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LATVIAN

BIOMEDICAL

RESEARCH AND STUDY CENTRE

RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN BIOMEDICINE FROM GENES TO HUMAN

Funding:  European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Measure 1.1.1.5 “Support for International Cooperation Projects in Research and Innovation”

Project Title: “Support for the integration of the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre into the European Research Area and Infrastructure objects”

Project No.: 1.1.1.5/18/I/006

Period: 1st July 2018 – 30 June 2023

Project costs: 447 613,33 EUR

Principle Investigator: Dr. biol. Aija Linē, Dr. biol. Zane Kalniņa

The aim of the project is to promote the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre participation in the implementation of the European Research Area cooperation projects, preparing at least 19 high quality cooperation project applications as well as involvement in the two infrastructures: the Biobanking and Bimolecular Resources Research Infrastructure – European Research Infrastructure Consortium  (BBMRI-ERIC) and European Structural Biology Integrated Infrastructure Consortium (INSCTRUCT).

Participation in the European Union (EU) Research and Innovation support program Horizon 2020 is an essential precondition for promoting science excellence, to promote international competitiveness, and strengthening the competitiveness of innovation-based industries. Therefore, the involvement of Horizon 2020 and other international research and innovation programs has been identified as one of the priorities of the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (BMC) Development Strategy 2015-2020.

Information published 02.07.2018.

Progress of the Project:

1 July 2018 – 30 September 2018

  • Information day on the Horizon 2020 Work programme took place at BMC.
  • BMC partnership proposals were posted at the EC Participant Portal.
  • Two project proposals were prepared and submitted to ERA-NET calls and one for MSCA-IF call.
  • Request to incorporate Latvia in the INSTRUCT-ERIC was prepared.
  • Representatives of the national BBMRI.LV network attended international conference “European Biobank Week” which took place in Antwerp, Belgium, where they discussed current issues in the biobanking field, gave an oral presentation and presented two posters.
  • Representatives of the national BBMRI.LV network visited all currently known biobanking institutions in Latvia and presented updates about the biological sample collections, informed about the latest BBMRI-ERIC activities and initiated negotiations about the Partnership Charter.

 Information published 28.09.2018.

Progress of the Project:

1 October 2018 – 31 December 2018

  • BMC staff was regularly informed about the open and forthcoming Horizon 2020 calls.
  • BMC partnership proposals were posted at the EC Participant Portal.
  • Four project proposals were prepared and submitted to various Horizon 2020 calls.
  • Representatives from BBMRILV national node participated in 21st BBMRI-ERIC Management committee meeting in London 8th-9th October 2018, where they represented interests of Latvian National node and obtained knowledge of future BBMRI-ERIC activities.
  • The BBMRILV national biobank network organized seminar “Use of medical data in research in Latvia: Experience and future challenges” (Riga, 16th November 2018), that gathered more than 50 representatives from research and governmental institutions and ELSI experts, that shared their experience and discussed data use in scientific research in Latvia.

Information published 28.12.2018.

Progress of the project:

1 January 2019 – 31 March 2019

  • BMC staff was regularly informed about the open and forthcoming Horizon 2020 calls.
  • Three project proposals were prepared and submitted to various Horizon 2020 calls.
  • An informative seminar about INSTRUCT-ERIC was held at BMC on 29th of January. Participants were informed about the INSTRUCT-ERIC structure and activities, and the research projects in the field of structural biology carried out at BMC and OSI. The seminar was attended by 40 participants from BMC, LOSI, RTU, LU and IZM.
  • Representatives from BBMRILV national node participated in 22nd BBMRI-ERIC Management committee meeting in Brussels 21st-22nd March 2019, where they represented interests of Latvian National node and obtained knowledge of future BBMRI-ERIC activities.
  • National Node participated in BBMRI-ERIC IT, ELSI and QM working groups, representatives of BBMRILV have participated in several webinars and surveys in relation to biobanking in Latvia within working groups.

Information published 29.03.2019.

Progress of the project:

1 April 2019 – 30 June 2019

  • BMC staff was regularly informed about the open and forthcoming Horizon 2020 calls.
  • Two second-stage and one first-stage project proposals were prepared and submitted to various ERA-NET calls.
  • Representatives from BBMRILV national node participated in 23nd BBMRI-ERIC Management committee meeting in Vienna, Austria on 12.06-13.06.2019,where they represented interests of Latvian National node and obtained information of future BBMRI-ERIC activities.
  • National Node participated in BBMRI-ERIC IT, ELSI and QM working groups; representatives of BBMRILV participated in several webinars and informed participants of the Latvian biobanking network bout the latest activities.
  • Five Latvian researchers – Kaspars Tārs, Jānis Rūmnieks, Gints Kalniņš, Kalvis Brangulis (all from LBMC) and Kristaps Jaudzems (LOSI) participated in the biannual INSTRUCT-ERIC conference on structural biology held in Madrid, 22.05-24.05.2019.
  • Latvian representative of INSTRUCT Kaspars Tārs participated in the INSTRUCT-ERIC management committee meeting in Florence.

Information published 28.06.2019.

Progress of the project:

1 April 2019 – 30 June 2019

  • BMC staff was regularly informed about the open and forthcoming Horizon 2020 calls.
  • BBMRILV members have continued participation in BBMRI-ERIC IT, ELSI and QM working groups and have attended several webinars and disseminated gained knowledge further to participants of Latvian Biobank network. In the field of quality managment, BBMRILV representatives have contributed to COST proposal “Good Standardisation Practice for biomedical research – GSPbmr” preparation that was initiated by BBMRI-ERIC QM working group, that is intended for the ensurace of biological sample quality for research and biobanking.
  • Within the group seminars, the Instruct-ERIC Latvian team discussed the topics from the scientific presentations of previously attended Instruct-ERIC biannual conference hold in Madrid. A group meeting was held, and a decision made to organize an Instruct-ERIC Latvia seminar and invite the representatives from all the laboratories that might be interested.

Information published 30.09.2019.

Progress of the project:

1 October 2019 – 31 December 2019

  • BMC staff was regularly informed about the open and forthcoming Horizon 2020 calls.
  • The national representatives of BBMRI-ERIC participated in the European Biobank week conference in Lubeck, Germany, October 7-11, where participants were introduced on the newest trends in biobank and human derived biological material area. The information was distributed amongst Latvian biobank network representatives. Within this conference, two posters were presented by the Latvian national representatives.
  • The work within the BBMRI-ERIC IT, ELSI and QM working groups was continued. BBMRI-LV representatives participated in two online seminars concerning the biobank quality management area and discussed the new biobank standard.
  • 16th October – participation in Instruct-ERIC 8th Council meeting, London. The presentations and discussions included Annual Instruct report, membership update, impact of Brexit on Instruct-ERIC and other issues.
  • 11th December – participation in Instruct-ERIC Executive Committee meeting (via TC). Presentation from Latvia included overview about national structural biology research groups, their capabilities and potential benefits from joining Instruct-ERIC.

Information published 30.12.2019.

Progress of the project:

1 January 2020 – 31 March 2020

  • The representatives of BBMRILV national node have continued to inform biobanking institutions in Latvia regarding the newest tendencies in biobanking in the world. The negotiations have been initiated to conclude national-level agreement based no BBMRI-ERIC Partner Charter with Riga Stradins University.
  • The work within the BBMRI-ERIC IT, ELSI and QM working groups were continued. BBMERI-ERIC have initiated to gather information about biobanking resources of COVID-19 research in Europe, the BBMRILV national node have gathered the required information form biobanking institutions in Latvia to be included in BBMRI-ERIC COVID-19 resource catalogue.

Information published 31.03.2020.

Progress of the project:

1 April 2020 – 30 June 2020

  • The representatives of BBMRILV national node have continued to inform biobanking institutions in Latvia regarding the newest tendencies in biobanking in the world. The national-level agreement based no BBMRI-ERIC Partner Charter has been concluded with Riga Stradins University. The negotiations have been continued with other biobanking institutions in Latvia for the conclusion of the agreement as well.
  • The work within the BBMRI-ERIC IT, ELSI and QM working groups were continued.
  • In relation to COVID-19 pandemic, BBMRI-ERIC has participated in the drafting of several research project proposals, Latvian national node has participated in the project proposal preparation webinars and informed BBMRI-ERIC on COVID-19 available samples in Latvia, that could promote the participation of Latvian biobanks in international projects.
  • Participation in Instruct-ERIC Council Meeting May13th 2020 (e-meeting)

Information published 30.06.2020.

Progress of the project:

1 July 2020 – 30 September 2020

  • The representatives of BBMRILV national node have continued to inform biobanking institutions in Latvia regarding the newest tendencies in biobanking in the world. The negotiations have been continued with other biobanking institutions in Latvia for the conclusion of the national level agreement as well.
  • The work within the BBMRI-ERIC IT, ELSI and QM working groups were continued.
  • BBMRILV have attended BBMRI_ERIC Management committee online meetings on August, 19th and September 9th. BBMRILV involved in the preparation of international project proposal in the field of rare diseases.
  • An agreement has been concluded with the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis for participation in the national structural biology infrastructure network Instruct-LV.

Information published 30.09.2020.

Progress of the project:

1 October 2020 – 31 December 2020

  • BBMRILV national node representatives Vita Rovite and Signe Mezinska have participated in Europe Biobank Week 2020 organized by BBMRI-ERIC (November 17th-20th, 2020) and have presented two e-posters about latest Latvian biobanking activities.
  • BBMRILV representatives have participated in management group meetings of BBMRI-ERIC (October 20th, November 4th, 2020) where the work plan 2021 of BBMRI-ERIC was discussed. Vita Rovite has participated in Quality management working group online-call with BBMRI-ERIC QM workgroup representatives and discussed issues regarding quality management in Latvian Biobanking network.
  • 10.2020 – participation in INSTRUCT-Eric council meeting
  • 12.2020 – participation in INSTRUCT-Eric extraordinary council meeting

Information published 30.12.2020.

Progress of the project:

1 January 2021 – 31 March 2021

  • BBMRILV representatives have participated in management group meetings of BBMRI-ERIC (on March 15th, 19th and 26th, 2021) where the decision on federated biobanking data platform outsourcing was reached and the participation in the next H2020 calls in the field of biobanking discussed. Vita Rovite has participated in a Quality management working group online-call seminar BBMRI.QM Newsroom. In February of 2021, BBMRI-ERIC Partner Charter was signed with the University of Latvia.
  • 01.2021 – participation in INSTRUCT-ERIC extraordinary council meeting about BREXIT updates.

Information published 31.03.2021.

Progress of the project:

1 April 2021 – 30 June 2021

BBMRILV representatives have participated in management group meetings of BBMRI-ERIC (on April 9th , 23rd, May 7th, 21st,  and June 11th , 2021) where participation of BBMRI-ERIC in the next H2020 calls was discussed, also new of BBMRI-ERIC working groups and other topics was discussed. Project staff have participated in a Quality management working group online-call seminar BBMRI.QM Newsroom on June 29th, 2021.

  • 05.2021: participation in 13th Instruct-ERIC Council meeting
  • 06.2021: participation in Instruct-ERIC Centres Forum
  • 06.2021: participation in Instruct-ERIC Quinquennial Review Planning Meeting

Information published 30.06.2021.

Progress of the project:

1 July 2021 – 30 September 2021

BBMRILV representatives have participated in management group meetings of BBMRI-ERIC (on July 9th, August 27th and September 10th and 24th, 2021) where the participation in the next H2020 calls in the field of biobanking and other latest activities were discussed. Representatives from Latvia have participated in meeting regarding COVID-19 research project ISIDORE, in with Latvian Biomedical Research and Study centre is participating as affiliated external entity.

On September 14, 2021 Instruct-Latvia organized 12th webinar in series “structure meets function”. Presentations were given by Instruct-Latvia members Kaspars Tars, Gints Kalnins and Kristaps Jaudzems.

Information published 30.09.2021.

Progress of the project:

1 October 2021 – 31 December 2021

BBMRILV representatives have participated in management group meetings of BBMRI-ERIC (on October 8th and 22nd, November 12th and 26th and December 10th, 2021) where the participation in the next H2020 calls in the field of biobanking, creation of federated biobank platform and work plan for 2022 was discussed. Representatives from Latvia have participated in the virtual annual conference European Biobank Week from November 8th to 10th, 2021, in this conference poster from Latvia was presented and Latvian representative Vita Rovīte conducted one of the conference sessions.

Information published 30.12.2021.

Progress of the project:

1 January 2022 – 31 March 2022

BBMRILV representatives have participated in management group meetings of BBMRI-ERIC (on January 21st, February 25th and March 25th, 2022) where the participation in the next H2020 calls in the field of biobanking and other latest activities were discussed. Representatives from Latvia have participated in meeting regarding COVID-19 research project ISIDORE, in with Latvian Biomedical Research and Study centre is participating as affiliated external entity and contributed as a partner to H2020 call application in field of cancer research.

Information published 31.03.2022.

Progress of the project:

1 April 2022 – 30 June 2022

From 18th to 20th June 5 five representatives from Latvia attended biennial Instruct-ERIC structural biolog conference in Utrecht, Netherlands. Following posters were presented:

  • Kaspars Tārs. Asymmetric cryo-EM structure of bacteriophage AP205 virion.
  • Elīna Černooka. Structural analysis of a divergent endolysin from Hafnia bacteriophage Enc34.
  • Gints Kalniņš. Plasticity of GRM2 type bacterial microcompartment shells.
  • Kalvis Brangulis. Structural and functional studies of outer surface proteins from Lyme disease causing agent Borrelia burgdorferi.
  • Eva Emīlija Česle. Structure and proteolytic properties of Ryegrass mottle virus serine-like 3C protease in complex with and without VPg cofactor.
  • Kristaps Jaudzems. Structural and mechanistic studies of spider silk N-terminal domains.

BBMRILV representatives have participated in management group meetings of BBMRI-ERIC (on April 29th, May 20th, June 24th) where the current situation in the creation of federated biobank platform was discussed, biobank key performance indicators were negotiated and the work plan for 2022 was discussed. On April 22nd, 2022, a national biobank network seminar “Biobank development for next-generation science needs and discoveries” were held, seminar attracted 30 on-site and 60-online attendees, that represented various biobanking institutions in Latvia.

Information published 30.06.2022.

Progress of the project:

1 July 2022 – 30 September 2022

BMC staff was regularly informed about the open and forthcoming Horizon Europa calls.

BBMRILV representatives have participated in management group meetings of BBMRI-ERIC (on July 15th, September 2nd and 23rd, 2022) where the participation in the next H2020 calls in the field of biobanking and other latest activities were discussed. Representatives from Latvia have participated in working group meetings in respective areas of IT, QM and ELSI. At the beginning of September Latvian National Biobank Network was presented at international Integromed and ICG-17 conference held in Riga.

Information published 30.09.2022.

Progress of the project

1 October 2022 – 31 December 2022

BMC staff was regularly informed about the open and forthcoming Horizon Europa calls.

BBMRILV representatives have participated in management group meetings of BBMRI-ERIC (on October 21st, November 25th, and December 16th, 2022) where the participation in the next H2020 calls in the field of biobanking and other latest activities were discussed. Representatives from Latvia have participated in working group meetings in respective areas of IT, QM and ELSI. The communication has been started and continued with Austrian partners about collaboration in framework of ISIDORE project.

Information published 30.12.2022.

Progress of the project:

1 January 2023 – 31 March 2023

BBMRILV representatives have participated in management group meetings of BBMRI-ERIC (on January 27th, February 24th and March 24th, 2023) where the participation in the next H2020 calls in the field of biobanking and other latest activities were discussed. Representatives from Latvia have participated in working group meetings in respective areas of IT, QM and ELSI.  In this time period also the information for BBMRI-ERIC Annual Report have been gathered form Latvian National node and submitted to BBMRI-ERIC.

Information published 31.03.2023.

Progress of the project:

1 April 2023 – 30 June 2023

BBMRILV representatives have participated in management group meetings of BBMRI-ERIC (on April 28th and June 2nd, 2023) where participation in the next H2020 calls in the field of biobanking and other latest activities was discussed. Representatives from Latvia have participated in working group meetings in respective areas of IT, QM and ELSI. On June 7th the national-level seminar “Role of biobanks in contemporary biomedicine” was organized and held, representatives of the largest biobanking institutions in Latvia took part and the newest tendencies of the field were presented, the discussion was held for further development of the biobanking field.

Information published 30.06.2023.