To the Jubilee of Academician G.T. Sukhikh

Gennady Sukhikh, one of the country’s leading medical scholars, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences has been practicing medicine for 50 years. Studies led by G.T. Sukhikh include a wide range of priority research directions in the area of reproductive medicine and biology. G.T. Sukhikh was one of the first in Russia to start investigating the immunobiological characteristics of human embryonic and fetal stem cells, including methods of their culture and storage. Recently, he has conducted extensive basic research on prenatal and reproductive medicine.

Under his leadership, extensive work has been carried out on the modernization of obstetric, gynecological, and neonatal care, including the introduction of innovative infertility treatment technologies, modern methods of molecular and cellular biology, allowing the diagnosis of immunological forms of recurrent pregnancy loss and the development of preeclampsia, associated with antiphospholipid syndrome and autoimmune components of gestational period. As the head of the V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology of Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, G.T. Sukhikh organized activities to implement the Healthcare Modernization Program. They included improving the institution’s material and technical base, construction and commissioning of the Federal Perinatal Center, introduction of modern information systems, use of telemedicine, and introduction of unified standards of medical care, and improving access to high-tech and specialized medical care for Russian citizens.

In 2020, under the direct leadership of G.T. Sukhikh, a number of units were reassigned to work with patients with the novel coronavirus infection COVID-19.

Under the leadership of Academician G.T. Sukhikh the Center became the V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology – the largest in the country and unique not only by national, but also by world standards as the leading Russian scientific, medical and educational institution. The Center became the basis for the implementation of state programs for preserving women’s, maternal, and children’s health, and it largely determines the development strategy of obstetric, gynecological, and neonatal care in the Russian Federation. The Center participates in the development of federal laws on healthcare, the implementation of the state program for high-tech medical care, the program for training medical personnel, and the program for medical care for children and obstetric services. The Center has 53 subdivisions and 25 laboratories with almost 3,000 highly qualified employees, including 4 academicians of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2 corresponding members of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and 35 professors.

Currently, under the leadership of G.T. Sukhikh, the Center is undergoing a large-scale modernization. Among the newly opened subdivisions are federal perinatal and clinical-diagnostic centers, new departments, and laboratories. There are implementations of innovative technologies in the treatment of reproductive disorders, modern molecular and cellular biology, which allow an early prognosis and diagnosis of obstetric and perinatal complications. The Obstetrics Institute, Institute of Anesthesiology-Resuscitation and Transfusiology, Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Neonatology and Pediatrics, Institute of Oncogynecology and Mammology, Institute of Reproductive Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Antimicrobial Therapy and Epidemiology, Institute of Translational Medicine have been established. The construction of Europe’s first specialized clinic for ovarian cancer treatment is nearing completion.

G.T. Sukhikh is the founder of a major scientific school, whose representatives are striving to combine fundamental research and clinical orientation in the priority fields of biology and medicine, including obstetrics and gynecology, reproductive immunology, cell biology, reproductive oncology, reproductive genetics, regenerative medicine, mitochondrial medicine, genome editing, etc. G.T. Sukhikh is the author of more than 1200 scientific works, including 22 monographs, 15 certificates of authorship for inventions. Under his supervision, 18 doctoral and 70 Ph.D. dissertations have been defended.

Since 2007, Academician G.T. Sukhikh has been the Chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Perinatology, and Reproductology at the Institute of Professional Education of the I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University and the Editor-in-Chief of the journals Obstetrics and Gynecology and Cellular Technologies in Biology and Medicine. In 2008, he was awarded the honorary title Merited Scholar of the Russian Federation.

Academician G.T. Sukhikh is a member of the Scientific Council of the Russian Ministry of Health, a member of the Department of Medical Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences Bureau, a member of the Higher Attestation Commission of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Vice President of the Russian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. In 1997, he was awarded the medal In Memory of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow. In 2011, he was awarded the Honorary Diploma of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. In 2012 G.T. Sukhikh was awarded the Order for Merit to the Fatherland 4th Class, and in 2014, the Order for Merit to the Fatherland 3rd Class, and in 2017 – Order of Alexander Nevsky. In 2020 he was awarded the Order of Pirogov.

We extend our hearty congratulations to Gennady Tikhonovich on his jubilee and wish him good health, creative achievements, and prosperity!

The Russian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,
Editorial Board of the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology,
The team of the Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology. V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology