Medical Genetics

Founded in 2011.
The department was founded with the assistance of specialists having many years of teaching experience in medical, molecular, population genetics, cytogenetics, oncogenetics, and immunogenetics. Many members of the department have professorial experience in higher education institutions of Armenia, including Yerevan State University, Russian-Armenian (Slav) State University, National Institute of Health Care of Armenia, as well as in some foreign universities.

In YSMU teaching of medical genetics was conducted at the Department of Family Medicine up to 1999, after which separate courses of Molecular Medicine were created (2004-2009).

Given the importance of medical genetics for health, the department of Medical Genetics at the National Institute of Health Care of Armenia was founded in 2009, which was moved to and expanded in Yerevan State Medical University after M. Heratsi in 2011. Much of the credit for the foundation of the Department belongs to the Head of Department, Professor. T. F. Sarkisyan. Prof. Sarkisian was an expert in the Committee on Health Care Council of Europe (CDSP, SP-GEN), and from 2004 to 2008 participated in the development of recommendations for genetic testing and the creation of genetic services, as well as training for health care in European countries approved and adopted by the Committee of Ministers of European Countries in 2010. Those innovations have played an important role in the development of medical genetic services in Armenia. According to the approved recommendations, student teaching, training, and scientific activities in the Department of Medical Genetics are performed according to the pan-European program in all disciplines for senior students of medical schools.

Teaching of Medical Genetics is carried out on the bases of the Center of Medical Genetics and Primary Health Care, which regularly organizes round table discussions, conferences with participation of leading international experts. Center of Medical Genetics and Primary Health Care (established in 1998), directed by Prof. Sarkisyan, is equipped with modern equipment (www.cmg.am).

The development of scientific and applied research in the centre is carried out by the international research projects and grants received from:

• Gulbenkian Foundation (1999),
• US Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) (2000, 2004),
• Armenian National Science & Education Fund (ANSEF) (2001, 2005, 2010),
• NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme (2002-2003),
• Fogarty International Foundation (2004, 2006),
• SUNY Downstate Center, New York, USA (2006),
• International Science and Technology Corporation (ISTC) (2008-2012);
• European Union FP7 program “CHERISH” (2008-2012);
• European Union FP7 program ERA-WIDE European Union FP-7 program “INARMERA” (2010-2013).

In addition to research projects, development of medical genetic services is carried out through active participation in an integrated network for the study of the human genome and genetic testing: European Network of Excellence; Eurogentest; Orphanet, the aim of which is the creation of tools and databases of genetic data, improvement of infrastructure and molecular genetic, cytogenetic, and biochemical services. Research projects of the department are based on the achievements in the study of human genome, which are widely used to study the molecular nature, accurate and early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of a wide range of hereditary diseases.

The subject is delivered to the 6th year students of the University through lectures, seminars and practical classes (in Armenian, Russian, and English). The syllabus includes: genetic semiotics, genome structure and modern methods of diagnosis, cytogenetics, cancer genetics, dysmorphology, metabolic disorders, neuromuscular disorders, hereditary autoinflammatory disorders, pharmacogenetics and genetic counselling (1,5 credits). During practical classes students get familiar with molecular-genetic and cytogenetic methods, participate in the process of genetic counselling, discuss its genetic basis and risk assessment approaches, laboratory results and their interpretation. The subject is delivered during 1 week culminating in a test-based examination.

• Postgraduate education can be pursued in the following courses of Masters
• «Semiotics of hereditary disorders and clinical diagnostics» 7-week,
• «Prenatal diagnostics of hereditary disorders and congentical defects» 1-week,
• «Inborn errors of metabolism: Preventive and screening programs of disorders» 1-week,
• «Familial forms of cancer» 1-week

• Improving Diagnoses of Mental Retardation in Children in Eastern Europe and Central Asia through Genetic Characterisation and Bioinformatics/Statistics, EU FP7 «CHERISH» project
• Impact of moderate- and high-risk DNA sequence variants in breast cancer risk and relevance to anti-cancer therapy, EU FP7 «INARMERA» project
• Research of molecular-genetic bases of Familial Mediterranean Fever and other hereditary autoinflammatory disorders for identification of new biological markers, EU FP7 «INARMERA» project
• Study of the Genetic Structure of Armenian Population in connection with other European populations in the context of disease association studies, in collaboration with National Center of Genotyping, Evry, FRANCE, Hospital Necker for sick children, Paris, FRANCE, and Research Center of Ste-Justine Hospital, Montreal, Canada