Mikhail Shchepinov

Mikhail S. Shchepinov (born 1965, Moscow, USSR ) is a biochemist working in bioorganic chemistry, nucleic‑acid microarray technology, and the development of isotope‑reinforced essential nutrients, including deuterated polyunsaturated fatty acids (D‑PUFAs). He is a co‑founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Retrotope, Inc., a biotechnology company developing drug candidates based on the use of stable isotopes to increase the resistance of biomolecules to oxidative damage.

Early life and education Shchepinov grew up in Chernogolovka, a scientific town north of Moscow. In the late 1970s he was first exposed to autocatalytic processes, by discussing explosions with Nobel laureate Nikolay Semyonov. contributing to early advances in nucleic‑acid microarray platforms.

Research contributions Shchepinov has reported that amino acids and nucleic acids can both be reinforced with heavy stable isotopes, with surprising protective effects. The strongest protection has been observed for D‑PUFAs, even at relatively low incorporation levels. This work has contributed to understanding the protective effects of deuterated lipids and the role of lipid oxidation in cell‑death pathways, suggesting that lipid peroxidation may represent a common upstream factor in multiple disorders

Industry roles After leaving academia, Shchepinov held positions in biotechnology companies including Tridend Technologies.

Isotope‑reinforced therapeutics In 2006, Shchepinov co‑founded Retrotope, Inc., to develop the use of stable isotopes to stabilize essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) against lipid peroxidation.

Publications Book Breaking the Chains of Aging (2025) is a popular‑science book by Shchepinov that discusses the role of lipid peroxidation in aging and examines the potential use of D-PUFAs as a therapeutic strategy. The book highlights that lipid peroxidation—despite its involvement in numerous diseases and fundamental aging processes—remains comparatively under‑recognized in mainstream biomedical discourse, and presents the topic for a general readership.