A short list of contributions of Professor Sergiy V.Komisarenko into Ukrainian science, political, diplomatic and public life
As a scholar (in Biochemistry and Immunochemistry)
Degrees, titles and honours: Doctor of Medicine with distinction (1966), PhD in Biochemistry (1970), Ukrainian State Award (1979), Doctor of Sciences in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (1989), Professor of Biochemistry (1989), Corresponding member of Ukrainian Academy of Sciences (1990), Full Member (academician) of Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences (1991), Full Member (academician) of Ukrainian Academy of Medical Sciences (1993), State Order of "Yaroslav the Wise" (V degree-2005), State Order of "Merit" (III degree-1996, II degree-1998), Honorary Doctor of Sciences: Kingston University (1997) and North London University (1997), Palladin Award in Biochemistry winner (2003), Honorary Professor of Odesa National University (2010).
Occupation: Junior scientific researcher in the Institute of Biochemistry of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Kyiv (1969-1972); Scientific Secretary of the Institute (1972-1974); Head, Laboratory of Immunochemistry (1975-1982); Head, Department of Molecular Immunology (1982-1989); Director, Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Kyiv (1989-1992), Deputy Chairman of Council of Ministers of Ukraine, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine responsible for humanitarian sector: health care, culture, education, science, social security, etc. (1990-1992); Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom (1992-1998), Ambassador of Ukraine in Ireland (simultaneously, 1995-1998). Director, Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, Kyiv (since May 1998). Academician-Secretary and member of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (since April 2004).
His main scientific interests are in immunochemical analysis of peptide and protein antigenic structure. He is founder of molecular immunology studies in Ukraine. He and his team were the first in the former USSR to implement immunoenzyme methods, monoclonal antibody technique as well as flow cytofluorimetry in research.
S. Komisarenko and his pupils studied extensively the biological activity of phosphor organic compounds - phosphonates and as a result the immunomodulating and anti-tumour activity of some bisphosphonic acids’ derivatives was found. Among other results also obtained were: the establishment of antigenic structure of neurotoxin apamin, of cytochrome c, of acetyl-choline receptor, of some peptides and proteins of blood-clotting system. He studied the role of calcium, cyclic nucleotides and protein kinases in lymphocyte activation etc.
He was the Head of Ukrainian Scientific Immunology Programme (1978-1985) and under his guidance in 1986-1988 it was found that low-dose radiation after Chernobyl fall-out caused dramatic decrease in natural killer cells number and in their activity in humans. This immune suppression he named “Chernobyl AIDS”.
Professor Komisarenko was lecturing in 1970-1971 in Kiev Medical Institute (practical course of Biochemistry); in 1976-1984 in T.G.Shevchenko Kiev State University (lecture course of Immunochemistry); in 1982-1991 in Kiev Branch of Moscow Physico-Technical Institute (lecture course of Molecular Immunology). In 2000 he founded the Biotechnology Branch of Biochemistry Department of Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University. As a visiting scientist he was working in Pasteur Institute in Paris (1974-1975) and in Sloan Kettering Cancer Institute in New York, USA (1981).
Sergiy Komisarenko is a member of the Council of International Society for Immunopharmacology (USA), Editor-in-chief "Ukrainian Biochemical Journal" (1989-1992 and since 1998) and “Biotechnology” (Ukrainian), member of the Editorial Board of International Journal of Immunology and Immunopharmacology (Italy) and of the journal of the Polish International Affairs Institute “Europe” («Европа»); President of the Ukrainian Biochemical Society and Editor-in-chief of the “Ukrainian Biochemical Journal” (since 1999). He is the author of about 400 publications in the field of Immunology and Biochemistry as well as on Ukrainian culture and politics. He is one of the authors and editor of the book "Radiation and Human Immunity" (Kyiv, 1994) and “Structure and Biological Activity of Bacterial Polymers” (Kyiv, 2003).
As a Statesman and public man
In his capacity as Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine in 1990-1992 Serhiy Komisarenko was responsible for public health, science and technology, education, culture, national heritage, social security, religious matters, youth and sport etc.
He initiated and/or participated in the introduction of the following laws in Ukraine most of which proved to be very successful: on the rights of national minorities, on national education, on religious matters (or on the liberty of faiths), on media, on social security, on the prevention of AIDS etc.
Professor S. Komisarenko was a Chairman of the National Program on languages in Ukraine, of the Babij Yar Commemoration Committee, of the Congress of Ukrainians and others. As a Chairman of the State Commission on prevention of AIDS, he initiated a complex of activities in Ukraine to fight HIV/AIDS: a corresponding law was adopted in the Parliament; he founded State Committee on the prevention of HIV infection etc.
Serhiy Komisarenko is active in Ukraine’s public life. He was elected: President of the Ukrainian Biochemical Society (1999 -), First Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Peace Council (1999 -), President of the Ukrainian Institute for Peace and Democracy (1999 -), President of the charity “Special Olympics – Ukraine” (2002 -), Deputy Chairman of the National Council on Healthcare (2006), Chairman of the Board of the International Foundation for the National Memory of Ukraine (2007), Honorary member and member of the Board of Directors of the British-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce etc. Chairman of the Commission on Biosafety and Biosecurity at the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine (nominated by the President of Ukraine in 2007).
In 2001 he was invited to the United Nations headquarters as a key-note speaker at the International Conference dedicated to the 15 anniversary of Chernobyl fallout catastrophe. In 2002 he was a speaker from Ukraine in Brussels at the International Conference “Several Europes and Transatlantic Relations”, in 2003 he held a seminar on Ukraine “Ukraine between the elections 2002-2004: Opportunities and Pitfalls Ahead” in the Kennan Institute in Washington DC etc.
Political: Founding member of the National Salvation Forum (2001), Candidate to the post of the President of Ukraine (2004 elections).
As an Ambassador
Professor Serhiy Komisarenko was the first Ukrainian Ambassador ever to the Court of St. James's. He was appointed as an Ambassador by the President of Ukraine on May 15th 1992 and presented the copies of his Credentials to the Foreign Secretary September the 9th 1992 when his official tour of the duty started. Professor Komisarenko presented his credentials to HM The Queen on October 27th in audience in the Buckingham Palace accompanied by Mrs. Komisarenko.
During more than five years of operation in Britain HE Professor Komisarenko as Ambassador contributed a lot for Ukrainian-British relations. Just some examples. In 1992-1993 Ukraine was practically unknown to the British people. However, since the Embassy was set up Britain has supported territorial integrity of Ukraine, acknowledged Ukraine's contribution towards peace settlement in former Yugoslavia, backed the application and membership of Ukraine in the Council of Europe. In April-June 1995 the British Parliament ratified the Agreement on Partnership and Co-operation between EU and Ukraine. The Embassy ensured through various channels that the President of Ukraine was invited to address the WEU Assembly (Paris, 5 June 1996). Ukraine was the first country visited by the British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind after his nomination. Mr Rifkind was the first to state in public that independent Ukraine was a key country in Central and Eastern Europe and that the presence of independent Ukraine was pivotal for safeguarding security and stability in Europe. The Embassy ensured success of two official visits of the Presidents of Ukraine (1993 and 1995), a visit of the Ukrainian Parliament delegation headed by the Speaker (1993), a visit of the Ukrainian Prime Minister (1995), visits of a number of delegations headed by Ukrainian Vice Prime Ministers and Ministers. The Embassy promoted or fully assisted with the visits to Ukraine of the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Gloucester, the Prime Minister John Major, the Lord Mayor of London, the then Secretaries and Ministers of State - Mr M. Rifkind, Mr K. Clarke, Mr M. Portillo, Sir Nicholas Bonsor, Baroness Chalker and other high-ranking officials from the former Conservative Party Government. After the 1997 year election the Labour Party Government confirmed the importance of good relations between Britain and Ukraine. Secretary of State for Defence (later NATO General Secretary Lord Robertson) paid a visit to Ukraine and participated in joint Ukrainian-British-Polish military exercises.
A legal foundation for bilateral relations has been set up and was successfully developed - an Agreement on the principles of relations and co-operation and 14 individual agreements have been signed. Among those agreements are the Agreement on co-operation in the field of education, science and culture, the Agreement on air transport communication, the Memorandum on technical assistance, the Agreement on co-operation in tackling crime, the Agreement on consular relations, etc. The Embassy was party to negotiations on the text of security assurances signed by four states (the United States, the United Kingdom, the Russian Federation and Ukraine) in December 1994 in connection with Ukraine's accession to the NPT.
Serhiy Komisarenko put forward the initiative on Ukraine's joining EBRD, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Sugar Organization (ISO) whose headquarters are based in London. Until appointment of the Ukrainian representatives the Embassy took part in sessions of IMO, ISO and INMARSAT. The Embassy also organized or contributed to a number of successful exhibitions and seminars aimed at acquainting British companies with business opportunities in Ukraine. The Embassy assisted Ukrainian companies wishing to find partners in Britain. Professor Komisarenko initiated to Ukrainian top authorities an idea to create in the West a special “Marshall plan” for Ukraine and was promoting this idea among British establishment. He also put forward setting up a British-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the City of London and contributed his most for the foundation of this Chamber. Later he was elected an Honorary member and member of the Board of Directors of the British-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce.