Dr. biol. Vita Rovīte Head of the Molecular and Functional Genomics Research Group, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre and Head of the Latvian National Biobank
Molecular genetics has been Vita’s specialisation since the beginning of herstudies. She has received recognition for her research on acromegaly, a rare endocrinepathology caused by a benign pituitary tumour overproducing growth hormone (GH), contributing to various comorbidities andcausing increased mortality. Vita and her colleagues’ research has also confirmed that the presence of a tumour in the pituitary gland (includingits aggressiveness and prognosis) can bejudged by a non-invasive method – specific blood tests. The data from this unique study have already been published in internationalscientific journals. Research and publicationson pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours arealso in progress, and cooperation with foreign partners has been established in this field.
Alongside her work as the Head of the National Population Genome Database,Vita is also the Latvian National Network Coordinator for the Biobanking Research Infrastructure for Europe (BBMRI-ERIC),contributing to the development of this field in Latvia and fostering internationalcooperation. Vita admits that science has been part of her identity since birth – her family’s daily life has been influenced by her mother’s professional life as a Doctor of Science. Perhaps it has also made her realise that, inscience, no serious result comes quickly and that developing different diagnostic methods,introducing new drugs and treatments andgaining a fundamental understanding ofdifferent diseases is a very complex and time-consuming process. Vita’s research group has focused on the mechanisms of neuroendocrine tumoursand autoimmune diseases, aiming to “fuse” neuroendocrine tumours and autoimmunediseases, i.e., to find out why neuroendocrinetumours form when autoimmune changesturn oncological. For example, whatautoimmune processes occur in atrophic gastritis, why immune cells destroy stomachcells and why stomach tumours develop. Vita’s research interests also include how the patterns of endocrine tumour developmentcould be ‘generalised’. For example, how can this unique “brake mechanism”, whichallows pituitary cells to divide and proliferateuncontrollably, but at the same time protectsthem from malignant transformation, be“transferred” to other cells? Vita’s research interests include hereditaryfactors that can influence the development of breast and prostate tumours. This study is looking for a specific set of genetic changes in the Latvian population that predict a higherrisk of breast cancer, indicating that womenshould start screening 5-10 years earlier than in the general population. This study has apotentially important role in health care for the earlier diagnosis and better treatment ofthese tumours, including reducing the highercosts of treating late detected tumours. Vita is also involved in the European 1+ Million Genomes initiative, a project to collect one million genome sequence data from peopleacross the European Union. This resource is to be used and analysed in research projects both in the context of different diseases and to understand and identify differencesbetween different European populations,while improving research, developing personalised healthcare and helping toshape healthcare policy more effectively.The project is expected to generate 3,500 complete genome sequences in Latviaover the next two years, which will then be included in a common European resource – the European Million Genomes Sample. Vita admits that research itself fuels herinterest and excitement – research results provide answers and questions, and helpher to persevere and stay passionate. The experience, expertise and knowledge gainedover the years now serve as an important basis for data analysis and interpretation,helping her to continuously develop as a person and a scientist.
The project "Research Latvia 2024" is implemented within the framework of the ERDF project “Integrated National Level Measures to Strengthen the Representation of Latvian Research and Development Interests in the European Research Area”, No. 1.1.1.5/17/I/002.