DSc, Professor, chief researcher at the Laboratory of Cytogenetics of the Research Institute of Carcinogenesis, N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Oncology Center, Ministry of Health of Russia; leading specialist in molecular and genetic basis of tumor growth.

In 1986–2014, Pr. Kopnin was the head of the Laboratory of Cytogenetics of the Research Institute of Carcinogenesis.

Pr. Kopnin’s research on the mechanisms of carcinogenesis are widely known in Russia and internationally, including his original research on previously unknown features of р53 and Ras proteins.

He serves at the deputy head of the Expert Board of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research on physiology and medicine.

In 2003–2008 he was an expert at the Committee on Fellowships of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) (Geneva). 

Pr. Kopnin has authored more than 300 scientific articles and monographs. Pr. Kopnin is a member of the editorial boards of the Biochemistry, Clinical Oncohematology, Bulletin of Blokhin ROC, Advances in Molecular Oncology journals and others.