The head of the Novosibirsk center of virology and biotechnology “Vector” was fired due to loss of confidence

Rinat Maksyutov, Director General of the State Scientific Center for Virology and Biotechnology Vector, was dismissed by order of the head of Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova. The order, dated May 16, lists “failure to take measures to resolve and prevent conflicts of interest” and “loss of trust” as grounds for dismissing the scientist, sources told Kommersant.

It was not possible to contact Rinat Maksyutov. Nikita Kanshin, assistant general director for public relations at Vector, told Kommersant that only Rospotrebnadzor can comment on personnel changes, and the center “will fulfill its obligations to study dangerous viruses, develop preventive and diagnostic drugs.”

Rinat Maksyutov graduated from Novosibirsk State University in 2003 with a degree in biology. He came to SSC “Vector” in 2001 as a senior laboratory assistant. Then he worked as a trainee researcher, junior researcher, researcher, senior researcher, head of the laboratory of the department of genomic research and development of methods for DNA diagnostics of poxviruses. In August 2016, the scientist took the post of Deputy General Director for Scientific Work of Vector, in September of the same year he headed the State Scientific Center. Rinat Maksyutov is Doctor of Biology, author and co-author of more than 70 scientific papers.

SSC “Vector” (part of Rospotrebnadzor) was founded in 1974 and is located in the science city of Koltsovo near Novosibirsk. The Center is one of the largest research and production complexes in Russia, conducting fundamental research in the field of natural sciences. The Vector has a unique collection of microorganism cultures, in particular, it is one of the two places in the world where the smallpox virus is stored. There, a vaccine was being developed against a new coronavirus infection, Ebola fever, and a test system for diagnosing HIV.

Konstantin Voronov, Novosibirsk