Research Sites

R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology (IEPOR)

The R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology (IEPOR), located in Kiev, Ukraine was formed in 1960 through the joint initiative of the National Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Health of Ukraine and was the first scientific center in the field of experimental and clinical oncology in Ukraine. IEPOR is part of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and a member of the Organization of European Cancer Institutes. It acts as a scientific-organizational bridge between the National Academy of Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, and Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

The mission of IEPOR is to contribute to the understanding, prevention and cure of cancer, to be accomplished through innovative basic and translational research programs. IEPOR conducts numerous studies in support of commercial pharmaceutical products and has designated a significant portion of its facilities and staff to support its operation as a CRO.

The scientific staff of IEPOR consists of 117 researchers, including 29 Doctors of Science, 76 Ph.D.s/M.D.s, 18 postgraduate students, and 7 research trainees. A significant number of the senior scientific staff has been retained by Sequent Development as consultants to provide services to commercial customers. IEPOR operates out of a 96,000 square foot, four-story building in central Kiev housing 104 rooms for laboratory and administrative use, and additional areas for storage of materials and maintenance of their extensive cell culture bank.

One of the most impressive features of IEPOR is its Cell Culture Bank. The institute maintains a unique bank of cell lines and tumor strains with more than 13,000 samples of standard and original cell lines established from normal and tumor tissues of humans and animals of various species (rat, mouse, hamster, monkey, pig, dog, cow, sheep, bat, mink, etc.).

There are more than 160 types of cell lines including 48 of ATCC (American Type Culture Collection) human cell lines. IEPOR also has a collection of transplantable tumors consisting of 32 types of tumor strains, 138 storage units of hybridomes, approximately 3,600 storage units of human tumors and cell culture materials from people affected by the Chernobyl disaster. IEPOR conducts research in all aspects of new anti-cancer drug development, from fundamental studies of cellular mechanisms of cancer development, to in vitro and in vivo screening of anti-cancer activity of new compounds and preclinical drug trials in compliance with GLP and GCP regulations.

Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology (IPT)

The Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology (IPT), located in Kiev, Ukraine, is a part of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine and the premier drug-testing laboratory in Ukraine. The scientific staff consists of 95 researchers including 62 with Ph.D./M.D. degrees, 22 with D.Sc. degrees and 12 postgraduate students. On April 1, 2004, the IPT facilities were confirmed through independent audit as fully compliant with ICH and GLP guidelines for the conduct of preclinical research. It is the first laboratory in the former Soviet Union to achieve this status.

IPT works closely with the State Pharmacological Center (SPC) of Ukraine as a support organization for implementation for its guidances for medical product development and marketing. The SPC provides regulatory oversight for expert evaluation and registration of medicines in Ukraine, surveillance of their application in medical practice, and guidance in compliance with international standards. In addition, the SPC coordinates activities in clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance.

IPT conducts research in all aspects of new drug development, from fundamental studies of cellular mechanisms of pathological processes and synthesis of new substances, to screening of biological activity and preclinical and clinical drug trials in compliance with GLP and GCP regulations. Research facilities consist of two four-story buildings with 14 rooms dedicated to GLP studies. A 922 square meter laboratory animal facility which meets GLP requirements houses approximately 2000 rats, 3000 mice, 100 guinea pigs, 100 rabbits and 20 dogs simultaneously.