Medvedev approves federal program for development of genetics
GORKI. April 22 (Interfax) - Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed the Federal Research Program for Genetic Technologies Development for 2019-2027.
"The objective is clear; it is the development of genetic technologies associated with the so-called genetic editing among other things, the technologies are creating gene therapies to treat cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and other diseases, including hereditary ones," Medvedev said at a meeting with the deputy prime ministers in Gorki, Moscow region, on Monday.
In addition to medicine, the program also applies to agriculture, new varieties of plants and breeds that are more resilient to diseases and climate change, he said.
"In general, we have good reserves, this is why we drafted this program. But frankly speaking, our country's share at the global genetic technologies market is very small, it is necessary to do our utmost to increase our share there. Including for the purpose of ensuring that we have a necessary factor of safety, I mean, we have to import a considerable amount of products in this sector," the prime minister said.
The matter of training of expert geneticists is also pressing, he said. The deputy prime ministers in charge for social affairs are already dealing with that, he said, adding that nevertheless, he requested that the Deputy Prime Minister for Social Policy, Labor, Health and Pension Provision, Tatyana Golikova, personally monitor it and regularly report on the implementation of the program.