Experimental research on ageing in Russia

An analysis of the current situation in Russian biogerontology is presented in this paper. There are several active groups in Russia pursuing research in biogerontology capable of producing results publishable in internationa l journals of high repute. The main directions of research on the biology o f ageing in this country are prevention of premature ageing, the role of fr ee radicals and of the endocrine system tin particular, the pineal gland) i n the mechanisms of ageing, carcinogenesis and ageing and population geneti cs of ageing. Several groups are conducting fruitful research on the theore tical aspects of the biology of ageing. Only a few teams are focusing on mo lecular biology and the genetics of ageing. In the past few years, many mor e researchers in fields highly relevant to gerontology have been attracted by issues in gerontological research. In Russia, the most basic problem fac ing researchers in biogerontology and other relevant areas is an almost com plete absence of support from the State and other decision makers. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.