Review of medical and scientific projects sponsored by the Jepa Limmat Foundation in Kazakhstan

The first stager who received an educational grant from the Foundation was Dr. Marzhan Lepessova (1997-1998). She was the Head of the Child Neurology Department at the Almaty State Medical Institute of Advanced Education. She established a contact with Prof. P. Curatolo, Director of the Department of Child Neurology and Child Psychiatry at the Tor Vergata University in Rome, where she attended training courses. After returning home she presented her Doctoral Thesis and obtained the degree of Doctor in Medical Sciences. Later she became a Professor of Child Neurology. Next, two young doctors from the same Department of Child Neurology received educational grants from the Foundation: Dr. Altynshash Jaxybayeva (1998-1999) and Dr. Latina Tekebayeva (1999-2000). They also spent six months at the Department of Child Neurology and Child Psychiatry at the University of Tor Vergata. After returning home, Dr. Tekebayeva and Dr. Jaxybayeva successfully passed their theses and obtained PhD degrees in Child Neurology.

Dr. Lepessova Marzhan organized a Kazakh Child Neurology Association as well as a Neurology Center for Children with neurological diseases within the Child Neurology Department at the Municipal Hospital № 2 in Almaty. With the help of a sponsor selected by the Foundation (Mrs. C. Lindenmeyer), a subscription to the Journal of Child Neurology was initiated in 1999. Every four years, the Association of Child Neurology organizes an International Conference for Child Neurologists, particularly neurologists from Central Asian Countries. The latest conference was organized in June 2009 jointly with the International Child Neurology Association (ICNA). The conference included an educational seminar organized by ICNA. Local faculty included Prof. Marzhan Lepessova, Dr. Latina Tekebayeva and Dr. Altynshash Jaxybayeva.

In 2001 the Foundation sponsored the stage of Mrs. Nazym Izzhanova, a chemical engineer from Almaty, at the Institute for Didactic Technologies of the National Research Council in Genoa, Italy. She studied distant education methodology.

In 2004 the Foundation supported educational training courses for Dr. Agzam Jumadilov and Dr. Arman Myrzhakypov, both from the National Scientific Centre of Surgery. The former studied at La Sapienza University in Rome, Department of Anesthesiology (directed by Prof. P. Pietropaoli). The latter also studied at La Sapienza, Department of Liver Transplantation (directed by Prof. P. Berlocco). The main objective for their specialization was the preparation of a group working on liver transplants. They have already executed work with animal models. In 2008 the first liver transplantation for humans was carried out.

In 2006 the Foundation supported other two doctors from Kazakhstan: Dr. Gulzhan Kydyrbayeva from the Kazakh Scientific Centre of Oncology, and Dr. Rosa Abedimova from the State Centre for Psychiatric Problems. Dr. Kydyrbayeva attended the Regina Elena Cancer Institute in Rome (directed by Prof. F. Cognetti) to specialize on head and neck tumors. She organized a meeting between Directors of the Regina Elena Centre and the Kazakh Scientific Centre of Oncology. The Directors agreed about future cooperation. In 2007 she was named Head of the Department of Microsurgery where she implements new techniques of operation. Dr. Abedimova attended the Department of Child Neurology and Child Psychiatry at the Tor-Vergata University in Rome, and successfully introduced in Kazakhstan new directions of medical science such as neuroendocrinology.

In 2006, the Foundation assigned a three year research grant to Prof. S. Kudaibergenov, Director of the Institute of Polymer Materials and Technology in Almaty. Prof. Kudaibergenov will be investigating the purification of wastewater by amphoteric gels. In cooperation with Prof. Ciferri, he has recently authored two critical surveys on the basic theory, application and function of polyampholytes.

In 2006 Prof. Ciferri visited Kazakhstan. During that visit he became acquainted with several research institutions in Almaty. One of the site visits was organized to the State Medical Institute of Advanced Postgraduate Education. He had a meeting with the Rector and prominent scientists from that Institute. Moreover, he visited the Department of Child Neurology at the Municipal Hospital № 7.

Prof. Ciferri was an invited honorary guest at International Conference on Surgery being held in Almaty. During that Conference he was elected Honorary Academician by the Kazakh Academy of Medical Science in recognition of the contributions made by the Jepa and the Jepa-Limmat Foundations to the development of medical science in Kazakhstan.

In 2007 Dr. Altynshash Jaxybayeva was elected as a member of the Technical Board of the Jepa-Limmat Foundation to assist in their planning of future activities in Kazakhstan.

In 2008 Professor Y. Miyerbekov, Head of the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at the National Center for Surgery in Almaty, visited several hospitals and university clinics in Rome to establish a cooperation in the area of cardiac surgery. The cooperation was implemented by the stage of two younger doctors, Drs. I. Illaladinov and V. Mutagirov, at the University La Sapienza and at the Hospital Bambin Gesù (coordinated by Prof. P. Pietropaoli and Dr. S. Picardo) for training in pediatric cardiac anesthesiology and reanimation. One of the results of this visits was the organization of a professional society of anesthesiology and intensive care in Kazakhstan which was registered in summer of 2008. The first Congress of Anesthesiologists and Intensivists/Reanimatologists of Kazakhstan was held on October 17-19 2008 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

In 2009 the Jepa Foundation organized a three month stage of Dr. Aliya Utelbayeva, Kazakh Scientific Research Institute of Oncology and Radiology, at the Regina Elena National Cancer Institute in Rome under the supervision of Prof. P. Muti. This internship provided a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the organization of cancer care, in particular at the Division of Chemiotherapy, the European treatment protocols, and new trends of clinical research in Italy. The Foundation also organized the two month stage of Dr.Tair Nurpeissov, Republican Allergological Center of the Research Institute of Cardiology and Internal Diseases, at the Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergology of “La Sapienza” University in Rome under the supervision of Prof. F. Salsano. The training course consisted of lectures, seminars, consulting in out-patient clinic, visits of hospital patients with allergic, immunologic and rheumatologic pathologies, making skin tests with allergens extracts in vitro, acquaintance with diagnostic laboratorial and functional equipment, obtaining access to the Internet data bank of the University library.

In 2009 Dr. Altynshash Jaxybayeva successfully passed her doctoral thesis. Her work was translated into English and reviewed by leading experts including Prof. P. Curatolo, Past President of International Child Neurology Association, and Prof. C. Kennedy President of the European Pediatric Neurology Society.

In 2009 Prof. Ciferri visited again Kazakhstan. During this visit he had several meetings devoted to the continuation of support for former students from Kazakhstan. According to the strategic plan of the Foundation, he visited already existing centers of excellence, such as the Center of Child Neurology, established by former student Prof. Marzhan Lepessova, and providing many specialized activities, including international conferences and educational seminars. A project for a Children Hospital in Almaty was discussed with the competent authorities. Another well established center supported by the Foundation, that of Anesthesiology at the Kazakh National Center of Surgery was visited. In May 2009 the latter organized in Almaty an International Seminar on Anesthesiology and Intensive Care which was chaired by Prof. P. Pietropaoli of the University La Sapienza . During his visit to Almaty Prof. Ciferri made attempted to initiate a network cooperation between the Regina Elena Cancer Institute in Rome and the Oncology Institute in Almaty. The project has not so far been implemented by the italian side. A long term coopetation between the Anesthesiology Department at La Sapienza University and the Kazakh Center of Surgery is now being implemented.

In 2010 two candidates from the Urology Department of the Almaty State Medical Institute of Advanced Education (Dr. Azamat Asubayev and Dr. Samzhar Shalekenov) performed a three month stage at the Department of Urology at the Tor Vergata University in Rome under the supervision of prof. G. Vespasiani. In the same year, one candidate from the Infection Diseases Center at Semey City in Eastern Kazakhstan (Dr. Alma Tokayeva) performed a three month stage at Institute of Infectious Diseases of the Catholic University in Rome.

In 2011 work of the Kazakhstan branch was devoted to establish a cooperation with Uzbekistan doctors and scientists. We helped to organize the visit of prof. Ciferri to Uzbekistan in March and during that visit plans were made to establish an interdisciplinary Center for Supramolecular Science in a cooperation of the Uzbek Academy of Science and research Centers in Europe.

In 2012 Prof. Pietropaoli visited again Kazakhstan and was invited to deliver a lecture at the International Conference on Surgery and Anesthesiology in Astana. During the same year, Drs. A. Zhumadilov and A. Nurlan performed a stage at University La Sapienza in Rome for advanced training in liver transplant and for the planning of a joint Kazakh-Italy anesthesiology-surgery center.

In 2013 Dr. Aizhan Galyieva, Republic Diagnostic Center, Astana-Kazakhstan performed a three month stage at the Department of Sense Organs at the La Sapienza University in Rome for training in hear loss in babies under the supervision of Prof. R. Filipo. Starting in the same year Dr. Dinara Bagussiova, Almaty City Polyclinic, performer a three month stage at the Medical School of La Sapienza University in Rome to study radiological analysis of liver transplant under the direction of Prof. A. Laghi.

In 2014 Dr. M. Izzanov from the Medical University in Almaty performer a three month stage at the Radiology Department of La Sapienza University in Rome to study resonance and TAC techniques under Prof. C. Catalano.
It is important to highlight important contributions made to the developement of medical and scientific activity in Kazakhstan and other countries in central Asia.

In 2015, Dr. Zumrad Turdieva, Kazakh National Medical University, performed a three-month stage at Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Anesthesiology, Nephrology and Geriatric department to study endovascular surgery under prof. Francesco Fedele.

In 2016, Dr. Yana Akchurina, Kazakh-Russian Medical University performed a three month stage at La Sapienza University in Rome to study sleep disorders with prof. Oliviero Bruni. Additional training was received at Neuromed (Pozzilli) with Dr. Giancarlo Di Gennaro’s team in pre surgical assessment of patients with pharmaco resistant epilepsy. In the same year Dr. Altynshash Jaxybayeva, UMC, Mother and Child health Hospital, Astana, performed a stage at La Sapienza University to study rare neurological diseases under prof. V. Leuzzi, followed by a stage at Bambino Gesú Hospital to study epilepsy and neuromuscular diseases under prof. Federico Vigevano.

During the same year, the New University, named after the President Nazarbayev, was greatly expanded in the capital city, Astana, and the University Medical center (UMC) was created. The UMC consisted of several big hospitals as Mother and Child Health, Oncology and Transplantology, Diagnostic Center and Rehabilitation Center. It has already become a leading group of hospitals in Central Asia. As a result of the expanded medical activity in Kazakhstan, several former grantees of the Jepa Foundation have attained position of primary relevance in the Country.

The Health Ministry of the Republic of Kazakhstan announced a new initiative in medical education field. According to that, all medical universities in Kazakhstan need to have internationally recognized partner University in order to establish a medical education system in Kazakhstan and produce recommendations for improvement. Dr. Altynshash Jaxybayeva facilitated the partnership between Astana Medical University and La Sapienza University in Rome. An agreement was signed at the end of June 2016 and its implementation started in September 2016. We are now exploring an extension of our activities in Central Asia in cooperation with the Foundation. We are realizing that advanced education in clinical areas was just the first step for the development of our young specialist. We are therefore exploring new possibilities for initiating research projects in medical and biochemical areas. Working on advanced research projects and participating in international scientific societies will help our scientists and specialists to better attain international standards.

In 2017, an article coauthored by dr. Yana Akchurina “Severe and rapidly- progressive Lafora disease associated with NHLRC1 mutation: a case report” was accepted to publication in the International Journal of Neuroscience titled in 2017.

In 2017 Dair Seisembekov a doctor from gynecology and obstetrics was trained at Gemelly Hospital, Rome during three months under mentorship by prof. Giovanni Scambia. His training was concentrating mainly on surgical approaches to different gynecological situation. Also during this time he had a
possibility to take part at local and international conference in OBG which were provided in Italy.

During 2018, Dr. Alissa Nauryzbayeva, a young doctor–pediatric neurologist from National Research Center for Mother and Child Health in Astana, spent three months at the Bambino Gesù Hospital, pediatric Neurology Department, under the guidance of prof. Federico Vigevano, with interest in epileptic conditions. Kazakhstani patients were discussed and a rare diseases (ESS syndrome (subacute sclerosing panenchephalitis ) was identified as a consequences of slow viral infection. Three months later, the diagnosi confirmed by laboratory tests. Two doctors (Dr. Nicola Specchio and Dr. Luca De Palma) from Bambino Gesù are planned a short stage at the Center in Astana for discussion on resistant epilepsy. In may, Alissa Nauryzbayeva was invited to visit Department of Pediatric Neurology at Ljubljana together with Dr. Altynshash Jaxybayeva as an invited lecturer. Another student of this year was dr. Dina Zhanatayeva, a clinical genetist who spent three months at the Mendel Institute of La Sapienza University working closely with the clinical department of Policlinico Umberto 1.

In 2019 Dr. Assel Kudaibergenova, ENT doctor, spent three months at La Sapienza University in the departments of Pediatric Audiology department and the Cochlear Implantation under Prof. Rosaria Turchetti and Prof. Patrizia Mancini. She had a possibility to conduct joint consultations and examinations of children with hearing loss and deafness. At the cochlear implant center, she conducted hearing examinations, selection of patients with hearing loss and deafness for cochlear implantation, rehabilitation after cochlear implantation of adults and children. She learned how to perform various noise-free speech and phrase tests in a free sound field to evaluate the effectiveness of a cochlear implant. Because of the training in Italy, dr. Assel is going to continue a discussion on singing of memorandum of understanding for future cooperation in the field of audiology with prof. Patrizia Mancini.

Also in 2019, Dr. Bagila Nurmagambetova, intensive care doctor, and Dr. Altynshash Jaxybayeva, pediatric neurologist, performed a one-month training of Neuromuscular Center at Gaslini Children’s Hospital in Genoa, Italy. The main aim for this joint visit was the exchanging of experience in taking care of patients under very vulnerable type of neuromuscular disease, hoping to implement some advanced techniques in Kazakhstan.

Dr. Altynshash Jaxybayeva, as a member of technical board of Jepa Foundation and representative of Jepa Foundation in Kazakhstan, had a meeting with prof. Gianni Vernazza, President of the Italian Consortium for Telecommunications, to discuss the possibility of a cooperation in the field of technology transfer. During the meeting, possible cooperation on related agriculture and biomedical services were discussed. Also discussed was the opportunity of widening the areas of reciprocal interest between Italy and Kazakhstan.

Dr. Bagila Nurmagambetova together with Altynshash Jaxybayeva in 2021 were first to make a gene replacement therapy for children with spinal muscular atrophy from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. This type of therapy was done first time in Central Asia region, after which more kids with SMA already were treated.

In 2022 Dr. Assel Abilkhadirova from Astana, a pediatric neurologist from UMC, National Research Center for Mother and Child health is studying at La Sapienza University at prof. Vincenzo Leuzzi Department . She is also involving in the treatment of very severe kids with neurodegenerative diseases and neuro-muscular diseases.