On 25–27 November, a JINR delegation headed by Director of the Institute Grigory Trubnikov paid a working visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan and held meetings with the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan to JINR, Vice-President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), Director of the Institute of Physics of the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan Arif Gashimov, Deputy Minister of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Firudin Qurbanov, and President of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan Isa Habibbayli. The Institute’s delegation visited a number of leading scientific organizations and universities in Azerbaijan. A significant part of the visit’s programme was Khazar University and JINR signing a cooperation agreement.

Photo: © Khazar University

At the National Centre of Oncology (NCO) of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the JINR delegation met with NCO Director General, Academician Jamil Aliyev. The parties discussed the progress and prospects of nuclear medicine development in Azerbaijan and modern methods of cancer prevention and treatment. Head of the Nuclear Medicine Department Fuad Novruzov provided an overview of the department’s capabilities, including SPECT and PET diagnostics, modern approaches to patient care, and radiopharmaceutical production.

During the meeting, the parties discussed prospects for potential joint work in proton therapy and nuclear medicine and emphasised the great social significance of using advanced nuclear physics technologies in the fight against cancer. The Azerbaijan representatives highly appreciated the presented project of the new MSC-230 Medical Proton Accelerator and expressed interest in the developments of the Joint Institute’s specialists. The doctors of the Centre of Oncology and scientists noted the importance of collaborative research in radiochemistry and medical radiobiology, agreeing to further discuss promising cooperation areas during subsequent meetings.

The meeting of the JINR delegation with representatives of the Karaev Institute of Physiology of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan focused on discussing the goals and objectives of a joint project to study promising herbal medicines. The parties agreed on the need to apply an integrated scientific approach to solve the tasks set and successfully implement the project. The samples provided by the Institute of Physiology employees are planned to be included in the programme of experimental measurements at the IBR-2 Reactor. Based on the results of studying the structure of molecular mechanisms, specialists will research potential radioprotective effect of the substances on cell cultures and laboratory animals.

Photo: © edu.gov.az и mom.gov.az

As part of his visit to the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Grigory Trubnikov met with Deputy Minister Firudin Qurbanov to thoroughly talk about priority cooperation areas and prospects for strengthening partnership between the Joint Institute and Azerbaijan scientific organizations, including those that provide education. Plenipotentiary Representative of Azerbaijan to JINR Arif Gashimov participated in the meeting.

The first day of the visit ended with a fruitful discussion between the Institute’s delegation and President of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan Isa Habibbayli, during which Isa Habibbayli and Grigory Trubnikov informed each other about the strategic directions of the ANAS and JINR development and priority areas of cooperation.

On 26 November, a ceremony of signing an agreement on educational and scientific collaboration between the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research and Azerbaijan’s first private university took place at Khazar University. The document was signed by JINR Director Grigory Trubnikov and Khazar University founder Hamlet Isayev.

In addition, the visit’s programme included a seminar for students and employees of the university, at which Grigory Trubnikov presented general information about the Institute’s research, and LRB, FLNP, and DLNP employees made presentations on life sciences studies. The event finished with a discussion of the prospects for joint activities in this area, attended by Khazar University Rector Irada Khalilova, Head of the Engineered Biomaterials Research Centre (EBMRC) Sudabe Davaran, Dean of the Department of Life Sciences Jamala Eldarova, Dean of the Department of Physics and Electronics Farida Tatardar, and Dean of the School of Science and Engineering Fakhranda Afandi. JINR was represented by LRB Director Aleksander Bugay, FLNP Deputy Director Norbert Kucerka, Deputy Head of a VBLHEP Department Tatiana Murugova, a FLNP senior researcher, Head of an LRB Sector Iurii Severiukhin, a DLNP junior researcher Mikhail Zarubin, and Head of the Azerbaijan National Group at JINR, a DLNP senior researcher Nazim Huseynov. Following the discussions, the parties agreed to conduct joint interdisciplinary research in multicomponent radiotherapy for oncological diseases.

The working visit laid a solid foundation for adjusting the partnership’s priorities and determining the most effective forms of Azerbaijan’s participation in the multilateral scientific and technical cooperation of the JINR Member States.

Photo: © Khazar University