CIM consolidates its collaboration links with the Institute of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine Problems of Ukraine

A investigadora Estefanía Paredes
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Estefanía Paredes, from UVigo, nominated as associated professor of the UNESCO Chair base don that institution
After several years of close collaboration, the Marine Research Center of the University of Vigo and the Institute of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine Problems of Ukraine (IPC& C) consolidate their partnerships through a collaboration agreement that will allow them to continue advancing in research and training in this branch of biology that studies the effects of low temperatures on living beings and that can play a crucial role as Noah’s Ark of the XXI century, offering the opportunity to preserve and reproduce biodiversity on Earth, as IPC& C researchers explain.

Both the CIM-UVigo and the IPC&C NAS of Ukraine have an extensive track record and international recognition in this field of study and, thanks to the signing of this collaboration agreement, they will be able to enhance their respective lines of research and open new ones. In addition, the joint work that both institutions have been developing in recent months, brought with it another good news, the appointment of Estefanía Paredes, researcher in Coastal Ecology (EZ1-EcoCost) and Juan de la Cierva researcher, as associate professor at the Unesco Chair in Cryobiology based at the Institute of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine Problems.

An opportunity for internationalization
Estefanía Paredes explains that there has been a collaboration between the two institutions for two years, which is now embodied in an agreement. During this time, she explains, “a research link was forged in the field of cryobiology” that allowed “new ideas and R&D opportunities” to flow between the Marine Research Center (CIM) of UVigo and the Institute of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine Problems of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. For the CIM, this collaboration “is a huge opportunity for internationalization, to open new options for our students and researchers to interact with specialists from the Unesco Chair of Cryobiology, to see how research is carried out in other non-marine biological models, etc.” On the other hand, explains the UVigo researcher, “we are a worldwide reference on cryobiology of marine organisms” and for the Ukrainian institute this fact “opens a door to research on marine topics in collaboration with nodes, using different model organisms”. In short, emphasizes Paredes, “it is a very good opportunity for both institutions, which are internationally known for their work in cryobiology, to join forces”.

Appointment as associate professor of the Unesco Chair
Among the many links that unite the CIM with the Institute of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine Problems is the Unesco Chair of Cryobiology, of which the researcher Estefanía Paredes was appointed associate professor in 2021. This body, which is based at the Ukrainian institute, is directed by Anatoliy M. Goltsev and is part of a network of Unesco chairs that aim to promote inter-institutional cooperation and networking of researchers in different fields of knowledge. Paredes recognizes that this appointment is “an honor, a recognition of the effort I have made over the years at the CIM to teach undergraduate and master’s degree students, to host doctoral students and international researchers and to collaborate with them in the development of cryopreservation protocols from the Ecocost group”. In this sense, he emphasizes that “being able to combine the strengths and knowledge of different researchers and institutions is very positive for the future of cryobiology, since it is an interdisciplinary science by definition and being able to collaborate more closely with the researchers of the chair will significantly enhance it, since the research that we can do from now on will be even better”.

Studies on turbot
Another line of collaboration established by the CIM and the Ukrainian institute arises from the research work of Anton Puhovkin, who won a transnational access project within the H2020 Assemble Plus Project. His destination was the Toralla Marine Science Station, where he was going to do research on the cryopreservation of turbot sperm, but due to the pandemic, it was impossible for him to travel to Vigo before the start of an expedition to Antarctica, so the work had to be carried out remotely. Thus, the student Sara Campos and Estefanía Paredes carried out the experiments under the direction of Puhovkin, “we met for data processing two weeks ago and the results are very interesting”, so much so that they will be included in a joint publication of both institutions.

Exchange program
To expand this collaboration between both institutions, an Erasmus K107 mobility project will also be launched, which has already been granted and which will allow the exchange of graduate students specialized in cryobiology topics between UVigo and the Ukrainian institute during the 2021/2022 academic year.

Source: DUVI