This research describes a major fungal culture collection in Russia that preserves and studies mushroom species for scientific and practical uses. The collection maintains thousands of fungal strains that can produce valuable compounds for medicine and industry. The work helps preserve fungal biodiversity while enabling research into useful applications of fungi. Impacts on everyday life: – Helps preserve endangered mushroom species for future generations – Enables development of new medicines and therapeutic compounds from fungi – Supports production of industrial enzymes used in various consumer products – Advances understanding of fungi that could be used to break down pollutants – Maintains fungal resources that could be used to develop new antibiotics and antiviral drugs