Historical background

Institute of Biological Sciences was established (Resolution of the Presidium of the Belarusian Academy of Sciences of March 29, 1931)

From the Institute of Biology, the Laboratory of Biophysics and Isotopes of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR was separated from the Institute of Biology as an independent research unit subordinate to the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR. The laboratory was headed by the candidate of chemical sciences Alexander Arkadievich Shlyk

The Laboratory of Biophysics and Isotopes of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR included the Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry of the Photosynthetic Apparatus, the Department of Isotope Research Methods, the Department of Molecular Biophysics and the Chlorophyll Laboratory

On the basis of the Laboratory of Biophysics and Isotopes of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR, the Institute of Photobiology of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR was created (Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Belarusian SSR № 369 of December 29, 1972, and Order of the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR of January 4, 1973). The Institute was headed by corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, doctor of biological sciences, professor Alexander Arkadievich Shlyk

at the Institute of Photobiology of the Academy of Sciences of Belarus, a specialized council for the defense of dissertations in the specialty “Biophysics” Д.006.05.01 began to function (order of the Chairman of the Higher Attestation Commission under the Council of Ministers of the USSR № 298 of 18.12.1975). In 1995, the Institute approved the Council for the Defense of Doctoral Theses Д 01.37.01

In connection with the change in the main directions of scientific activity, the State Scientific Institution “Institute of Photobiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus" was renamed into the State Scientific Institution “Institute of Biophysics and Cell Engineering of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus" and new directions of scientific activity were approved (Resolution of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus dated 15.06.2004 № 42).

The Belarusian Satellite Center of the UNESCO Institute for Microanalysis was created at the Institute (contract № 4500015650, signed by the NAS of Belarus and the UNESCO Department of Fundamental and Engineering Sciences).

From 1984 to 2010, the Institute was headed by academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Igor D. Volotovsky, from 2010 to 2018 it was headed by a candidate of biological sciences, associate professor  Lyudmila V. Dubovskaya. Since 2018, the Institute has been headed by a candidate of Medical Sciences,  associate professor Andrey E. Goncharov

The Institute of Biophysics and Cell Engineering of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus was appointed the National Contact Point (NCP) of the 7th Framework Program of the European Union (EU FP7) in the priority area “Health" (Order of the SCST dated March 16, 2007 № 28)

the Republican Scientific and Medical Center “Cellular Technologies" was established (Resolution of the Bureau of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus № 432 dated November 25, 2014)

the Republican Center of Algology was established (Resolution of the Bureau of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus № 453 dated October 21, 2015)

In 2019, in connection with the expansion of approved and the emergence of new priority areas of scientific research, two laboratories were renamed:

laboratory of biophysics and cell engineering to the laboratory of immunology and cell biophysics;
laboratory of proteomics to the laboratory of nanobiotechnologies.

In 2019, in connection with the expansion of approved and the emergence of new priority areas of scientific research, two laboratories were renamed:

laboratory of biophysics and cell engineering to the laboratory of immunology and cell biophysics;
laboratory of proteomics to the laboratory of nanobiotechnologies.

In 2020, in order to preserve and develop the scientific school on photosynthesis and plant cell biophysics, to develop new scientific and applied areas in this area, it was decided to create on the basis of the laboratories of biophysics and plant cell biophysics and the laboratory of applied biophysics and biochemistry the Department of Biotechnology of Phototrophic Organisms.

In 2021, in order to develop the scientific directions of the Institute, the Center for Experimental and Applied Virology and the Center for Immunology and Allergology were established.

In 2021, together with the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, a prototype of a domestic vaccine against COVID-19 was developed, and its safety and efficacy were shown in preclinical studies.

In 2022, registration certificates were received for 3 BMCPs. Thus, the Institute of Biophysics and Cell Engineering of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus has 7 registration certificates for BMCP.

In 2022, a section was created for the production of biomedical cellular products for cancer treatment.