A top scientist who was “working on a Covid-19 vaccine” was found dead in suspicious circumstances.
Biologist Alexander “Sasha” Kagansky, who had close ties to the University of Edinburgh, was reported to have fallen into underwear from a window on the 14th floor of a tall residential building in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The 45-year-old, best known for his work fighting cancer, had a stab wound to his body, according to the Russian newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets.
The Russian investigative committee has opened an investigation into the murder and a 45-year-old suspect has been detained.
Dr. Kagansky – an assistant professor at Vladivostok – worked in Edinburgh for 13 years until at least 2017.
(Image: Alexander Kagansky)
(Image: Alexander Kagansky)
He was director of the Center for Genomic and Regenerative Medicine at the Federal University of the Far East in Russia, Vladivostok, where he continued his research collaboration with the Scottish University.
MK reported that the academician was “developing a coronavirus vaccine” and that he had died “in strange circumstances.”
The report did not provide further details on which of the many international Covid-19 vaccines would have worked.
He went to St. Petersburg to visit the graves of his relatives and went to an old friend at school, said one account.
According to a report, police believe there was a “fight” before Mr Kagansky fell.
(Image: Alexander Kagansky)
(Image: Alexander Kagansky)
His body was found by a woman living under a block of flats on Saturday afternoon.
Law enforcement is investigating the circumstances of his death, reports say.
The committee said today that a 45-year-old St. Petersburg resident had been detained as a suspect and a criminal case for murder had been opened following the discovery of the body “with signs of violent death.”
Between 2005 and 2012, he worked at the Wellcome Trust Center for Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, as a postdoctoral research associate, then a senior research associate.
He recently received a Russian grant to study new ways to diagnose and treat malignant brain tumors.
(Image: Alexander Kagansky)
He has been a supporter of research into the use of herbs and fungi as a potential solution to cancer.
He had previously studied and worked in the United States.
In 1991, with the collapse of the USSR, he was the first Russian delegate to the European Youth Parliament.
He was also a member of the Young Academy of Scotland.