Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre

Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (BMC) is the leading scientific institute in molecular biology and biomedicine in Latvia. Since its establishment in 1993, it has evolved into a powerful scientific centre performing basic as well as applied research in three major directions: human genetics and disease mechanisms; cancer research; structural biology, biotechnology virology.

Research directions and competences

Human genetics and disease mechanisms; cancer research; structural biology, biotechnology virology.

Research projects and achievements

The BMC implements more than 50 research projects, which were approved in local and international project competitions (including Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe). BMC also provides contract research for more than 10 local and international companies. The total amount of research projects and contract research is more than 19 million EUR.

The BMC carries out research projects in all directions of its basic scientific activity, both as a lead partner and in cooperation with Latvian and foreign scientific institutions. The main cooperation partners in Latvia are:

1. The University of Latvia,
2. Riga Technical University,
3. Rīga Stradiņš University,
4. Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis,
5. LU Institute of Solid State Physics and others.

The main result of the implementation of research projects is new knowledge disseminated through scientific publications. Over the past 5 years, BMC researchers have published more than 350 papers that have more than 10,000 citations and the h5 index is 31, a higher indicator than all other Latvian research institutes. 29% of the publications are in the top 10% of research journals, and most (59%) publications were made in cooperation with foreign partners, including industry partners (7.5%), which is a higher indicator than on average in Latvian research institutes and universities.

In addition to fundamental and applied research, BMC participates in the realization of contract research with both Latvian and foreign research institutions and enterprises. For example, a prototype COVID-19 vaccine was developed in cooperation with a Swiss company, while in collaboration with CDCP, RTU and BIOR, monitoring of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater of Latvian cities is carried out, thus providing epidemiologically helpful information to the National Health Service and the Ministry of Health.

Longstanding research in the field of the human genome has provided the BMC with a leading role in the foundation and maintenance of the population genome database of Latvia (VIGDB). The long-term storage of all samples (> 40 000) in liquid nitrogen will be completed in 2023. VIGDB is the basis for Latvia's participation in the European 1+ million genome project, within the framework of which it is intended to determine the genome sequence of 3500 inhabitants of Latvia and to establish a genome reference for Latvia for further use in precision medicine.

Infrastructure

BMC infrastructure is concentrated in five core facilities:

1. Cell biology and microscopy core facility;
2. Laboratory animal service core facility;
3. Genome Centre;
4. Recombinant protein biotechnology core facility;
5. Bioinformatics core facility.

The Cell biology and microscopy core facility combines the knowledge, skills, and expertise of research personnel as well as gives centralised access to broad array of equipment. The core facility ensures maintenance, characterization and functional testing of mammalian cell cultures , as well as  development of new  cell cultures. The cell culture area is designed and equipped according to the biosafety level 2. There are three separated blocks for the work with (1) certified cell lines (i.e., obtained from ATCC, ECACC etc.), (2) clinical material to obtain primary cell cultures/lines, and (3) cell lines infected with non-pathogenic viruses or virus-like particles. The main cell culture area is complemented with a support room for washing and sterilization, several additional microscopy rooms and a biochemistry room. The facility ensures short-term and long-term storage of cells at -80oC and in liquid nitrogen tanks. The range of services offered by the core facility and contact information can be found here - https://biomed.lu.lv/services/core-facility/cell-biology-and-microscopy-core-facility/.

The Laboratory animal service core facility is designed following international standards for modern experimental animal facility. The main 180 m2 area within the facility is specific rodent pathogen free (SPF). Within the SPF area there are several functionally and microbiologically isolated units – i.e., quarantine, separate animal housing rooms for mice and rats/hamsters, immunologically deficient/compromised and transgenic mice, and separate ABSL3 room complex for the work with infectious models. All the animal housing rooms have adjacently located procedure/surgery rooms. Within the SPF area, rodents are housed exclusively in individually ventilated cages (IVCs). Outside the SPF area, there is a conventional open cage room for non-SPF rodent housing and an adjacent procedure room. The necessary level of biocontainment and bioexclusion within the facility is ensured by IVCs, pass-through autoclaves, automated cage washer, air shower, BLS2 level laminar hoods and cage changing stations, hydrogen peroxide vaporizer, as well as a specialized and HEPA filter controlled regulated ventilation system. The microbiological monitoring of rodents is performed by certified laboratories according to FELASA recommendations. The range of services offered by the core facility and contact information can be found here - https://biomed.lu.lv/services/core-facility/laboratory-animal-core-facility-2/.

The Genome Centre offers a variety of genetic research-related services and consultations to both local and international clients in various sectors related to molecular biology, biotechnology, and healthcare, fostering a collaborative research environment that is crucial for competitive interdisciplinary science and has become an integral part of life science research. Historically, it was established in 2005 to provide support and promote human genome research in Latvia, however, over the years, the highly qualified personnel of the Genome Centre and the modern technologies under its management have also contributed to a series of successful national and international collaborations (e.g. Latvian Pediatric Cancer Initiative, 1+Million Genomes Initiative). The successful operation of the Genome Centre is currently ensured by the National Biobank of Latvia and the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, which continues to expand its competencies and range of offered services. The range of services offered by the core facility and contact information can be found here - https://biomed.lu.lv/services/core-facility/genome-centre-2/.

The Recombinant protein biotechnology core facility offers the production of recombinant proteins by the choice of the appropriate expression system, optimization of the cultivation conditions of producer cells and elaboration of purification protocols. Mostly E.coli expression system is used for immunologically relevant proteins and virus-like particles (VLPs), but also yeast expression systems have been used in BMC. The range of services offered by the core facility and contact information can be found here - https://biomed.lu.lv/services/core-facility/core-facility-of-biotechnology-of-recombinant-proteins/.

The Bioinformatics core facility provides Next generation sequencing and population-wide genotyping data processing and analysis. However phylogenetic analyses and analysis of protein microarray data are also frequently being carried out. The mission of this unit is to provide support in big data analysis and disseminate all related knowledge not just to the researchers of BMC, but also to scientists from other Latvian research institutions.  The range of services offered by the core facility and contact information can be found here - https://biomed.lu.lv/services/core-facility/bioinformatics-core-facility/.

Leading researchers:

More information: biomed.lu.lv