In Russia, more than 20,000 children are born every year with congenital anomalies of the heart and vessels. In the world there are 6-8 children with congenital heart disease for 1,000 newborns. A winner of the program UMNIK Almaz Garaev knows how to help them.
When operating newborns, there is such problem as the lack of growth of the inserted vessel. The child grows, but the vessel, which is a foreign tissue - no. As a result, it turns out that the new tissue from the first minute becomes the enemy of a small growing organism.
Almaz Garaev is a student of Kazan State Medical University, the winner of the program “UMNIK” of the Foundation for the Assistance of Innovation, co-developer of a vascular prosthesis, able to grow with the person to whom it is attached. The cost of the prosthesis is 30-40% cheaper than foreign analogues.
Almaz, please, tell us how did it all begin?
The idea of the vascular prosthesis with the properties of biodegradation (the prosthesis growing with the body) came to my friend, a classmate Vyacheslav Averyanov, about three years ago. And immediately we began to implement it to life. For implementation of the project, Vyacheslav sold the car and leased the experimental operating room on these funds, purchased materials, conducted the first research. Our activity was supported by the chief children’s cardiac surgeon of Tatarstan, Leonid Mikhailovich Mirolubov.
How much money has already been invested in the project and how much is needed to get the final product?
About 200,000 rubles of personal funds have already been invested, and to complete the first stage of the scientific and technical research “preclinical studies” according to the estimate, it is necessary to 1,341,000 rubles.
In addition to money from the sale of the car, what other funds did you bring to the project?
We participated in the VI Republican Youth Forum “Our Tatarstan”, the youth forum of the Volga Federal District “iVolga-2016”, the International Congress of Young Scientists in Medicine Research. At these events we have acquired new and useful contacts, received financial assistance. We interested in new programs.
We learned about the program “UMNIK” in the university. For us, “UMNIK” is an opportunity to realize an innovative product that will bring benefit to society and become a greeting from the future.
Was it difficult to apply for the program?
We have experienced mentors, that’s why it was easy for us: at the beginning during the registration and the qualifying round, we were assisted by employees of the department of innovative development of our university. And after the victory, we were instructed by Natalia Pomazkina from Technopark “Idea”.
What other projects are you planning to take part in?
We plan to apply for “Start 1” and “Start 2”. But at the moment we want to devote more time to the implementation of the project under the program “UMNIK”.
The victory in the “UMNIK” will bring in the project 500,000 rubles. What are you planning to do with this money?
It is necessary to conduct a series of experimental operations using our vessel to collect statistical data, its analysis, and further its publication. Thus, we can prove the effectiveness of our method and answer a number of questions. For this purpose we want to use the means.
In addition to cash benefits for me, as a person from medicine, will be interesting training program about the economy and the introduction of business in modern conditions. I think any information received within the framework of the “UMNIK” will be useful to students and young scientists.
How much will cost the one vascular prosthesis?
The vascular prosthesis will cost 16,000 rubles. Foreign analogs (only not absorbable) cost from 25,000 to 35,000 rubles.
When do you think the project will be implemented?
After the successful completion of preclinical research and obtaining a license, we want to organize a production and start clinical research. The final output of the vascular prosthesis on the market is about 2021. We will be able to create different types of vascular prostheses, such as: aorta, carotid arteries, coronary arteries, femoral arteries.
Good luck to you, Almaz. I am sure we will hear about your success many more times!
