Doctor of Chemical Sciences Valerjans Kauss received a Letter of Appreciation from the Ministry of Economics at the beginning of October for his lifelong contribution to promoting collaboration between science and industry. Dr. Kauss established and has led the Laboratory of Active Compounds of the Central Nervous System at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS) since 2002, dedicating his work to the research and development of treatments for nervous system diseases and anti-inflammatory drugs.
When asked what he considers his most valuable professional contribution, Dr. Kauss said: "Our small team of LIOS scientists succeeded in the 1990s in achieving what chemists at the German pharmaceutical company Merz had been unable to accomplish for years.
Through creativity, ingenuity, and hard work, we generated such interest from the company that they moved their drug research to us in Latvia - LIOS. Based on this collaboration, the laboratory for active compounds of the CNS was established and modernly equipped with funding from the German company. Significant resources flowed into research and the Latvian economy. This research base and equipment provided many young natural sciences specialists and researchers with the opportunity to develop their bachelor's, master's, and doctoral theses. This multi-year success story contributed to the development of LIOS, the formation of a new generation of scientists, and undeniably to the Latvian economy, which was recognized with a Letter of Appreciation," Dr. Kauss concluded with satisfaction.
Since 2021, the researcher has concluded his active work, but he remains an honorary member of the LIOS Scientific Council and a corresponding member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences.