Strengthening the research and innovative capacities of the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, the leading Baltic regional centre for drug discovery
Dr. Pharm. Maija Dambrova, Manager

• Establishment and strengthening the long-lasting scientific collaboration and strategic partnership between LIOS and outstanding research institutions in ERA
• Increasing the innovation and improving of management of intellectual property through collaboration and attraction of external professionals
• Upgrading the research infrastructure at LIOS to promote the capacity for the high level research on innovative drug development;
• Increasing the visibility of LIOS in ERA
• Ensuring the synergy between research on innovative drug development and endusers (SMEs, industry, clinics, patients’ organizations)
• Reinforcing the strategic development of LIOS to improve the response to socio-economic needs of Baltic region in health area

Centre de RMN à Très Hauts Champs, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon
Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius University
France
Lithuania
Tartu University
University of Antwerp, Antwerp Drug Discovery Network
RWTH Aachen University
Uppsala University
Aalto University
University of Florence
Leiden University
Eurice Ltd
University of Zurich
Estonia
Belgium
Germany
Sweden
Finland
Italy
The Netherlands
Germany
Switzerland

• Representative from Latvian Ministry of Education and Science
• Professor Raimonds Valters from Latvian Academy of Sciences
• Dr. Andis Slaitas, managing director of Syntagon Baltic
• Professor Ari Koskinen from Aalto University, Finland
• Professor Daumantas Matulis from the Institute of
Biotechnology, Lithuania
• Professor Ad IJzerman from Leiden University, the Netherlands
•
Professor Claudiu Supuran from University of Florence, Italy
• Dr. Eriks Kupce Bruker Biospin, UK
• Professor Edvards Liepinsh from LIOS
• Professor Gunars Duburs from LIOS

Cardio vascular diseases
Cancer
Diabetes and obesity
Neuro degenerative diseases
Infectious diseases
Multidisciplinarity: chemical synthesis, molecular modelling, pharmacological activities,targeted drug delivery forms, green chemistry
Advanced IP management and protection, innovation capacity building
Training of young and experienced researchers
Collaboration with stakeholders (policy makers, SMEs, industry, universities, hospitals, patient organizations, society)
Integration in European research area to contribute in the solution of current socio-economical needs in health area

WP8 Management
Project manager
Maija Dambrova
EC
Project coordinator
Ivars Kalvins
Steering Committee for
Research Strategy
WP1
A.Sobolevs
WP2
L.Ignatovich
WP3
O.Pugovics
WP4
P.Trapencieris
WP5
D.Tirzite
WP6
I.Kalvins
WP7
G.Veinbergs
EU Partners

• WP1. Exchange of experience and know-how ( via international two-way secondments of experienced and young researchers of
LIOS with researchers from excellent and complementary European research centres)
• WP2. Strengthening of the research potential of human resources
• WP3. Renewal of research equipment
• WP4. Organization of seminars and conferences
• WP5. Improving the management of Intellectual Property and enhancement of innovation potential
• WP6. Dissemination and promotional activities
• WP7. External Assessment of LIOS
• WP8. Management

WP1 leader: Dr. chem. Arkadij Sobolev
Task leaders : Dr.chem. Kristaps Jaudzems,
Dr. pharm . Edgars Liepiņš, Dr. chem. Aiva Plotniece,
Dr. pharm. Maija Dambrova
Exchange of know-how and experience via international two-way secondments of experienced scientists and young scientists between the LIOS and leading scientific institutions in the ERA
– to explore the opportunities for building of lasting networks
– to gain the access to complementary equipment, data observations and ideas.

WP2 leader Dr.hab,chem. Lubova Ignatovich
Objectives :
• To increase the LIOS research capacity and experience in new directions of drug discovery by recruitment of experienced researchers
• To increase the international-level transfer process of accumulated knowledge and technologies through the reintegration of experienced researchers from abroad
• To increase the research potential of existing laboratories by recruitment of post-doctoral researchers
The project foresees the recruitment of 8 experienced researchers and 6 post-doctoral researchers

WP3 leader: Dr.chem. Osvalds Pugovi čs
Task leaders: Dr.chem. Kristaps Jaudzems, Dr. pharm . Edgars Liepiņš,
Dr. chem. Aiva Plotniece
Objectives :
1. Acquisition of modern equipment and tools necessary for innovative drug development
2. Upgrading the research equipment

WP leader Dr. Chem . Pēteris Trapencieris
Task leaders : Dr. Aiva Plotniece, Dr. Maija Dambrova, Dr. Arkādijs
Soboļevs, Dr. Kristaps Jaudzems, Dr. Raivis Žalubovskis, Dr.
Osvalds Pugovičs, Ieva Jaunzeme
Objectives:
• To facilitate the knowledge transfer at the national, regional and international levels
• To increase the visibility of LIOS by dissemination of the results of Latvian scientists in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry of heterocycles, structure-activity relationships, experimental chemotherapy and pharmacology to the international scientific community.
• To strengthen the long-lasting scientific collaboration between
LIOS and partnering organisations in ERA.

• Workshop “ Ready for Horizon 2020 ” (Winter 2013/2014)
• Seminar “ Advanced antiinfective drug design ” (Spring 2014)
• Workshop on publication writing for scientific journals and on popular science (Autumn 2013)
• Seminar „ Biophysical methods in drug discovery ” (Spring 2014)
• Seminar „ Protein production techniques ” (Spring 2014)
• BOS-2014 pre-conference roundtable (June 2014)
• Workshop „ Competitive proposal preparation for Horizon 2020 ”
(Autumn 2014)
• Gustavs Vanags memorial conference ( Autumn 2014)
• Conference “ BaltDrug ” (May 2015)
• Conference “ Paul Walden 9th Symposium ” ( Autumn 2015)
• BOS-2016 pre-conference roundtable (June 2016)
• BOS-2016 conference (June 2016)
• Participation of LIOS researchers in transnational events

WP leader Prof.I.Kalvins
The strategy of this WP is based on 3 principles :
• development – by providing the strategic Intellectual Property development plan for the effective management of IPR and efficient technology transfer process
• collaboration – with governmental institutions, research, academia, industry, technology transfer centres and other stakeholders on the issues of innovation and IPR; by networking with partnering organizations
• awareness – by training and education of experienced and early stage researchers as well as entrepreneurs on the IPR and technology transfer issues

WP leader Dr. Biol.Dace
Tirzīte
Team: Edīte Mētere, Dr. Antons Ļebedevs, Dr. Aigars
Jirgensons, Dr. Raivis Žalubovskis, Dr. Ronalds Zemribo
Objectives:
• Promotion of InnovaBalt within the scientific community of Europe
• Dissemination of information on advanced innovative medicine development to the industry sector and other stakeholders
• Providing the information for society on topicalities in innovative drug development and results of InnovaBalt

WP leader Dr.chem Grigorijs Veinberg
The evaluation of LIOS’ overall research quality and capability by high-level independent experts, nominated by European Commission.
The evaluation will give essential contribution in the definition of the further Strategic plan to strengthen LIOS research and innovation capacities essential for the regional economical and social development as well as promoting the integration of LIOS in the ERA activities.

WP leader Dr.pharm Maija Dambrova
Management board: financial director of LIOS Dace Karkle
Dr. Edgars Suna, Dr. A. Jirgensons, Dr. Edgars Liepinsh
Objectives:
• Setting up the appropriate monitoring, coordination and communication procedures in order to ensure that project is implemented in a timely and cost effective manner in accordance with applicable EC guidelines and national legislation rules
• Ensuring that EC financial and administrative procedures are respected and reports and cost statements are provided in time

WP8
Project
Management
T8.1 Network management structure procedures
T8.2 Administrative and financial management
T8.3 Project technical co-ordination and quality policies
WP1
Exchange of experience and know-how
T1.1 Staff exchange planning
T1.2 Implementation of outgoing visits
T1.3 Implementation of incoming visits
WP2
Reinforcing human potential
T2.1 Recruitment of experienced researchers
T2.2 post-doctoral researchers
WP3
Renewal of research equipment
T3.1 Ccomputer cluster
T3.2 Crystallization robot
T3.3 Zetasizer
Nano
T3.4 New imaging
Technologies
WP4
Organization of seminars and conferences
T4.1 Organization of conferences
T4.2
Participation in conferences
WP5
Improving the management of IP and enhancement of innovation potential
T5.1 Recruitment of experienced
IP manager
T5.2 Development of IP policy
T5.3 Staff exchange and training
T6.1 Elaboration of dissemination strategy
WP6
Dissemination and promotional activities
T6.2 Exploitation of InnovaBalt results
T6.3 Providing
Information to industry and SMEs
T7.1 Kick-off meeting of the
Experts group
WP7
Assessment of LIOS
T7.1 Communication and interaction with Expert group
T7.3 Evaluation report and recommendations for Strategic Plan
T7.4 Workshop on evaluation results
InnovaBalt the leading centre for drug discovery in Baltic region

Measure
Upgrading of LIOS infrastructure
Recruitment researchers experienced in technology transfer issues
Recruitment of specialist in Intellectual property management issues
Staff echange in the area of knowledge transfer and IP issues
Elaboration of Strategic Intellectual
Property development plan for LIOS
Trainings on Intellectual property management issues
Impact on innovation
•Increasing the possibilities to use contemporary methods in the research and technology development;
•Possibility to use upgraded infrastructure to regional research and industry community.
•Increasing the innovation capacity;
•Organization of optimal environment for technology transfer and innovation.
•Strengthening the technology transfer unit;
•Providing the optimal management of Intellectual
Property, including rights.
•Obtaining the best experience in innovation and technology transfer issues
•Providing the optimal exploitation of existing innovation capacity of LIOS.
•Increasing the capacity of regional research and industry institutions on protection of Intellectual
Property, including rights.
Networking with industry (joint research, activities, dissemination of knowledge, exploitation of results)
•Providing the long-lasting capacity of innovation.
Conferences, workshops, seminars
•Providing the knowledge on topicalities in the area of innovative medicine discovery.

• Contribution to the research, technology and innovation capacity building in Baltic region :
– by strengthening human capacity
– improvement of technology environment and
– management of intellectual property
– promotion of collaboration between research centres
– facilitating of cooperation with industry.
• Strong integration in ERA: through long-lasting partnership with selected European research centres
• Improved participation in FP Horizon 2020 and other European research programmes’ activities:
– increasing the skills and awareness about the preparation of competitive proposals and
– improving the management skills
– networking with other research centres and industry
– establishing new partnerships.

• The implementation of InnovaBalt project will result in 1.5 times increase in number of SCI publications co-authored by LOSI personnel and 1.2 times increase in number of registered international patents
• Reinforced IPR culture is expected to facilitate the collaboration with business sector and improve the score of
Latvia and Baltic region in the Global Innovatin index.
• LIOS will become the distinguished centre of research and innovation in the Baltic region in the field of medicinal chemistry and pharmacology and will provide the contribution in the solving of socio-economic needs of European society.