From 24 to 28 November 2025, the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS) and the MR LATVIA project team hosted representatives from the CERM/CIRMMP Infrastructure (Florence, Italy) for an intensive week of scientific exchange, strategic planning, and inter-institutional collaboration. The visit marked an important milestone in strengthening Latvia’s position within the European high-field NMR and life-science research landscape.
The programme officially began on 25 November with a seminar by Dr. Francesca Morelli, who shared real-world experiences in research infrastructure coordination and project management. The session provided valuable insights into best practices for complex, multi-country scientific collaborations. Following the seminar, the delegation toured key LIOS laboratories, including the Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology (Prof. Maija Dambrova), the Laboratory of Organic Synthesis (Dr. Jānis Veliks), and the Biotechnology Group (Dr. Emilio Parisini). A dedicated technical discussion in the Laboratory of Physical Organic Chemistry concluded the day, allowing participants to explore ongoing research activities and future cooperation opportunities.
On 26 November, the visiting team joined the 4th Inter-Institutional Management Webinar, hosted by CERM/CIRMMP and attended by partners from OSI, CRMN Lyon, LBMC, Lithuania, Estonia, the University of Latvia, and Riga Technical University. Later that day, the delegation visited the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (LBMC) for a focused exchange with local experts in molecular biology and biomedicine. The visit highlighted shared scientific interests and opened the door for several new collaborative initiatives.
The third day, 27 November, was dedicated to MR LATVIA’s internal development and long-term planning. LIOS and CERM/CIRMMP representatives held an in-depth review of the project’s upcoming deliverables and milestones for January 2026. This was followed by a strategic workshop on WP5 – Future Perspectives and Sustainable Operation of the Latvian NMR Centre, bringing together experts including Dace Kārkle, Kristaps Jaudzems, Francesca Morelli, and Natalja Jarohnovica. The day concluded with a networking dinner in central Riga, fostering informal discussions and strengthening professional ties.
The visit culminated on 28 November with the 1st LIOS/LBMC Conference, held at the University of Latvia House of Science. The event gathered researchers from LIOS, LBMC, and international partner institutions to present recent results and discuss emerging directions in magnetic resonance, structural biology, and biomedical science. The conference underscored the growing importance of coordinated national and international initiatives in advancing research excellence.
The week-long visit demonstrated the strong commitment shared by LIOS, MR LATVIA, CERM/CIRMMP, and partner institutions to building a sustainable and highly connected NMR research infrastructure in Latvia. It also highlighted the value of regular in-person interaction for advancing scientific collaboration and supporting the development of next-generation research capabilities.
This visit was organised within the framework of the MRLATVIA project (Development of Magnetic Resonance in Latvia) and funded by the HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-02 programme. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency.