Yuri Anatolyevich Ovchinnikov (Russian: Овчинников, Юрий Анатольевич; 2 August 1934 – 17 February 1988) was a Soviet chemist who contributed to bioorganic chemistry and biochemistry.

It is highly unlikely that he would have advanced so far, so quickly, in the scientific arena without the full and enthusiastic engagement of the Soviet political system.

[2] It was in this latter context that Ovchinnikov was appointed to the highly secret Interdepartmental Scientific-Technical Council on Molecular Biology and Genetics - known also by the coded designation P.O.

[4] In 1984, for example, he was able to secure reported US$300 million funding from the Soviet government for the construction of palatial new quarters for his institute which consisted of thirteen interconnected seven-storey buildings which from above described a huge DNA double helix.

Occupying an area of 85,000 square metres it was generously equipped and had an annual budget of a reported 100 million roubles.