About the Department of Molecular and Medical Biophysics
Like the entire Karazin University, the Department of Molecular and Medical Biophysics has faced significant losses and serious challenges as a result of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation.
One of the most severe consequences has been damage to the department’s infrastructure and research facilities. Shelling damaged the department’s premises, breaking windows and compromising the integrity of classrooms and laboratories. Prolonged power outages and interruptions in heating caused substantial damage to scientific equipment and instruments, many of which now require repair, modernization, or replacement. The inability to maintain appropriate storage conditions resulted in the loss of a large proportion of biological samples, reagents, laboratory consumables, and the results of many years of experimental research.
The war has also created major human resource challenges. Many faculty members, researchers, and students were forced to relocate abroad or to other regions of Ukraine. Particularly painful has been the loss of colleagues due to death or their inability to continue working at the University. The departure of young researchers and PhD students has weakened the department’s academic capacity and slowed the training of new scientists. A number of doctoral research projects had to be suspended or postponed because experimental work could no longer be carried out.
Educational activities have also been significantly affected. Constant security threats, interruptions in electricity and Internet access, and the transition to distance learning required the rapid adaptation of the educational process. Nevertheless, the department successfully ensured the continuity of student education and maintained high teaching standards by implementing modern digital technologies and innovative approaches to learning. Research activities likewise became considerably more difficult. Limited laboratory access, damaged equipment, and insufficient resources reduced the scope of experimental research. Despite these challenges, the department maintained its scientific productivity through international cooperation, joint research projects with foreign partners, and the use of academic mobility opportunities.
Despite all these difficulties, the department’s international activities have not only been preserved but have gained new momentum. During 2023–2024, the department participated in the German–Ukrainian project SUUUpoRT – Structural Support of Ukrainian Universities in Upkeep and Rebuilding of Higher Education Activities in the Field of Resources and Technology, funded by the Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre. Between 2025 and 2028, faculty members and students have been participating in the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility project with Umeå University (Sweden), Project No. 2025-1-SE01-KA171-HED-000327492.
The department is also a partner of the Freiberg Mining Academy (Germany) in the RECLAIM – Resource Education Cooperation: Laboratory Advancement project under the DUHN: German-Ukrainian University Network 2025–2029 programme (Project Code 57808283). Beginning in July 2026, funding started for the three-year educational project XR LifeLab: Hybrid Biophysics and Analytical Life Science Laboratories for Resilient Ukrainian Higher Education under the NANSEN EDU Programme of the Norwegian Research Council.
Faculty members have also been awarded prestigious fellowships from the Fulbright Program, American Councils, the Skubiszewski Foundation, and the Photonics Society. Support from international universities, research centers, and organizations has enabled the department to implement joint educational and research projects, attract additional resources for development, and promote Ukrainian science internationally.
The department’s greatest achievement during the war has been preserving its academic staff, educational programmes, scientific schools, and international partnerships. Despite substantial losses and unprecedented challenges, the department continues to fulfill its educational and research mission, train highly qualified specialists, and contribute to the advancement of Ukrainian science and higher education.
Of particular importance is the fact that the department continues to operate in Kharkiv—a city that has remained under constant threat of shelling since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Despite security risks, damaged infrastructure, and difficult working conditions, our faculty members, researchers, doctoral candidates, and students continue every day to ensure the uninterrupted educational process, conduct scientific research, expand international cooperation, and maintain the high standards of university education. Their resilience, professionalism, and dedication have become the cornerstone of the department’s preservation and continued development during one of the most challenging periods in the country’s history.
Current Development and Major Achievements
Today, the development of the Department of Molecular and Medical Biophysics is driven by the combination of modern education, interdisciplinary research, active international cooperation, and the training of highly qualified specialists for science, medicine, and the biotechnology sector. The department’s key priorities include educating specialists in biophysics, biomedical nanotechnologies, and applied physics, conducting research in molecular and medical biophysics, membrane biophysics, biomaterials, microfluidics, and biomedical nanotechnology, and implementing modern digital and interdisciplinary approaches in the educational process.
One of the department’s most significant recent achievements was the launch of the Bachelor’s Degree Programme “Biophysics” in 2025 within the specialty E6 Applied Physics and Nanomaterials. The programme is designed to address the contemporary challenges of biomedicine and biotechnology while aligning educational content with current labor market demands and global scientific trends. The Master’s Degree Programme in Biophysics also continues to operate successfully.
Another important milestone was the establishment in 2023 of the Specialized Doctoral Academic Council D 64.051.13 for the defense of doctoral dissertations in Biophysics (Specialty 03.00.02) and the opening of a doctoral programme within Specialty 105 “Applied Physics and Nanomaterials.” These developments have significantly expanded opportunities for training researchers at the highest qualification level and created a complete educational pathway from Bachelor’s degree to Doctor of Science.
The department has also made remarkable progress in attracting international funding. During recent years, its academic staff have participated in numerous international educational and research projects, including RECLAIM (DAAD), SUUUpoRT, NANSEN EDU, Erasmus+, and other international cooperation initiatives. These projects contribute to the modernization of educational programmes, the development of research infrastructure, professional development of faculty members, and the University’s integration into the European Research Area.
One of the department’s major competitive advantages is its extensive network of partnerships with leading European universities and research institutions. The department actively promotes academic mobility for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students, as well as faculty members. Students and young researchers have opportunities to study, undertake internships, and conduct research at partner universities abroad, gaining access to state-of-the-art equipment and advanced scientific methodologies.
Another distinctive feature of the department is its interdisciplinary character, integrating physics, biology, medicine, materials science, nanotechnology, and information technologies. This interdisciplinary approach enables graduates to acquire competencies that are highly valued both in academia and in innovative high-technology industries.
Recent years have also strengthened the department’s international scientific visibility through increased publication activity, participation in international conferences, collaborative research with foreign partners, and the integration of young researchers into international scientific networks. The department’s scientific journal, Biophysical Bulletin, holds the highest national scientific category (Category A) and has been indexed in Scopus since 2021.
We believe that the department’s greatest achievement extends beyond individual projects or organizational accomplishments. It lies in creating a sustainable model of development that combines high-quality education, cutting-edge scientific research, international integration, and the training of a new generation of Ukrainian researchers and specialists in biophysics and biomedical nanotechnology.
Despite the challenges of wartime, the department has not only preserved its educational and research potential but has also substantially expanded its international activities, launched new educational initiatives, and strengthened its academic staff and research capacity. These accomplishments demonstrate the department’s adaptability, competitiveness, and readiness to play an active role in shaping the future of Ukrainian science and higher education. Today, the Department of Molecular and Medical Biophysics serves as one of the driving forces behind the continued development of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University.
Vision for the Future
Our vision for the future is the restoration and modernization of Kharkiv’s scientific infrastructure after the war—not as a return to the conditions of 2021, but as the creation of a new research ecosystem that meets European standards. Within the ongoing transformation of the Faculty, we view biophysics as a multidisciplinary platform at the intersection of physics, life sciences, medicine, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology. We are committed to strengthening international integration and further developing the department’s research infrastructure.
Over the next three to five years, we envision the Department of Molecular and Medical Biophysics—now evolving toward the Department of Biophysics and Bioinformatics—as one of Ukraine’s leading centers for interdisciplinary education and research at the interface of physics, life sciences, medicine, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence. As biomedicine, personalized medicine, bioengineering, and AI continue to develop rapidly, interdisciplinary research and education will play an increasingly important role in scientific progress and technological innovation.
Among the department’s strategic priorities is the continued development of educational programmes in biophysics, biomedical technologies, medical physics, bioinformatics, and biomedical data analysis. Particular emphasis will be placed on integrating digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics into the education of future specialists.
The department’s research strategy focuses on establishing a strong research center in molecular and medical biophysics, membrane biophysics, nanobiotechnology, microfluidics, biomaterials, and biomedical engineering. Special attention will be devoted to developing advanced drug delivery systems, biocompatible materials, antimicrobial technologies, and next-generation diagnostic platforms.
Another strategic priority is the further development of research infrastructure. Unlocking the department’s full scientific potential requires modernization of laboratory facilities, the establishment of state-of-the-art interdisciplinary laboratories, expansion of the Shared Research Equipment Center, and the creation of an open research infrastructure accessible to students, doctoral candidates, and young researchers.
Internationalization will remain one of the department’s key strategic objectives. We see considerable opportunities for expanding cooperation with European universities and research institutions through participation in Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, DAAD, and other international programmes. Academic mobility, joint educational courses, and international research teams will continue to play a central role in the department’s future development.
At the Faculty level, an important strategic objective is to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration among departments. Combining expertise in physics, photonics, biomedical electronics, computer science, nanotechnology, and life sciences creates unique opportunities for developing innovative educational programmes, new research directions, and interdisciplinary projects, including the establishment of a new educational programme in Medical Informatics.
Achieving these goals requires several key conditions: continued investment in research infrastructure and laboratory modernization; support for young faculty members and researchers, including creating conditions for their professional growth and encouraging the return of Ukrainian scientists currently working abroad; greater university autonomy in designing educational programmes and managing financial resources; and continued expansion of international partnerships and grant funding, which have become among the most important drivers of Ukrainian science and higher education.
We are convinced that combining the strong scientific traditions of Karazin University with modern educational approaches, international cooperation, and investment in human capital will enable the department and the Faculty to become one of Ukraine’s leading centers of biophysical, biomedical, and interdisciplinary education and research, as well as an active participant in the European Research Area.
We also see significant potential for establishing an interdisciplinary dual-use research direction that integrates biophysics, nanotechnology, materials science, biomedical engineering, and computational modeling to develop innovative solutions for military medicine and national security. Priority research areas include next-generation antimicrobial composites and coatings, antithrombotic drugs, controlled drug delivery systems, biosensor platforms for rapid diagnostics, and technologies for monitoring human physiological conditions in extreme environments.
Contribution to the University’s Strategic Development
The Department of Molecular and Medical Biophysics and the Faculty of Radiophysics, Biomedical Electronics and Computer Systems possess substantial potential to contribute to the strategic goals of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University and to strengthen its position as one of Ukraine’s leading research universities.
Our primary contribution lies in advancing interdisciplinary education and research, which represent one of the defining trends of modern higher education. By integrating expertise in physics, life sciences, medicine, electronics, engineering, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and data science, the Faculty creates favorable conditions for developing innovative educational programmes, research directions, and technological projects capable of enhancing the University’s national and international competitiveness.
The Faculty plays an important role in preparing specialists for the disciplines that will shape the country’s technological development in the coming decades, including electronics, biophysics, medical physics, bioengineering, nanotechnology, computational modeling, and biomedical data analysis. We regard the development of human capital as one of the fundamental prerequisites for Ukraine’s recovery and long-term modernization.
The department also contributes to strengthening the University’s research capacity through advanced investigations in molecular and medical biophysics, membrane biophysics, biomaterials, microfluidic technologies, drug delivery systems, biomedical nanotechnology, and biosensor platforms. These research areas offer significant opportunities for publications in leading international journals, attracting competitive research funding, and commercializing scientific results.
Particularly important are research directions addressing critical challenges in healthcare and national security, including the development of novel antimicrobial agents, advanced composite materials for infection prevention, antithrombotic therapies, biocompatible materials, and controlled drug delivery systems. Such research has considerable potential to contribute to Ukraine’s post-war recovery and the development of its healthcare and defense sectors.
Internationalization remains one of the University’s key strategic instruments. Through participation in Erasmus+, DAAD, Horizon Europe, and other international initiatives, the department actively promotes Karazin University’s integration into the European Research Area. Further expansion of international research consortia, collaborative projects, academic mobility, dual-degree programmes, and dual education initiatives will strengthen the University’s international reputation and increase its global visibility.
The Faculty also makes an important contribution to developing modern research infrastructure. The continued expansion of the Shared Research Equipment Center, the Karazin Biomed laboratories, and the implementation of Open Science principles create favorable conditions for effective collaboration among departmental, interfaculty, and international research teams.
We firmly believe that the Faculty of Radiophysics, Biomedical Electronics and Computer Systems and the Department of Molecular and Medical Biophysics can become one of the principal driving forces in transforming Karazin University into a modern European research university that successfully combines fundamental science, innovation, high-technology education, and active engagement in addressing the major societal challenges facing Ukraine.
The Faculty has every prerequisite to become for Karazin University what biomedical engineering, biotechnology, and life sciences are for the world’s leading universities—a focal point for interdisciplinary research, international projects, high-technology innovation, and the education of specialists for the knowledge-based economy of the twenty-first century.
Head of the Department
Volodymyr Berest
