MINSK, 22 April (BelTA) – Belarusian scientists have plans to develop a prototype vaccine against COVID-19 by the end of August, Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB), Academician Vladimir Gusakov said at the NASB general meeting on 22 April, BelTA has learned.
“We are now actively working on a vaccine against the coronavirus infection. By the end of August we will be able to report on the development of a Belarusian prototype vaccine,” Vladimir Gusakov said. “In addition to that, we are also developing medicines that will alleviate symptoms of the coronavirus disease and medicines designed to neutralize the infection,” the scientist said. According to him, a group of specialists of the NASB and the Healthcare Ministry was put together to fulfill this task.
Reviewing the results of last year's work and achievements of the five-year plan, the scientist said that a lot had been done during this time. “A new prototype spacecraft for remote sensing of Earth has been developed, now we are ready to start creating it. Our expedition in Antarctica has successfully accomplished its mission and is on its way back. A whole array of new plant varieties and farm machinery modifications have been developed and they are on par with foreign analogues. We demonstrated our knowhow in electric transport, nano-materials, including electric energy storage solutions, etc,” Vladimir Gusakov informed.
In addition, seven uniform priorities in science and technology were approved, 12 programs of fundamental research for the upcoming five-year period were developed, which include both the above-mentioned areas and broader tasks. “We certainly take into account the country's needs, the government's proposals and, of course, the instructions of the head of state that were set for the NASB. In general, we will work within the framework of the tasks voiced at the 6th Belarusian People's Congress,” the scientist said.
Speaking about short-term plans, Vladimir Gusakov noted that this year there are plans to launch projects related to hydrogen energy, the development of a supercapacitor (energy storage). “We are developing new-generation medicines to treat cancer, hypertension, as well as a number of biological products to manage plant growth. In addition, there are plans to develop new crop varieties and a new cattle breed,” he added.
