The laboratory "Center for Biosystem Safety" (CBS) was established in 2011 on the initiative of the Institute's director, Academician D.S. Pavlov, as a structural unit functionally linked to the Center for Biosystem Safety of the Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University. This form of cooperation between the leading research and teaching-and-research institutions in the field of biology substantially expanded their capabilities in studying the fundamental and applied aspects of the ecotoxicology of super-ecotoxicants and in training specialists. Super-ecotoxicants are persistent, highly toxic, cumulative and bioaccumulative, globally distributed chemical pollutants that actively affect and disrupt fundamental biochemical processes in the body, causing preventable and non-preventable harm to health and/or developmental disorders.
The CBS was established on the proposal of the head of the "Laboratory of General Ecotoxicology," Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor V.S. Rumak, and by decision of the Institute's Academic Council. The Center was formed from staff of the Laboratory of General Ecotoxicology of IEE RAS, established in 1997. During its existence, the laboratory's staff were the first to successfully develop a number of key aspects of the ecotoxicometry of dioxins and dioxin-like substances that contaminated the environment of Vietnam during the years of US Army chemical warfare (Operation Ranch Hand, 1962-1971), and to begin work on transferring the knowledge and experience accumulated in Vietnam to Russian territory.
The scientific and applied significance of the research carried out is illustrated by numerous scientific publications, including in high-ranking journals; by developments with legal protection in the Russian Federation; by governmental and departmental awards; and by strong interest in this work from government authorities and the media.