A bold new scientific journey has begun in Latvia.
On September 16th, 2024, the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS) hosted the Kick-off Meeting for an exciting new project: the creation of a world-class Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy Centre in Riga. Over the next three years, this cutting-edge facility will become a key hub for both fundamental and applied research, offering open access to scientists across Latvia and the Baltic region.
The meeting brought together leading researchers from France, Italy, and Latvia to launch the project and define its strategic direction. The initiative is led by Dr Alons Lends, a senior researcher at LIOS and expert in NMR spectroscopy.
“NMR spectroscopy lets us look inside molecules and see how they behave at the atomic level,” explained Dr Lends. “It’s a powerful tool, especially in drug discovery—like how an MRI helps doctors understand the human body, NMR helps researchers understand how medicines work on a molecular scale.”
To ensure the success of the centre, LIOS will work closely with two of Europe’s top NMR facilities:
- CRMN in Lyon, France
- CERM in Florence, Italy
These institutions bring decades of expertise and advanced technology, which will help train Latvian researchers and elevate regional scientific excellence.
Once established, the Latvian NMR Spectroscopy Centre will become a powerful platform for innovation—supporting projects in chemistry, biology, medicine, and materials science. Equipped with world-class instrumentation, the centre will attract scientists from across the Baltics and beyond.
The project, titled “Development of Magnetic Resonance in Latvia (MR LATVIA)”, is funded by the HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-02 programme, which promotes collaboration and research excellence across Europe and is funded by European Union.