Sechenov University: High-performance liquid chromatography: LMS simulator

2025: Introducing a web simulator to teach students how to work on a high-performance liquid chromatograph

Employees of the Department of Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Chemistry named after A.P. Arzamastsev Institute of Pharmacy named after A.P. Nelyubin First Moscow State Medical University, together with industry experts, have developed a digital product - the computer program "High-performance liquid chromatography: LMS simulator." The program will help future pharmacists, biotechnologists, as well as students of technical and chemical universities learn how to conduct chromatographic analysis (a method of separating and analyzing complex mixtures of substances) on specialized expensive equipment - a high-performance liquid chromatograph. This equipment is used in the pharmaceutical industry - for quality control of drugs and many other areas. The university announced this on February 18, 2025.

Unlike existing VR simulators, web programs and applications for mobile devices used to teach high-performance liquid chromatography, the digital product created at Sechenov University visualizes all the work of an analyst specialist - from the moment an analytical sample is prepared, the chromatograph is operated, working with software, to decoding chromatograms and writing reports. According to Elena Bakhrushina, Associate Professor of the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology at the A.P. Nelyubin Institute of Pharmacy, project manager of the Center for Competence in Pharmacy and Biotechnology, the simulator software completely repeats the software of the main chromatographs used to obtain chromatograms and work with them. This allows students to apply the knowledge gained in practice immediately after training. And high-level graphics based on the filming of a modern, fully equipped laboratory with a 360 ° camera allow students to fully immerse themselves in the future profession. The program works on both PC and mobile devices.

The LMS simulator operates in two modes - training, where video materials and tooltips are available, and in the examination. Students are offered a choice of several cases devoted to the analysis of pharmacopoeial active substances for training and passage. The full training cycle, including video materials and workouts, takes about eight hours. If during the exam the user makes a critical error, then he will have to pass from the beginning. Students who have successfully passed the program are admitted to practice on real chromatographs, which are equipped with laboratories of the departments of the Institute of Pharmacy of Sechenov University.

The program is intended for a wide range of users - not only students in the specialties "Pharmacy," "Biotechnology," but also students of technical and chemical universities who will use chromatographic analysis in their work. In the future, updated versions of the program will contain an increased level of complexity. This will allow you to use the simulator for training young specialists, improving their qualifications and holding professional olympiads.

Our simulator will be useful to everyone who would like to connect their future professional activities with the field of pharmaceutical and chemical analytics, - said Elena Bakhrushina. - Successful passing of the LMS simulator and passing the exam may indicate the readiness of the student to work, which will have a positive effect on his employment opportunities in the selected area.

In November 2024, the training simulator was already introduced into the program of additional professional education "High-performance liquid chromatography: LMS-system," designed for 36 academic hours. It was studied by master's students and graduate students of the Institute of Pharmacy of Sechenov University. In 2025, the Center for Pharmacy and Biotechnology Competencies of the Institute of Pharmacy plans to launch a full-scale DPO for all students of the First Moscow State Medical University and university partners.