On November 28, 2025, the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS) and the Latvian Biomedical Research & Study Centre (BMC) held their first joint one-day conference at the University of Latvia House of Nature, marking a significant step toward establishing the National Institute of Research and Innovation (NIRI), planned for May 2026.
We welcomed representatives from the CERM/CIRMMP Infrastructure, and Dr. Alons Lends presented the upcoming MR LATVIA platform on behalf of the Laboratory of Physical Organic Chemistry. Prof. Kristaps Jaudzems also led a short excursion, highlighting the diverse scientific and educational opportunities available to future students at the University of Latvia Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences.
During the event, laboratory and group leaders from both institutes briefly introduced their work, teams, capabilities, and research directions. Students and postdoctoral researchers showcased their contributions during a dedicated poster session. Among the featured works was Jana Petkus’s poster, “Solution-state NMR Chemical Shift Assignment of the Full-Length VLP–Alpha-Synuclein Conjugate in Vaccine Formulations.”
The conference featured 15 presentations spanning medicinal chemistry, natural products, biomedicine, and biotechnology, underscoring the strong collaborative potential between LIOS and BMC.
The event brought together scientists and young researchers from both institutes to better understand each other’s expertise and identify opportunities for collaboration and joint research. As participants learned more about one another, a rich and diverse potential for cooperation emerged—potential that will strengthen and expand Latvia’s scientific impact.
In 2026, LIOS and BMC will unite to form NIRI, a single research centre operating on both banks of the Daugava River. This merger will create the largest life sciences research centre in the Baltics, enhancing national capabilities in drug discovery, medical technologies, and diagnostic innovation.