Photo: Dr. Dina Niculaes trains BMC and OSI colleagues in the use of GCI equipment

On March 25–26, 2026, the Latvian national research site of Instruct-ERIC, Instruct-LV, continued its series of staff training sessions on working with structural biology infrastructure at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (OSI) and the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (BMC).

This time, the focus was on mass photometry—a method for determining the mass of macromolecules and their complexes, which can be used both in fundamental research (for example, to study protein interactions) and in applied research (for example, in vaccine development). The sessions were led by Dr. Dina Niculaes, a representative of the UK-based manufacturer of mass photometers, Refeyn.

During the mornings of both days, the theoretical part took place in a hybrid format (in-person and remote), attended by approximately 30 researchers from OSI and BMC. In the afternoons, the practical sessions focused on hands-on training in the use of the mass photometer. During the training, samples of interest to BMC and OSI researchers were used, such as virus-like particles and components of bacterial microcompartments.

Training courses on other Instruct-LV infrastructure equipment will also continue in the future.

The Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre is implementing project No. 1.1.1.5/3/24/I/006 “Development of Latvia’s research potential by strengthening the integration of the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre into European infrastructures and scientific networks”, within which the Latvian National Partnership Plan of the Integrated Structural Biology Infrastructure (Instruct-ERIC) is being implemented.