In memoriam of our colleagues and friends

The Department of General and Molecular Medical Genetics of St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University has existed for more than thirty years. Over these years, three outstanding scientists and clinical geneticists, our colleagues and members of the department, have passed away. Fundamental works of A.M. Polishchuk contributed to the study of radiation-induced chromosomal instability. One of the pioneers in the field of clinical cytogenetics in our country, A.M. Polishchuk was also at the origins of teaching genetics to future doctors. He was in the staff of the Department of Medical Genetics of St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University since its foundation in 1989, where his teaching experience was very appreciated. Having emigrated to Israel in the mid-1990s, A.M. Polishchuk continued his studies in laboratory genetics. The history of the development of genetics in Russia remained In the field of scientific interests of A.M. Polishchuk, until recent years. A.M. Polishchuk died in February 2020. Among the first members of the Department of Medical Genetics was also V.V. Krasilnikov. A student of the famous geneticist-neurologist E.A. Savelyeva-Vasilyeva, V.V. Krasilnikov became a prominent specialist in the field of clinical genetics, who spent more than three decades working at the Medical Genetic Center. An excellent diagnostician, he had a broad scientific outlook and deep knowledge in the study of microanomalies of development in hereditary pathology. After a long-lasting illness V.V. Krasilnikov died in 2012. V.G. Vakharlovsky was also a student of E.A. Savelyeva-Vasilyeva. The opus magnum of this outstanding clinician was the development of methods for pathogenetic therapy of the very grave hereditary diseases: Wilson–Konovalov disease and spinal muscular atrophy. Having joined the team of the Department of Medical Genetics of the St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University in the 2000s, he brought into the educational process the practice of visiting a boarding home for mentally-handicapped children, introduced regular case studies. In 2010, with the Vakharlovsky’s death our collective suffered the big loss.