Alexander Tonevitsky
- Dean: Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology
- Professor: Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology / Joint Department with RAS Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry
- Chief Research Fellow: Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology / Laboratory for Research on Molecular Mechanisms of Longevity
- Member of the HSE Academic Council
- Alexander Tonevitsky has been at HSE University since 2018.
Education, Degrees and Academic Titles
Lomonosov Moscow State University
According to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) 2011, Candidate of Sciences belongs to ISCED level 8 - "doctoral or equivalent", together with PhD, DPhil, D.Lit, D.Sc, LL.D, Doctorate or similar. Candidate of Sciences allows its holders to reach the level of the Associate Professor.
A post-doctoral degree called Doctor of Sciences is given to reflect second advanced research qualifications or higher doctorates in ISCED 2011.
Supervisor of the following Doctoral theses
- 1T. Chuksina Influence of age on the tissue-specific isomiR profile
- 2Microfluidic model of the liver to study the processes of biological aging.
- 3D. Averinskaya Role of HLA-I in severity of COVID-19.
- 4V. Novosad The role of CD44 isoforms in the development of colorectal cancer
Courses (2023/2024)
- Mentor's Seminar (Master’s programme; Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology; 1 year, 1-4 module)Rus
- Postgraduate seminar (Postgraduate course; 1 year, 1 semester)Rus
- Research Seminar (Postgraduate course; 3 year, 2 semester)Rus
Courses (2022/2023)
- Project Seminar (Bachelor’s programme; Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology; 3 year, 3, 4 module)Rus
- Research Seminar (Postgraduate course; 2 year, 2 semester)Rus
Courses (2021/2022)
- Mentor's Seminar (Master’s programme; Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology; 1 year, 1-4 module)Rus
- Research Seminar 2 (Bachelor’s programme; Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology; 3 year, 3, 4 module)Rus
Editorial board membership
HSE University to Enhance Cooperation with the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology
On September 20, a delegation from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) visited HSE University. The Rector of HSE University Nikita Anisimov and the Chairman of the Academy Châu Văn Minh discussed promising avenues for cooperation in the fields of education and science. The heads of HSE departments presented the opportunities the university provides to international students and researchers.
Biologists at HSE University Warn of Potential Errors in MicroRNA Overexpression Method
Researchers at HSE University and the RAS Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry have discovered that a common method of studying genes, which relies on the overexpression of microRNAs, can produce inaccurate results. This method is widely used in the study of various pathologies, in particular cancers. Errors in experiments can lead to incorrect conclusions, affecting the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The study findings have been published in BBA.
HSE University Launches New Master’s Degree Track ‘Plant Biotechnology’
The new track will be launched in September 2024 in the Master's Programme ‘Cell and Molecular Biotechnology’ at theHSE Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology. Students will master modern methods of plant genetic and cellular engineering, genetic and marker selection, genome editing, proteomics, phenomics, and acquire skills in the bioinformatic processing of plant genomic data. The educational trajectory will be implemented in collaboration with the All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology.
Grant Application by Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology Supported by the Russian Science Foundation
The project to develop a microfluidic placenta-on-a-chip model for studying various aspects of normal and pathological placental physiology, including one of the severe pregnancy complications—preeclampsia—has won in the competition "Conducting Fundamental and Exploratory Scientific Research by Individual Scientific Groups"
Beginning of the Academic Year!
On August 31, 2022, the solemn meeting of the first-year students of the bachelor's program Cell and Molecular Biotechnology with the Dean of the Faculty, Alexander Grigorievich Tonevitsky was held at the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology of the National Research University Higher School of Economics.
Russian Researchers Assess the Power of T-Cell Immune Response to Omicron BA.1 and BA.2
Scholars from HSE University and the RAS Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry have demonstrated the efficiency of T-cell immune response against the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. In approximately 90% of vaccinated Europeans, T-cell immunity was as effective against Omicron as with other variants. The results of the study were published in PeerJ.
Members of the International Laboratory of Microphysiological Systems and the Laboratory of Molecular Physiology participated in RECOMB 2021
25th International Conference on Research in Computational Molecular Biology (RECOMB 2021) was held online on August 29th - September 2nd. Staff of the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology - Stepan Nersisyan, Alexey Galatenko, Diana Maltseva and Alexander Tonevitsky participated in a poster session with the report 'miRGTF-net: Integrative miRNA-gene-TF network analysis reveals key drivers of breast cancer recurrence'
The International Laboratory of Microphysiological Systems at the 11th World Congress on Alternatives and Uses of Animals in Natural Sciences (WC11)
Alexander G. Tonevitsky, Leading Research Fellow of the International Laboratory of Microphysiological Systems, took part at the 11th World Congress on Alternatives and Use of Animals in Natural Sciences (WC11)
Russian Scientists Investigate the Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 Variants
HSE University researchers assessed the effectiveness of the T-cell immune response to 11 variants of SARS-CoV-2. Their findings have been published in Nucleic Acids Research.
Hormones Can Help Brain Recover after Injury
An international team of researchers including Alexander Tonevitsky, Professor at HSE’s Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, found that pituitary hormones may produce different effects on the left and right sides of the body following a traumatic brain injury. These differences can accelerate the development of motor disorders. Researchers are trying to determine whether treatment that blocks the corresponding hormones can counteract these effects. The results of the study were published in the journal eLife.
HSE Researchers Discover Nucleotide Sequence Responsible for Effectively Fighting Pathologies
Researchers from HSE University have discovered nucleotide sequences characteristic of microRNA isoforms (microRNAs with errors). The discovery will help predict errors in microRNA behaviour and create drugs that can detect targets (such as viruses) more effectively. The results of the study have been published in the RNA Biology journal.
HSE University and Business Russia to Establish Bioeconomy Advisory Board
The decision to establish the Advisory Board was made during a meeting between the Investment Club of Business Russia (‘Delovaya Rossiya’, an all-Russia public organization), and the HSE University Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, which launched a new Master’s Programme in Bioeconomics last year. The Advisory Board will include leading researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors working in the fields of biotechnology, environmental studies, and sustainable development. Sergey Nedoroslev, Business Russia Co-Chair, and Alexander Tonevitsky, Dean of the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology at HSE University, will also serve as board members.
Nikita Anisimov Appointed Acting Rector of HSE University
On July 2, Mr Anisimov was introduced to the HSE Academic Council at its meeting at HSE campus in Pokrovka. Valery Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Yaroslav Kuzminov, HSE University Academic Supervisor, and HSE University President Alexander Shokhin took part in the meeting.
Researchers Establish Intracellular Interaction Network in Breast Cancer
HSE University researchers have identified the genes that play a crucial role in breast cancer metastasis. The results of the study were published in the journal PLOS ONE.
Researchers Reveal Genetic Predisposition to Severe COVID-19
HSE University researchers have become the first in the world to discover genetic predisposition to severe COVID-19. The results of the study were published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology.
Members of the International Laboratory of Microphysiological Systems and students of the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology gave an interview to the correspondent of “MIR” TV company on the results of their study of molecules capable to suppress the replication of coronaviruses
Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology researchers in their interview to the correspondent of «MIR» TV company talked about their study on interactions between microRNA molecules and human coronaviruses.
Researchers Find Therapeutic Targets to Fight SARS-CoV-2
Researchers from HSE University have developed new approaches for regulating the expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 enzymes, which play a crucial role in cell infection with SARS-CoV-2. The scholars discovered that small non-coding microRNA (miRNA) molecules are capable of performing a targeted decrease in ACE2 and TMPRSS2. The results of the study have been published in PLOS ONE journal.
Joint Seminar of HSE Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology and George Mason University
This June, first-year undergraduate students of the HSE Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology took part in an online seminar at George Mason University (USA). The seminar was part of the Coronavirus Research Update summer course, taught by Professor Ancha Baranova.
HSE and RAS Institutes to Produce Future Generations of Scientists
On February 12 at the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, HSE and five institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) signed agreements to collaborate in the field of scientific education. The institutions have pledged to contribute to the development of new faculties of chemistry as well as biology and biotechnology at HSE.
‘HSE Is in a Class by Itself.’ Annual HSE International Advisory Committee Meeting Commences
New faculties, personnel development, internationalisation, and much more – these are all things on the agenda of the annual International Advisory Committee (IAC) meeting currently taking place in Moscow.
Alexander Tonevitsky Recognized as Distinguished Scientist of Russia
Alexander Tonevitsky, Dean of the HSE Faculty of Biology and Biotechnologies and corresponding member of the RAS, was awarded the honorary title of Distinguished Scientist of the Russian Federation. The awards ceremony was held in the Kremlin on November 27.
HSE Opens Two New Faculties
In 2019, HSE will begin enrolling students in undergraduate programmes at two new faculties: the Faculty of Chemistry, and the Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology. These faculties will work in partnership with leading RAS institutions where students will be carrying out research.