From 19–22 May 2026, EBW26 will bring together the international biobanking community to discuss the future of biobanking, research infrastructure, quality, ethics, data and international collaboration.

We are pleased to share that Dr. Vita Rovīte, Head of the Latvian National Biobank – Genome Database of the Latvian Population and BBMRI.lv National Node Director, will co-chair Session 11B: Pediatric biobanking together with Prof. Dr. Roland Jahns.
Dr. Rovite has led the Latvian National Biobank since 2016 and plays a key role in strengthening Latvia’s participation in European biobanking networks, including BBMRI-ERIC. Her expertise combines biobanking, quality management and molecular biology, with research experience in functional genomics, neuroendocrine tumours and autoimmune diseases.
This participation highlights Latvia’s contribution to responsible, high-quality and internationally connected biobanking.

The Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (from 31 May National Institute of Research and Innovation (NIRI)) are the coordinator of the BBMRI-Latvia national biobank network, which implements the BBMRI-ERIC Latvian National Partnership Plan. This activity contributes to the achievement of performance indicators within 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”, co-financed by the European Union.