical centre. He developed an ex vivo organ perfusion technology, which makes it possible not only to preserve, but also to rehabilitate a donor organ for transplantation. He invented and implemented a bioartificial liver support method for the treatment of liver failure. He also made a significant personal contribution to training medical personnel for domestic transplantology.

Marina Minina has developed and scientifically substantiated fundamentally new approaches to the comprehensive assessment of donor organs for transplantation. The method improved the allocation of donor organs, harmonised the organ donation system and expanded access to organ transplantation in Russia. She scientifically substantiated and implemented the coordination principles in organ donation and transplantation, introducing an innovative healthcare programme, a nationwide organ donation centre, which eventually provided Russians with a wider and more equitable access to organ transplantation with a higher quality of service.

Mogeli Khubutiya proposed a new approach to the provision of organ transplantation services in a multipurpose hospital. He made a significant contribution to developing the infrastructure for, and modern principles of organ donation, including multi-organ transplant, to the development of regulatory documents governing organ donation and transplantation in Moscow and in Russian regions, as well as to the training of transplantology personnel.

The 2023 Russian Federation National Award for outstanding achievements in science and technology has been given to Pyotr Chumakov for a series of fundamental and applied studies on the role of the p53 tumour suppressor gene in healthy patients and in pathology.

Pyotr Chumakov was born on May 3, 1951 in Moscow, PhD (Biology), corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Chief Researcher at the Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Pyotr Chumakov carried out a series of studies that significantly influenced the development of biology and resulted in creating new approaches to cancer treatment.

In 1982, Pyotr Chumakov was the first in the world to decode the human TP53 gene, study its role in genomic stability and showed that its mutations play a major role in the malignant transformation process.

The p53 protein, a product of this gene, is a tumour suppressor that induces apoptosis in cancer cells. When p53 proteins lose their tumour suppressive activities, cells begin to divide uncontrollably, accumulate mutations and form tumours. Subsequent experiments have shown that in most cases, mutant p53 proteins are present in human cancer cells. Pyotr Chumakov also found that in addition to preventing malignant transformation, the normal p53 protein helps optimise metabolism, contributes to physiological loads adaptation and stress resistance.

Chumakov’s research established the role of the most important tumour suppressor gene, studied the oncogenic properties of its mutant variants, and found substances that block their harmful effects, to be potentially used in antitumour drugs.

Among the new approaches to cancer therapy, Pyotr Chumakov developed a method of creating oncolytic viruses by forced bioselection on cancer cells. The panels of oncolytic viruses developed with this method have successfully passed preclinical studies and have shown effectiveness in suppressing malignant tumours and metastases.

Chumakov is one of the most productive Russian biologists. Over the past 40 years, he has made a series of fundamental discoveries that have led to the creation of a new field of science and paved the way for game-changing cancer treatment strategies and defeating certain types of cancer.