TheOnlineEyeDoctor

Aimin Wang

Aimin Wang is a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Harbin Medical University in China. She graduated from the Medical Department of Harbin Medical University in 1967.

This was followed in 1984 by further advanced studies at Peking University. In 1991 she became a visiting scholar at Moscow State University. Her main research interest has been the study of the molecular mechanisms of aging, the role of oxidative stress in the aging process and the possible protective effects of antioxidants like carnosine.

She has a particular interest in carnosine as so many of its biological effects have yet to be fully explained. She has made a comprehensive and thorough study of the antioxidant, anti-aging and cell protection effects of carnosine and she was the first scientist to use carnosine eye drops on a large scale in a clinical setting.

Professor Wang has collected statistical data on the use of carnosine eye drops in thousands of patients and through this work has been able to establish that carnosine eye drops can treat senile cataract (especially primary cataract), can delay age-related visual decline (presbyopia) and can alleviate visual fatigue.

Alexander BOLDYREV

Alexander BOLDYREV

Professor of Biochemistry, The Head, Laboratory of clinical neurochemistry, Institute of neurology, Russian Academy of Medical sciences, Professor of M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia. 

A. Boldyrev has been born in Arkhangelsk (Russian Federation) at 1940, educated at M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University (1963, major -  Biochemistry), PhD (Effect of histidine containing dipeptides on muscle working capacity, Supervisor – Academician S. Severin) was awarded in 1967; Dr.Sci. (Membrane bound enzymes and regulation of excitability)  – in 1978.

Post-Doctoral Fellowship (1973-1974) – University of Aarhus, Denmark (Conformational lability of Na/K-ATPase, Supervisor – Professor Jens Skou). Visiting Professor at King’s College London, UK (1982,1986); WASEDA University, Tokyo, Japan (1990,1993), SUNY University, N.-Y., USA (2000). 

Research trainees of Postgraduate Students   M.S. (48), Ph. D. (27).

Major teaching experience: Introductory course of physical and chemical biology; Biochemistry for non biologists; Biomembranology with elements of biotechnology.

Scientific interests: Reactive oxygen species as second messengers; Oxidative stress; Lipid regulation of membrane bound enzymes, Ionic pumps of excitable tissues; Histidine containing neuropeptides. The latter item is the main direction of his scientific work since 1964. His research study continues experimental work started by Vladimir Gulevitch and his pupil Sergey Severin during previous century. Because of his pioneering work, carnosine is known now as a natural protector of excitable tissues toward oxidative stress. Alexander Boldyrev stimulated clinical trials of  carnosine as a natural remedy in modern medicine.

Collaborative projects: A. Askari, USA (Fogarti, NIH, 1993-1995); P. Quinn, UK (Welcome Trust, 1998); W. Schoner, Germany (DAAD, 2002); H. Abe, Japan (JPSP, 2003); D. Carpenter, USA (Fulbright Program, 1996, 2003-2004).

Membership: European Society for Neurochemistry; European Peptide Society; Int. Society for Neuroscience; New-York Academy of Sciences (USA); International Academy of Scientific Discoverers and Inventors (Russia); Editorial Board of  the following journals: Proc. Expt. Biol. Med. (Russia), Neurochemistry (Moscow), Russia, J. Alzheimer Disease (USA).

Honors: Honorable Professor of Albert Schweitzer University (Swiss), Honorable Professor of King’s College University of London (UK), Meritorious Science Worker (Russia).

How It All Began - The Story Of Carnosine Eyedrops

Here is the story of how it came to be discovered that carnosine can beneficially influence cataract

The discovery of  carnosine’s ability to improve the functions of the lens of the eye and to prevent its age-dependent opacity was made by Russian researchers and in particular Professor Alexander Boldyrev whose initial work was carried out way back in 1987.

These studies were inspired by Professor L.M. Broude. Professor Broude noticed that carnosine is present in bird eyes, which do not usually suffer from cataract. Although in the 1980's he retired from active experimental work, he was still very interested in the progress of the "carnosine problem".

He wrote to Professor E.S. Avetisov, who was the Head of the Helmholtz Institute of Eye Diseases at that time.

"Dear Professor Avetisov....