Strengthening the research and innovative capacities of the

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

• Project acronym: Innova. Balt • Type of funding scheme: Coordination and support actions • Work programme topics addressed: REGPOT 2012 2013 1 • Total cost: 5. 2 million euro • Contribution of EC: 4. 7 million euro

Strategic objective of the project • to strengthen the multidisciplinary research capacities, management of intellectual property as well as human resources in the innovative drug discovery at Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis

Short term objectives of the project: • 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 end-users (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

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

Scientific Steering Committee • • • 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

Action plan of Innova. Balt project 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

Organizational structure EC WP 8 Management Project manager Maija Dambrova WP 1 A. Sobolevs WP 2 L. Ignatovich Project coordinator Ivars Kalvins WP 3 O. Pugovics WP 4 P. Trapencieris EU Partners Steering Committee for Research Strategy WP 5 D. Tirzite WP 6 I. Kalvins WP 7 G. Veinbergs

Work packages • WP 1. 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) • WP 2. Strengthening of the research potential of human resources • WP 3. Renewal of research equipment • WP 4. Organization of seminars and conferences • WP 5. Improving the management of Intellectual Property and enhancement of innovation potential • WP 6. Dissemination and promotional activities • WP 7. External Assessment of LIOS • WP 8. Management

WP 1 Exchange of experience and know how WP 1 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.

WP 2 Strengthening of the research potential of human resources WP 2 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

WP 3 Renewal of research equipment WP 3 leader: Dr. chem. Osvalds Pugovičs 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 4 Organization of conferences, seminars, trainings 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.

WP 4 Events • 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 “Balt. Drug” (May 2015) • Conference “Paul Walden 9 th Symposium” ( Autumn 2015) • BOS-2016 pre-conference roundtable (June 2016) • BOS-2016 conference (June 2016) • Participation of LIOS researchers in transnational events

WP 5 Improving the management of Intellectual Property and enhancement of innovation potential 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 6 Dissemination and promotional activities WP leader Dr. Biol. Dace Tirzīte Team: Edīte Mētere, Dr. Antons Ļebedevs, Dr. Aigars Jirgensons, Dr. Raivis Žalubovskis, Dr. Ronalds Zemribo Objectives: • • • Promotion of Innova. Balt 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 Innova. Balt

WP 8 Assessment of research and innovative potential of LIOS 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 7 Management of project 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

Overall organization WP 8 Project Management T 8. 1 Network management structure procedures WP 1 Exchange of experience and know-how WP 2 Reinforcing human potential T 2. 1 Recruitment of experienced researchers T 1. 1 Staff exchange planning T 1. 2 Implementation of outgoing visits T 8. 3 Project technical co-ordination and quality policies T 8. 2 Administrative and financial management WP 3 Renewal of research equipment T 3. 1 Ccomputer cluster WP 4 Organization of seminars and conferences T 4. 1 Organization of conferences T 3. 2 Crystallization robot T 2. 2 post-doctoral researchers T 3. 3 Zetasizer Nano T 4. 2 Participation in conferences T 5. 1 Recruitment of experienced IP manager T 5. 2 Development of IP policy T 3. 4 New imaging Technologies T 1. 3 Implementation of incoming visits WP 5 Improving the management of IP and enhancement of innovation potential T 5. 3 Staff exchange and training WP 6 Dissemination and promotional activities T 6. 1 Elaboration of dissemination strategy T 6. 2 Exploitation of Innova. Balt results T 6. 3 Providing Information to industry and SMEs WP 7 Assessment of LIOS T 7. 1 Kick-off meeting of the Experts group T 7. 1 Communication and interaction with Expert group T 7. 3 Evaluation report and recommendations for Strategic Plan Innova. Balt the leading centre for drug discovery in Baltic region T 7. 4 Workshop on evaluation results

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

The main strategic impacts • 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.

Future expectations • The implementation of Innova. Balt 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.

Thank you for attention! Paldies par uzmanību!