Medical Chemistry

Established in 1922 

In 1922, on the basis of the department of inorganic chemistry of the Yerevan State University, an independent department of general chemistry was created for the newly established medical faculty. The department taught general and analytical chemistry. An important stage for the further development of the department was the separation of the medical faculty as an independent institute, which has been renamed the medical university. Then the department was renamed many times. In 1967: department of Inorganic, Analytical and Clinical Chemistry, 1982: department of General Chemistry, 1993: department of General and Bio-Organic Chemistry, 2008: department of Medical Chemistry.

At the department teaching of subjects is carried out for the first-year students of General Medicine, Stomatology, Military Medicine faculties and the YSMU college.

The students of the University faculties are taught biophysical and bioorganic chemistry. Teaching process at the department is conducted in Armenian, Russian and English languages. The main objective of the program material is aimed at introducing students to the physicochemical processes occurring in biological systems, their role and significance in the human body. Traditional teaching methods are used in the process of learning: lectures, practical classes, workshops, laboratory classes, students’ self-study. In order to improve the teaching process various didactic materials (slides, video aids, Power Point presentations) are widely used. Different video materials and computer models are used relevantly to the lecture delivered. The department staff has created an extensive bank of multiple-choice tests in three languages which are used for knowledge evaluation, according to the University adopted unified form. Classes and workshops carried out at the department are cover the lecture material, problem solving, clarification of the practical importance of the studied topics, their application in medicine, the current test-control of knowledge. Laboratory work are aimed at improving independent work skills in the laboratories, carrying out routine laboratory methods, at the same time extending the knowledge on corresponding theme.

In accordance with the goals adopted in our university – improving the educational process and increasing the quality, a multi-component method of knowledge assessment has been widely implemented, which enables not only to promote the active participation of students in the entire educational process, to evaluate their knowledge, but also to develop practical abilities and creative thinking. The multi-component evaluation system, which is used in our department, maintains a 10-point evaluation system, of which 8 points (80%) are given to the assessment of the exam test work according to the scale and 2 points to the summative written answers of the current topics (20%). Written assessment tickets include questions, the purpose of which is to clarify the assimilation of the material passed (remember definitions, necessary formulations, formulas), to understand, analyze and evaluate the relationship between the structure, phenomenon and processes taking place in biological systems, and to form the abilities of practical application. The student, based on his knowledge and ability, should perform the required actions, calculations and give a conclusion.

The evaluation of the test answers is done based on the scale used in the university.

The system makes it possible to maintain an unbiased, objective approach to the assessment of students’ knowledge and comprehensively evaluate the achievements of students during the academic year.

Constantly acting student scientific group is functioning at the department, the members of which are actively involved in ongoing research studies conducted at the department. Student works are publicly presented in the framework of student conferences, and the best presenters are awarded certificates.

During the last few years the department has published handbooks, handouts and manuals in Armenian, Russian, English, going as follows: «Կենսաօրգանական Քիմիա», «Կենսաօրգանական Քիմիա, տեստային հարցաշար», «Selected Lectures in Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry», «Bioorganic Chemistry» multiple choice questions, «Биоорганическая Химия » сборник тестовых заданий, «General Chemistry, Biophysical Chemistry», «General Chemistry, Biophysical Chemistry» multiple choice questions, «Ընդհանուր Քիմիա, Կենսաֆիզիկական Քիմիա», «Ընդհանուր Քիմիա, Կենսաֆիզիկական Քիմիա, թեստային հարցաշար», «Обшая Химия, Биофизическая Химия», «Обшая Химия, Биофизическая Химия» сборник тестовых заданий, as well as several methodological guidance’s for laboratory works. Two new textbooks for Russian-speaking students were prepared for printing and successfully tested in the educational process for three years.

In the recent decades, scientific research conducted at the Department is “The antioxidant and anti-stress activity of newly synthesized organic compounds and efficiency of their use in acoustic stress conditions” is involved in the framework of basic funding of the university.

The main research project is the study of antioxidative properties of organic compounds synthesized in the Republic of Armenia and the efficacy of their application in acoustic stress. It was studied (experimental research on the animals) antioxidant, anti-stress and ant hypoxic activity in RA synthesized organic compounds and the effectiveness of their use at the different levels of exposure to noise of different frequency characteristics and duration as well as their effectiveness on models of neurodegenerative pathologies. Oxidative stress indicators, cytokine content, heart ornithine decarboxylase activity, physico-chemical properties of membranes, morphology of immunogenesis organs, cognitive behavior in the conditions of acoustic stress and application of beditin and mesedin were studied within in vivo and in vitro experiments.

Four PhD theses were maintained based on the results obtained.

In collaboration with the Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Tübingen (Germany) the effects of mesedin on the survival of the brain tissue cell cultures (neurons and astroglial) under normal and hypoxic conditions, as well as neuronal survival and the formation of beta-amyloid in the cortex and hippocampus of the transgenic mice (a model of Alzheimer’s disease) brain are being studied. In collaboration with the Department of Medical Genetics University Hospital of Tuebingen, Germany were studied mesedin effects on the cytotoxicity, neurogenesis, synaptic transmission, quantitative changes in the protein huntingtin are conducted in cultures of STHdh Q111 / Q111 cells (model of Huntington’s disease).

The study of the effectiveness of different doses of the selective α2-selective blockers beditin and mesedin in in vitro and in vivo esperiments is planned to be continued.

For complete understanding of the structural features of beditin and mesedin that determine the binding strength of beditin and mesedin and their analogues with their possible receptors, a computer program AutoDock Vina is used to visualize the binding and interaction with the active centers of virtual 3D models of α2- and β- adrenergic receptors.

COBRAIN Scientific and Educational Center for Basic Brain Research of YSMU

Scientific and technological center of organic and pharmaceutical chemistry NAS of the Republic of Armenia. Institute of Fine Organic Chemistry after A.L. Mnjoyan.

Department of Medical Genetics University Hospital of Tubingen, Germany

Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital of Tubingen, Germany