The Russian Kurchatov Institute plans to spend nearly 18 billion rubles on longevity research
The Kurchatov Institute in Russia has launched large-scale studies on primates to find methods to extend human life. The project is supervised by Vladimir Putin's associate Mikhail Kovalchuk. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine (Юлія Капітонова) citing TASS, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
During the Kurchatov Genomic Forum in Moscow, Mikhail Kovalchuk announced the formation of a specialized collection of animals. The institution’s nurseries currently house over 7,000 monkeys belonging to 22 different species.
Methodology for aging research
Researchers are focusing on animals aged between 18 and 30, conducting comprehensive biochemical and structural screening. According to Kovalchuk, analyzing the vascular system and brains of primates should provide the foundation for developing regulatory systems aimed at extending human biological lifespan.
To achieve these objectives, the Kurchatov Institute, in collaboration with the Russian Research Center for Surgery, has established a biobank. This facility aggregates biological samples from long-lived monkeys, which will be used to study the biological mechanisms of cell aging.
Political dimension of the research
Mikhail Kovalchuk is known as an informal advisor and long-time associate of Vladimir Putin. His brother, billionaire Yuri Kovalchuk, is also part of the inner circle of the Kremlin leader, who has shown personal interest in the topic of life extension.
Within the framework of the state program “New Health Preservation Technologies” for 2027–2029, Russia has allocated nearly 18 billion rubles. In addition to Kovalchuk’s institute, the dictator’s elder daughter, endocrinologist Maria Vorontsova, is involved in the field of genetic research.
Russia’s scientific efforts in this area include growing organs for transplantation inside genetically modified mini-pigs and gene therapy. Vorontsova publicly commented on these aspirations during a speech at the Moscow School of Management Skolkovo, where a longevity laboratory was launched.
Photo: RBC-Ukraine
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