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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Equipment, training, professional exchange: Thanks to this cooperation, the clinic in Lviv can perform state-of-the-art genetic analyses and detect rare diseases in newborns at an early stage. The clinic partnership is financed by GIZ.
Rare diseases are usually hereditary. They are often severe, chronic, and life-shortening. Early diagnosis, for example through genetic analysis, can be vital. However, such tests are not part of standard diagnostic practice everywhere. Even at the perinatal center in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, these options are still relatively new. As part of a partnership with Hannover Medical School (MHH), a laboratory for modern genetic diagnostics for newborns has been set up there. The project is part of the “Clinic Partnerships” funding program of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). GIZ is investing around 1.2 million euros in the project.
Largest perinatal center in western Ukraine
The perinatal center in Lviv is the largest clinic of its kind in western Ukraine. A perinatal center combines obstetrics and neonatology to provide optimal care for women with high-risk pregnancies and sick or very premature babies. All the necessary specialists and intensive care equipment are available for care before, during, and after birth. The perinatal center in Lviv has been in existence for 38 years. Due to the Russian war against Ukraine, many pregnant women are fleeing to the west of the country to give birth. In 2024, around 6,000 children were born there. "If a newborn was suspected of having a rare genetic disorder, the samples for genetic diagnosis had to be sent to the US. That was cumbersome and very expensive," says Prof. Dr. Halyna Shcherbata, describing the previous situation in Lviv. Professor Shcherbata works at the MHH Institute of Cell Biochemistry and coordinates the German-Ukrainian clinic partnership. Together with colleagues from the Institute of Human Genetics, Pediatric Metabolic Medicine, and the Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Outpatient Clinic, and with the generous support of the MHH Executive Board, they succeeded in revamping genetic diagnostics in Lviv in close cooperation with local experts.
Modern technology, competent team
After the project was launched in 2023, the first tests using next-generation sequencing (NGS) were already carried out in 2024. NGS is a modern method for fast, cost-effective, and detailed decoding of genetic information. In the new laboratory, the experts focus on so-called exome sequencing, i.e., the analysis of all protein-coding regions. This allows most known disease-causing genetic abnormalities to be detected. As a result, rare hereditary diseases can be diagnosed and treated at the Perinatal Center in the first days of life. “If our clinical exome sequencing yields insufficient results, we send DNA samples to the MHH for more comprehensive genome analysis,” explains Dr. Maria Malachynska, head of the Perinatal Center. However, the cooperation between Lviv and Hanover goes even further. The institutions not only jointly take care of the equipment and infrastructure of the laboratory, but also the training of specialist staff. Four laboratory experts, a molecular biologist, and a pediatrician have already undergone comprehensive training at the MHH. “The Perinatal Center is technically well equipped and has a highly qualified team,” notes Professor Shcherbata.
Other centers in the country benefit
The clinic partnership has now grown into a large cooperation network. The regional newborn screening center at the Perinatal Center in Lviv also shares its new analysis capabilities with other Ukrainian screening centers that do not have an NGS laboratory, thus building a nationwide network for genetic diagnostics and expertise. The team participates in international conferences and research projects and is constantly working to further expand genetic diagnostics in Ukraine.
Second laboratory and surgical technology
In addition to genetic diagnostics, the clinic partnership at the Perinatal Center has enabled two further measures to be implemented: Firstly, another laboratory has been set up where blood samples from newborns can be tested for non-genetic hormone and metabolic disorders. This laboratory also collaborates with other laboratories in Ukraine. Secondly, a 4D laser hysteroscopy system was installed, enabling surgeons to perform complex open and minimally invasive gynecological procedures, such as the gentle removal of deeply ingrown endometriosis or benign growths in the uterus. The system can also be used to treat adhesions and adhesions in the uterus and to reconstruct structures relevant to fertility.
For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Halyna Shcherbata, Institute of Cell Biochemistry, sherbata.halyna@mh-hannover.de.
In the operating room of the Perinatal Center in Lviv: Center Director Dr. Maria Malachynska (right) ...
Copyright: Lviv Perinatal Center.
The team from the Regional Center for Newborn Screening at the Perinatal Center in Lviv presents the ...
Copyright: Lviv Perinatal Center.
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