EBM Interview: Vladimir S. Komlev

Vladimir S. Komlev is the director of A.A. Baikov Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation (IMET RAS). It is the largest scientific organization in materials science and metallurgy in Russian Federation with more than 1000 employed scientists and has been realized several hundred scientific projects per year. He is corresponding Member of Russian Academy of Science.

He has spent most of his professional career in research and development of biomaterials for tissue engineering. He has been invited as keynote speaker and lecturer at many international congress and meetings. He has published 253 journal articles in the field of biomaterials, with an H-index = 40 (Google Scholar), the author of 7 books and co-inventor 53 patents (US, EU, RU).

His main research directions have concentrated on advanced scaffolding materials and coatings, additive manufacturing and bioprinting approaches, lab on the chip, novel characterization techniques, drug delivery systems, gen therapy, biological models, digital technologies, biomedical research in space conditions, clinical platforms for tissue engineering applications of various origins (bone, cartilage, muscle, nerve, etc.).

Here is the interview we did with him:

1. Could you briefly introduce your current research field?

Clinical and commercial interests are steadily growing in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Tissue damage due to either pathology or trauma is very common. Its repair involves costly medical and surgical intervention, several human resources and a great deal of suffering for the patients: in many cases, tissue grafts are required to achieve functional recovery. Moreover, the presently available grafting techniques are only partially successful, and this is due to both the length and cost of the treatment as much as to the shortage of donor tissue. Tissue engineering approaches represent an effective alternative means of repair for tissue damage and would provide a high social benefit. My current research field is related to the development of biomaterials science based on ceramics, polymers and metals (advanced scaffolding materials and coatings), additive manufacturing and bioprinting approaches, lab on the chip, novel characterization techniques, drug delivery systems, biological models, digital technologies, biomedical research in space conditions, production facilities of medical devises as well as clinical platforms for tissue engineering applications of various origins (bone, cartilage, muscle, nerve, etc.).

2. What obstacles or difficulties have you encountered in your research work? How did you overcome these difficulties?

There is a number of obstacles or difficulties encountered in my research work. It is clear, this is life. However, the decisive factors are the high level of experience and competence of my team in the relevant areas of tissue engineering; the strong interdisciplinarity and complementarity of the team composition; sufficient human and material resources to carry out the entire work; the wide geographical distribution and interdisciplinary nature of the partners; a preliminary results obtained in particular within the framework of collaboration; including my experience as a project coordinator in managing national and international projects. All this gives the opportunity to overcome any difficulty. Finally, I would like to highlight some of the difficulties that may arise in the clinical application of the new product. It may require us to convince surgeons who currently favor existing techniques to switch to our products or to new procedures. Many surgeons would not purchase our products until there is sufficient, long-term clinical evidence to convince them to alter their existing treatment methods. To overcome these difficulties, continued publications of positive clinical data in scientific journals and longer-term patient follow-ups are necessary for us to achieve the clinical application.  

3. What attracted you to join the BAM editorial Board team?

It is a pleasure to join the BAM editorial Board team. The BAM is an international and high-level journal publishing the finest peer-reviewed researches in field of biomedical science and technology based on its originality, importance, interdisciplinary interest, timeliness and accessibility. The BAM also gives rapid, authoritative, insightful and exciting results of topical and coming trends of biomaterials development. It is very gratifying that the journal's authority is growing from year to year. At present, it has reached 5th Impact Factor - 18.0, which ranks it 1st out of 53 journals in the Materials Science, Biomaterials category, and 2nd out of 122 journals in the Engineering, Biomedical category.

4. What are your expectations for the future development of the BAM and its promotion?

Firstly, I think that the BAM could introduce a new section for the editorial board called "Perspectives" to highlight and/or discuss their views on emerging trends and issues regarding biomedical science and bioactive materials. It will definitely help to ensure that these ideas in biomaterials science are rapidly disseminated to the public worldwide in a way that conveys their significance for future development. Secondly, there are several manufacturing devices for biomaterials development currently employed on the International Space Station, and there is a growing number of studies related to biomaterial productions in space. It would be great if the journal organized a special issue devoted to this topic.

5. What is your greatest hobby outside of scientific work?

My hobbies besides my scientific work are reading books and walking in the fresh air.

6. How do you balance scientific research work and personal life?

I try to balance my work and personal life in a 50/50 ratio. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out. Sometimes work absorbs you completely, 100 percent.

7. What do you think is the most important quality for researchers?

In general, science needs to explain complex, sometimes mysterious phenomena. Science is the domain of the most observant and inquisitive minds, who are given the opportunity to make discoveries, create new knowledge, and make it accessible to everyone interested. If a person loves his work, and it applies to science or other areas, I am sure he will do it honestly and efficiently for the development of humanity as a whole.

8. What advice do you have for young scholars who are determined to engage in scientific research?

Young scientists are our future. Developing their abilities for scientific research is one of the most important tasks of scientific policy of the state as well as the head of an organization or team. It is very important that they are constantly actively developing their research area. There is a lot of advice that can be given, but I suggest to read the systematic review (DOI: https://doi.org/10.18332/popmed/152571) that identified  208 advice recommendations (‘tips’) divided into five main thematic groups: funding and research proposals writing; mentoring, networking and collaboration; increasing visibility as a researcher; writing and publishing a journal article and personal professional development.