Yuriy Borisovich Yurov is the head of the laboratory of cytogenetics, doctor of biological sciences, professor. In 1977 he upheld his PhD's thesis “Evaluation of replication units of chromosomal DNA in normal and abnormal human and animal cells”, and in 1987 - his doctoral thesis “Molecular cytogenetics of heterochromatine regions of human genome”. His scientific interests involve cytogenetic and molecular genetic studies of mental disorders, human genome mapping, molecular cytogenetic studies of the brain in mental disorders, development of methods of molecular cytogenetic diagnostics of chromosomal abnormalities in children with non-differentiated forms of mental retardation, multiple birth defects and/or developmental microabnormalities. He supervised the preparation of 1 doctoral and 10 PhD's theses, published 2 monographs, over 400 scientific papers in national and international press, was awarded by two medals and a diploma of Exhibition of National Economic Achievements, he registered 8 patents and made 6 rationalization proposals.

The laboratory was organized in 1990, on the basis of a pre-existing group in the laboratory of genetics (head - Prof. M.E. Vartanyan), that performed general cytogenetic studies in various mental disorders. Within the last two decades, the laboratory conducted molecular cytogenetic studies of endogenous psychoses, childhood autism, syndromes of mental retardation, etc, performed human genome mapping by means of fluorescent in situ hybridization (mish) and molecular cytogenetic studies of the brain in mental disorders by means of multicolor fluorescent in situ hybridization (mish), developed methods of molecular cytogenetic diagnostics of chromosomal abnormalities in children with non-differentiated forms of mental retardation, multiple birth defects and/or developmental microabnormalities. A unique collection of DNA probes for identification of human chromosomes was made. The laboratory has international scientific contacts with France, Chekh Republic, Sweden, Scotland, Italy, Cyprus, USA, Germany and the Ukraine.

The Laboratory is staffed with 7 research fellows.

Scope of research activities of the Laboratory:

• Cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic studies of endogenous mental disorders (schizophrenia, affective psychoses) and hereditary abnormalities of mental development (Down syndrome, the Rett syndrome, gender chromosomal abnormalities, etc.).
• Elaboration of new methods of pre-implantational, pre- and postnatal diagnostics of various forms of chromosomal pathology by means of multicolor fluorescent in situ hybridization of nucleinic acids (mFISH).
• Creation and testing of DNA probes for all chromosomal regions in cariotype for their further use in molecular cytogenetic diagnostics.
• Development of pre-clinical methods of diagnostics of some monogenic syndromes, such as the Rett syndrome, by means of molecular cytogenetic markers and late activation of chromosome X phenomenon.