Medicine and public health rely on scientific discoveries that help develop more precise diagnostic and treatment methods, thereby improving patient care and quality of life. Dr. biol. Renāte Ranka is a tenured professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU). Her scientific interests focus on pharmacogenetics - a field that studies how individual genetic characteristics influence drug efficacy and safety.
"Every person is unique, which is why seemingly universal medical and pharmaceutical solutions do not always work equally well for everyone," explains the tenured professor and lead researcher at the RSU Institute of Public Health.
This realization is the foundation of R. Ranka’s work - understanding how the human genome determines drug effects and side effects to ensure the most precise and effective treatment for each patient.
One of Dr. biol. Renāte Ranka’s significant achievements is the establishment of the Pharmacogenetics Laboratory at the RSU Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. "Setting up the Pharmacogenetics Laboratory was a major challenge, but thanks to the experience we had already gained, we decided to go for it," she says. Currently, research conducted in this laboratory helps to understand drug metabolism and explore the possibilities of personalized medicine in Latvia.
One of the main current research topics is tuberculosis treatment. "From a pharmacogenetics perspective, it is a complex issue because the patient receives four different medications," explains Dr. biol. R. Ranka. The research team aims to uncover how various genetic factors, disease specifics, and drug combinations influence treatment effectiveness. "Once we understand the interaction between these four medications, the patient’s individual factors, and the disease’s impact, I believe that will be a significant conclusion to tuberculosis pharmacogenetics research."
Dr. biol. R. Ranka believes that science is a continuous journey of discovery: "Science is always a path into the unknown. If everything were already known, it would all be explored, and there would be no science."
Her work in pharmacogenetics helps expand the understanding of the human genome’s role in medicine and promotes the development of personalized therapies in Latvia and worldwide.
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About the “Science Calendar 2025”
This activity is implemented within the framework of the ERDF project No. 1.1.1.1/1/24/I/001 “More Effective and Smarter Implementation and Management of Latvia’s Science Policy”, carried out by the Ministry of Education and Science.
The project developers include the creative team of SIA "Entuziasti Digital", featuring Mārtiņš Pavasaris, video director Kristaps Mozgirs, and photographer Mārtiņš Goldbergs, as well as the researchLatvia team.
Since 2018, the Science Calendar "Research Latvia" and traveling exhibition have been created to promote awareness of Latvian scientists' achievements, enhance public understanding of the importance of science, and inspire young people to engage in scientific fields.