"Life Sciences International Postgraduate Educational Center would be developed as a regional education and research center serving to promote co-operation between scientists and to facilitate the exchange of information among researchers internationally".

Federico Mayor Ex-Director General of UNESCO

President’s Welcome

In a world where the contribution of knowledge have become a major factor in the progress of civilization, it is important that the nation’s Life Sciences schools participate in the education and preparation of nation’s future Life Sciences leaders.

Life Sciences International Postgraduate Educational Center (LSIPEC) specialized in Biophysics, Neuroscience, Environmental Science, Biotechnology, Pain Study and Management and Biomedical Engineering, is approved by UNECO Director General Mr. Federico Mayor as UNESCO CHAIR IN LIFE SCIENCES.

As Armenia is on the crossways of Asian and European cultures and LSIPEC is organized at the turn of the century it will be a Center of 21st century serving not only as an international educational and research center for promotion of Life Sciences in regional countries but also as a peace generation center for developing friendly ties between peoples of different countries and religions.

There are several medico-biological research institutions in Armenia with high international reputation, the potential of which will allow us to secure high level of education in LSIPEC. Educational opportunities at LSIPEC are complemented by modern laboratory facilities, advanced technology centers, student and Department special interest groups, and organized research programs. As a result, collaborative efforts among world - renowned faculties and researchers are generating national and international interest and attention.

All of us at LSIPEC hold high the vision for new challenges, new opportunities and new horizons for promotion of Life Sciences in regional countries.

 

Prof. Sinerik N. Ayrapetyan

President of UNESCO Chair-LSIPEC

In 1996 the Biophysics Center of Armenian NAS was awarded the status of UNESCO Chair in Life Sciences and was reorganized in Life Sciences International Educational Center of the Ministry of Education and Science of RA.

The purpose of the Chair is to promote cooperative research, advanced training and exchange of information in neurosciences, biophysics, environmental sciences, biotechnology and biomedical engineering in Armenia and other countries of the region to facilitate the collaboration between high-level, internationally recognized researchers and the local scientific community.

In collaboration with different international organizations the Chair is organizing regular International UNESCO Seminars on actual problems of Life Sciences with participation of leading scientists from different countries.

Since 1996 the Chair has organized the following UNESCO Seminars:

1996 -"Pain Mechanisms and Management" (co-organizers: International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), Office of Naval Research (USA).

1997 -"Modern Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience" (co-organizer: International Brain Research Organization (IBRO).

1998 -"Modem Problems of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics" (co-organizer: International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB).

2000 -Cellular Mechanism of Beneficial and Harmful Effects of Electromagnetic Fields" (co-organizers: World Health Organization (WHO), European Office of Aerospace Research & Development (EOARD), Office of Naval Research (USA).

2002 – USA-Caucasus Workshop on "Regulation of Cell Hydration in Norm and Pathology" (supporter - US Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF)

2003- Regional workshop "Agricultural Biotechnology and Biosafety for Food Security and Rural Development in the Caucasus Region and Moldova" (co-organizer: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

2005 – UNESCO/WHO Seminar "Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Biological Effects of EMF (co-organizers: World Health Organization (WHO); International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB),

2005- NATO ADVANCED RESEARCH WORKSHOP "The Mechanisms of the Biological Effect of Extra High Power Pulses." (co-organizers: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), European Office of Aerospace Research & Development (EOARD).  

2006 - ONRG/EOARD/IUPAB Seminar “Mechanisms of Mechanotransduction in Living Cells” (co-organizers: Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG), European Office of Aerospace Research & Development (EOARD), International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB)

 

The materials of the seminars have been published in separate volumes serving as handbooks for young scientists:

1. "Biological Effects of Electric and Magnetic Fields" 2 volume books 1996 (Eds. D. O. Carpenter (USA) & S.N. Ayrapetyan (Armenia), Academic press, New York,

2. "Pain Mechanisms and Management" 1998 (Eds. Ayrapetyan S.N. (Armenia) & Apkarian A.V. (USA), IOS press, Netherlands, 390 pages.

3. "Magnetoreception and the Mechanisms of EMF Effects on Biosystems" 1999 (G.E. Grigorian (Armenia) Yerevan, 80 pages.

4. "Modern Problems of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics" 2001 (Eds. Ayrapetyan S. N. (Armenia) & North A.C. T. (IUPAB, UK), 360 pages.

5."Agricultural Biotechnology and Biosafety for Food Security in the Caucasus Region and Moldova" 2004 (Eds. K. Nichterlein (FAO, Italy) & S.N. Ayrapetyan (Armenia) Noyan Tapan Press, 175 pages.

6. Book of Abstracts of UNESCO/WHO/IUPAB Seminar “Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Biological Effects of EMF” and NATO Advanced Research Workshop on “The Mechanisms of the Biological Effect of Extra High Power Pulses”, Noyan Tapan Press, 110 pages

7. “Bioelectromagnetics: Current Concepts” 2006 (Eds. S. Ayrapetyan (Armenia) & M. Markov (USA) NATO Science Series, Springer Press. 480 pages.

 During the International Conferences: "Education and Capacity Building in Biophysics: Needs of Asia-African Region" (22-27 February 2003, India and 1-2 March 2005,Yerevan) organized by International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB) our Chair was accepted as a model for organization of UNESCO Postgraduate University.

During the regional Workshop  organized by FAO (Yerevan, 2003) it was decided to establish the UNESCO Chair in Agrobiotechnology for realization of postgraduate programs in Agrobiotechnology for MS and PhD.