The heritage of Georgy Fedorovich Lang: study of besieged Leningrad residents as the basis for transgenerational research

This study examines the scientific contributions of Georgy F. Lang and his relevance to understanding cardiometabolic disorders in survivors of the Leningrad Siege and their offspring. The article provides an overview of key findings from longitudinal studies of Siege survivors conducted by Russian and European research groups. Current investigations focus on elucidating transgenerational inheritance mechanisms through analysis of a two-generation cohort in the survivors’ descendants. The comprehensive study is presently aimed to evaluate structural and functional characteristics of the cardio-vascular-renal-hepatic-metabolic continuum in first and second generation descendants of Siege survivors, in comparison to a population-based sample of St Petersburg residents. Contemporary researchers continue developing Lang’s theoretical framework by employing modern methodologies to establish evidence-based preventive strategies aimed at mitigating the negative health impacts of traumatic experiences across generations.