All-Russian Research Institute of Physiology, Biochemistry and Animal Nutrition

The All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry of Farm Animals was created in accordance with the order of the Ministry of Agriculture No. 157 of August 15, 1960 ^[4] . The order indicated that the institute was created to develop the theoretical foundations for the further development of animal husbandry and the training of scientific personnel in the physiology and biochemistry of farm animals ^[5] .

Initially, the institute was located in Moscow , then a year later it was relocated to Borovsk and occupied the old building of the college of agricultural mechanization on the outskirts of the city ^[6] .

In ten years, a radiochemical laboratory, a modern laboratory building, and two physiological courtyards were built. Employees received three new homes.

In 1970, scientific research was carried out already in 17 laboratories: gas energy and intermediate metabolism , amino acids and protein , neurohumoral regulation, meat biosynthesis, lactation, digestion , fertilization, enzymes , minerals , vitamins , endocrinology , microbiology , stimulation, stable isotopes , radiochemistry , chemicalization of animal husbandry, as well as an electron microscopy cabinet, photo cabinet, a bureau of scientific and technical information, a library, a physiological yard, a vivarium , an experimental farm, a technical department whom service ^[6] . The Institute becomes a leading research center in the country for the development of physiological and biochemical foundations for the development of animal husbandry, the training of scientific personnel in the physiology, biochemistry and microbiology of farm animals and the coordination of research in these fields of science.

The first director of the institute was academician VASKHNIL Nikolai Alexandrovich Shmanenkov . Under his leadership, the institute gained immense authority in domestic and world science. The leading scientists of the institute were true enthusiasts in those years: N.V. Kurilov - corresponding member of VASKHNIL, professor , head of the laboratory, A. A. Zhuravlev - professor, doctor of sciences , head of the laboratory, E. A. Nadalyak - deputy director , Doctor of Sciences, Professor, Head of Laboratory of Doctor of Sciences A. N. Komarov, V. P. Radchenkov, I. K. Medvedev ^[7] .

As the material and technical base improves, research methods are improved and scientific potential is increased, the institute begins to solve new complex problems in the study of metabolic processes using stable and radioactive isotopes, electrophoretic methods , gas-liquid chromatography , and electron microscopy. For the first time, a calf heart transplant was performed at the Institute’s base ^[8] . Since 1975, after a twenty-five-year ban in the USSR, work on biotechnology in animal husbandry was resumed ^[9] . The VNIIIFBiP team has been actively involved in the study of surgical methods for embryo transplantation. Just two years later, in 1977, the institute received the first calf transplant in the USSR ^[10] (laboratory of Professor M. I. Prokofiev ).

At the institute, one of the promising scientific areas of biotechnology was born - the creation of drugs to increase livestock productivity while reducing feed consumption and reducing labor costs. The immunobiotechnology laboratory (the head of the laboratory is Professor V. A. Galochkin) creates a new organic compound - selenopyran ^[11] . Based on the prolonged form of selenopyran and fat-soluble vitamins, the Institute synthesized mineral-vitamin mixtures that help to improve the reproductive function of cows and bulls, increase milk production and resistance of new-born cows, calves, repair gobies, sows, piglets, broilers and laying hens ^[12] .

The operating room created at the institute, equipped with the latest technology, allows for the most advanced operations of increased complexity on animals. A well-developed technique for applying fistulas in ruminants (head of the laboratory, Professor E. L. Kharitonov) made it possible to quickly obtain quantitative data on the formation and conversion of individual metabolites, the synthesis of microbial protein in the pancreas, and the secretory activity of the digestive glands ^[13] .

In recent years, significant advances have been made in genetic engineering . For the first time, a genetic engineering construct including human genes was introduced into the genome of mice and rabbits (head of the laboratory, professor V.P. Ryabykh). This modification made it possible to obtain rabbits giving milk with human protein lactoferrin . The biologically active substance created is used to form immunity and is necessary for the survival and development of weakened babies ^[13] .

For 2016, the institute includes nine research units: eight research laboratories and a research and organizational department.

The solution of research issues is entrusted to the teams of the following laboratories ^[14] :

• immunobiotechnology;
• energy nutrition;
• regulation of metabolism and animal productivity;
• physiology of digestion and interstitial metabolism;
• protein and amino acid nutrition;
• cell and genetic engineering;
• biotechnology of microorganisms .

The main areas of work of the scientific and organizational department of the institute include issues of system biology, as well as structural and functional analysis and modeling of metabolic processes and productive functions of animals in the regulation of metabolism and animal productivity.

The institute has nine support units: an editorial and publishing group, a patent department , a business service, a vivarium , a garage, etc.

The VNIIIFBiP scientific library fund contains the main branches of natural science: physiology, biochemistry, genetics, animal husbandry, chemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, biophysics, microbiology. The book fund corresponds to the International Universal Classification . A reference and search apparatus has been developed, including 210 thousand descriptions.

According to the order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia dated September 11, 2017 No. 906 / nk, the activity of the dissertation council of VNIIIFBiP was terminated.

Admission to graduate school is carried out in the following specialties: biochemistry , physiology , biotechnology (including bionanotechnology ) and feed production, feeding farm animals and feed technology.

Since 2010, the Council of Young Scientists has been working at the institute on an ongoing basis.

According to the official website of the Institute for 2014 ^{[15] the} number of employees is 140 people. The institute employs 60 scientists, including 1 academician , 45 doctors and candidates of sciences, 22 professors , associate professors and senior researchers . The institute includes: 1 laureate of the RF Government Prize in the field of science and technology , 3 honored scientists of the Russian Federation . The number of students in graduate school is 14 people.

• 1960-1979: Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Academician of the All-Union Agricultural Academy of Sciences Nikolai Shmanenkov .
• 1979-1985: Doctor of Biological Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Agricultural Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Professor Valery Georgievsky .
• 1985-1987: Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Aleksey Vasilievich Arkhipov.
• 1987—2010: Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Academician of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences Boris Dmitrievich Kalnitsky .
• 2010—2017: Ph.D. Alexander Sergeevich Ushakov ^[15] .
• Since 2017: Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Evgeny Leonidovich Kharitonov.

Currently, the Institute conducts fundamental, exploratory and applied research in the following areas ^[16] :

• physiology, biochemistry and nutrition of domestic and agricultural animals and birds;
• development of new approaches to solving the problems of clinical veterinary medicine, biomedicine , biotechnology and quality control of livestock products;
• obtaining transgenic animals;
• obtaining transgenic organisms - producers of biologically active proteins for pharmacological and diagnostic purposes;
• obtaining embryonic stem cells of humans and animals;
• cultivation of cells and tissues of humans and animals;
• genetic and cellular engineering;
• animal cloning ;
• isolation, cultivation and study of microorganisms;
• the development of new approaches to improving the efficiency of livestock production using recombinant probiotic preparations;
• the study of opportunistic viral and bacterial infections of farm animals, the assessment of their impact on productivity, the development of monitoring methods and protection against them;
• tests and analysis in scientific fields (microbiology, biochemistry, bacteriology, etc.);
• system modeling of biological processes.

Over the decades of work at the institute, the following scientific schools have been formed :

• Academician, Professor Nikolai Alexandrovich Shmanenkov: protein and amino acid nutrition;
• Professor Eugene Alexandrovich Nadalyak: energy exchange;
• Professor Nikolai Vasilievich Kurilov: digestion of ruminants;
• Professor Ivan Konstantinovich Medvedev: biochemistry and physiology of lactation;
• Professor Ali Adilovich Aliyev: interstitial metabolism;
• Professor Nikolai Grigorievich Grigoriev: biosynthesis of meat components.

Since the 90s of the last century, the Institute has been the base for international conferences on biology in animal husbandry. On September 15-17, 2015, the next VI International Scientific Conference “Actual Problems of Biology in Animal Husbandry” was held in Borovsk, dedicated to the 55th anniversary of the All-Russian Research Institute of Physiology, Biochemistry and Animal Nutrition ^{[17] [18]} .

Since 2007, the Institute has published the journal “Problems of Biology of Productive Animals” ^{[19] [20]} (ISSN 1996-6733). Previously, the journal was called “Bulletin of the All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Physiology, Biochemistry and Nutrition of Farm Animals” ^[21] (ISSN 0366-4902). Theme of the journal: feeding, physiology, biochemistry and biotechnology of productive animals.

• Shmanenkov N.A. Amino acids in animal feeding. - M.: Kolos, 1970 .-- 88 p. - (New in the village of households)
• Domestic literature on the study of energy exchange in farm animals [Text] / All-Russian Research Institute of Physiology, Biochemistry and Nutrition, agricultural animals; Comp .: A. L. Glushko; Under the total. ed. Dr. biol. Sciences E. A. Nadalyaka. - Borovsk: [b. and.], 1976. - 105 p.
• The study of energy exchange and energy nutrition in farm animals: (Method. Instructions) / VASKHNIL, All-Russian Research Institute of Physiology, Biochemistry and Nutrition of agricultural animals; [Comp. E. A. Nadalyak et al.], 56, [1] p. silt 21 cm, Borovsk ONTI VNIIIFBIP, 1986
• Physiology and biochemistry of digestion of ruminants [Text] / N.V. Kurilov, A. P. Krotkova. - Moscow: Kolos, 1971. - 432 p. : ill.
• Medvedev I.K., Cherepanov G.G., Khrustaleva G.N. Functional morphology of the mammary gland of ruminants. Borovsk, VNIIIFBiP s.kh. animals. 2000 .-- 292 p.
• Aliev, A. A. Metabolism in ruminants / A. A. Aliev. - M.: Research Center "Engineer", 1997. - 419 p. : ill. - Bibliography: p. 390-419. - ISBN 5-7013-0019-6 (per.)
• Grigoriev N.G., Volkov N.P., Vorobev E.S., Garist A.V., Fitsev A.I., Voronkova F.V. Biological usefulness of feed. M .: Agropromizdat.-1989 .- 287 p.

Official website of VNIIIFBiP
Federal Agency for Scientific Organizations (FANO of Russia)