New research methods applied at YSU

Hayarpi Javrushyan has studied and mastered a number of necessary methods for scientific research work. She is already applying them at the university and passing the accumulated skills to other researchers. She underwent the training within the framework of the "Training for Young Scientists Abroad" competition of the "Young Scientists Support Program".

Since 2016, in the Laboratory of Fundamental and Pathological Biochemistry of the YSU Research Institute of Biology, she together with 6 researchers has started studying the pathological changes that occur during cancer, diabetes, hyperglycemia, and hypoxia.  

"In 2015-2016, we worked with the blood samples of women with cancer as part of the cooperation with the National Center of Oncology named after V.A. Fanarjyan. Research has shown that the increasing activity of the tumor-promoting arginase and angiogenesis-promoting nitric oxide synthase enzymes is an indicator of cancer progression. We set the objective of finding natural and synthetic means of inhibiting the activity of these enzymes," Hayarpi said.

Mikayel Ginovyan, Researcher at the Laboratory of Fundamental and Pathological Biochemistry of the YSU Research Institute of Biology and Candidate of Biological Sciences, joined the above-mentioned research group. During his three-month training at the Gdansk University of Technology, Poland, he discovered active compounds in a number of herbs that may exhibit anti-cancer effects with metabolomics.

To complete the research work, the studies were continued in the rat model and cell lines. To study the molecular mechanisms of the effect of the developed model on the proteins of the cell cycle regulator and signaling system, it was necessary to apply new methods. To study them, as well as to master some key methods (Western Blot, PCR, immunoenzymatic analysis and flow cytometry) adopted by a number of internationally recognized medical associations, Hayarpi went to the USA.

"In the USA, I studied the problems of the project presented to the competition, and also got involved in other works, mastering, for example, making complex samples from a living organism. When I returned to Armenia, the last stage of experimental research was being carried out in our laboratory, during which we performed bone marrow isolation from rats with the members of the scientific group," said Hayarpi.

Now the obtained data is already being processed, after which Hayarpi Javrushyan will publish an article based on the results of the study, co-authored by Alina Maloyan, Professor at the Oregon Health and Science University.

H. Javrushyan, highlighting the role of research works, mentioned that her love and interest in science developed thanks to the YSU teaching staff.

"Science always drives us to make new discoveries, which excites and motivates us to move forward in the world of science. Every weighty and valuable study is important for the development of science not only in Armenia but also in the whole world," the YSU researcher emphasized, adding that their scientific studies are aimed at introducing something new in the field.

The ongoing scientific studies, involving researchers in internal and foreign training programs, encouraging the increase in the number of scientific articles published in international scientific journals are of pivotal importance and are aimed at the continuous development of the scientific research direction of YSU.