Ukrainian scientists visit Newcastle to advance collaborative research

Wednesday, 15 November 2023

Two Ukrainian scientists will visit Newcastle to work with University of Newcastle research teams, thanks to successful funding applications in the inaugural Ukraine-Australia Research Fund from the Australian Academy of Science.

Professor Hubert Hondermarck

Professor Hubert Hondermark and Professor Thomas Honeyands will host esteemed Ukrainian scientists to help ensure they can continue their research activities despite the war raging around them in their home country. The collaborations will also forge stronger connections in areas of research that will benefit both nations.

Professor Hubert Hondermark will host Dr Nataliya Finiuk from the Institute of Cell Biology at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

Dr Finiuk had been synthesising new molecules to kill cancer cells, which could potentially lead to new treatments for brain, pancreatic or prostate cancers.  Because of the conflict in her home country, Dr Finiuk's research has been significantly disrupted.

Thanks to a grant from the Ukraine-Australia Research Fund, Dr Finiuk will travel to Newcastle in February 2024 to work alongside Professor Hondermark who specialises in cancer neuroscience.

During the visit, Dr Finiuk will be able to advance her research with anti-cancer agents while also gaining new knowledge and skills to support molecular and cellular models. Dr Finiuk will also deliver research seminars during her time in Australia and collaborate with Professor Hondermark on joint publications.

Professor Hondermark has connections with Ukrainian researchers and wanted to help ensure critical biomedical research could continue, despite the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

"We hope the project is a starting point for a long-term collaboration with mutual benefits for cancer research." said Professor Hondermarck.

Professor Tom Honeyands from the University's Centre for Ironmaking Materials Research will host Oleksii Merkulov from the Iron and Steel Institute of Z. I. Nekrasov at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.  Together, they will advance research into high-temperature properties of iron ore materials used in blast furnace smelting.

The metals sector has been one of the hardest hit by Russia’s military actions in Ukraine over the past year.  Major steelworks in the country have either been destroyed, are in territory occupied by Russian forces, or are virtually non-operational due to port blockades and reduced access to energy supplies.

“This visit will be the first step towards a mutually beneficial collaboration between researchers from the Institute of Iron and Steel of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and Australian researchers in the field of low carbon ironmaking.” said Professor Honeyands.

Oleksii Merkulov arrived in Australia in October and has started collaborative work with researchers from the Centre for Ironmaking Materials Research.  During his stay, he will continue research in his area of specialisation and share unique approaches to solving common problems faced by both Australia and Ukraine.

The Australian Academy of Science awarded more than $330,000 in grants in October 2023 as part of the first round of the Ukraine-Australia Research Fund.

Designed to assist Ukrainian researchers impacted by the war with Russia, the fund supports two activities, each offering practical support to enable the continuation of research and technology activities by Ukrainian scientists.

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