The Vyzov Award: St Petersburg University neuroscientist Raul Gainetdinov named Scientist of the Year

The Vyzov [Challenge] National Award in the field of future technologies is held as part of the Decade of Science and Technology announced by the President of the Russian Federation. The Award is designed to recognise breakthroughs, ideas, and inventions that change the landscape of modern science and the life of every single person. The founders of the Vyzov Award underline that the achievements acknowledged by the Award will shape the future and positively affect various aspects of human life, such as: health; communications; logistics; energy; and much more. The Award aspires to encourage the younger generations to pursue science and technology in Russia. 

The Award is given annually in four categories: Vision; Engineering Solution; Breakthrough; and Scientist of the Year. The winners in each category will receive a monetary prize of 10 million roubles to implement their research and development projects. The Vyzov Award Organising Committee received over 200 applications from 38 regions of the Russian Federation. 

Raul Gainetdinov, Director of the Institute of Translational Biomedicine at St Petersburg University, has been announced Scientist of the Year at the 2023 Vyzov National Award for Future Technologies. In this category, the committee evaluates the cumulative personal contribution to the development of fundamental science and/or technology, including scientific works containing a fundamental or technological breakthrough that will enable the creation of future technologies within three to ten years.

The Award is founded by the Vyzov Foundation for the Development of Scientific and Cultural Relations and Gazprombank, with the support of the Moscow City Government.

Raul Gainetdinov is one of the world leaders in pharmacology of the dopamine system. He is internationally recognised for identification and research into a novel neurotransmitter system that occurs via trace amine-associated receptors. Under his leadership, the research team of the Institute of Translational Biomedicine at St Petersburg University is developing new drugs for the treatment of brain disorders based on the latest advances in genetics and molecular biology. Today, the University neuroscientist continues to develop fundamentally novel drugs that can deal with neurodegenerative and mental diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Such a high appreciation of my work is very gratifying and incredibly motivating. This award highlights my efforts and those of my team and shows that our achievements are highly regarded in the scientific community. I am deeply grateful for the support I receive and I am going to continue working for the benefit of society and science.

Raul Gainetdinov, Director of the Institute of Translational Biomedicine at St Petersburg University

Professor Raul Gainetdinov is the author of 14 patents and over 300 research papers published in the world’s leading journals, including: Science; Nature; Cell; and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He advises a number of international pharmaceutical companies. For three times, Professor Gainetdinov has been included in the list of the Web of Science Highly Cited Researchers in Pharmacology and Toxicology, which represents 0.1% of the most cited scientists in the world. He received a letter of gratitude from the President of the Russian Federation for contributions to science, pedagogy, and education.