Baltic Metabolic Group Meeting 2026
16–17 April 2026 @ Hotel Monika, Rīga, Latvia
Aim of the Meeting
The meeting aims to promote the exchange of knowledge and experience in the following areas:
- Inherited metabolic disorders
- Advanced diagnostic approaches
- Clinical case management
- Newborn genetic and biochemical screening
- Multidisciplinary patient care
Over two days, the programme will include keynote lectures, clinical case presentations, expert discussions, and a dedicated international workshop.
Why Attend
The Baltic Metabolic Group Meeting 2026 offers a unique regional platform for advancing expertise in inherited metabolic disorders.
Participants will have the opportunity to:
- Learn about the latest diagnostic developments in inborn errors of metabolism, including emerging biochemical and genetic testing approaches
- Review and discuss complex clinical case reports presented by specialists from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
- Exchange practical experience in patient management within a multidisciplinary framework
- Attend lectures delivered by leading European experts in metabolic medicine
- Participate in the dedicated GestaltMatcher workshop, exploring AI-supported facial phenotype analysis in rare genetic and metabolic disorders
The meeting combines regional case-based learning with international expertise, fostering collaboration and strengthening metabolic medicine across the Baltic States.
About the Baltic Metabolic Group
The Baltic Metabolic Group was formally established on 27 March 2007 in Tartu, Estonia. Its purpose is to unite physicians, biochemists, and other specialists working in the field of inherited metabolic diseases across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, strengthening regional collaboration and expertise in rare metabolic disorders. Since then, meetings have been organised regularly and have rotated between Vilnius, Rīga, and Tartu. From the beginning, the primary focus has been the discussion of complex and unsolved clinical cases, including expert consultations and the exchange of diagnostic and clinical experience.
Invited Speakers
Professor Maurizio Scarpa is a leading European expert in inherited metabolic diseases. As Head of MetabERN, he coordinates cross-border collaboration and clinical expertise in rare metabolic disorders across Europe. His work focuses on improving diagnostic pathways, patient care standards, and international cooperation in rare disease management.
Dr Flavia Piazzon is an expert in genetic and biochemical newborn screening. Her clinical and research work focuses on early detection strategies for inherited metabolic disorders and optimisation of screening programmes to improve long-term patient outcomes. She also is the subinvestigator for more than 20 clinical trials in rare metabolic and neuromuscular diseases in Marseille, France.
Professor Peter Krawitz is a specialist in medical genetics and digital phenotyping. He is one of the developers of GestaltMatcher, an artificial intelligence-based tool designed to support the diagnosis of rare genetic disorders through facial phenotype analysis. During the workshop, participants will gain insight into practical applications of artificial intelligence in clinical diagnostics.
Certification
Participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance with 16 CME credits.
Certificates will be issued after the meeting to registered participants who have attended the event.
Programme
The two-day scientific programme includes:
- Keynote lectures
- Clinical case discussions
- GestaltMatcher workshop session
- Networking opportunities
- Agenda (draft)
16 April
10:30–11:00 Buffet and coffee 11:00–11:05 Opening Part I 11:10–11:40 Artificial intelligence and metabolism diseases
Prof. Maurizio Scarpa, IT (online)11:50–12:20 Clinical trials and inborn errors of metabolism
Dr. Flavia Piazzon, BE12:30–12:50 TBA 13:00–14:00 Lunch Part II 14:00–14:30 Ultrarapid long-read genome sequencing for critically ill
Dr. Dmitrijs Rots, LV/NL14:40–15:10 An overview of the results of untargeted metabolomics
Dr. Elis Tiivoja, EST15:10–15:40 Genomic newborn screening and biochemical screening
Dr. Flavia Piazzon, BE15:50–16:20 Buffet and coffee Part III 16:20–16:30 Fabry disease in infancy
Dr. Karit Reinson, EST16:35–16:45 Two cases of siblings with MPS VII, with hydrops foetalis
Mrs. Lauma Freimane, LV16:50–17:00 Nonketotic hyperglycinemia: story of timely diagnosis and treatment
Dr. Rasa Traberg, LT17:05–17:20 Wrap up of the day, closing remarks 17 April
Part IV 8:30–9:00 The results of the questionnaire of quality of life for patients with rare diseases
Dr. Kaia Liiv, EST9:10–9:40 MetabERN: Real-Life Opportunities for Patient Care
Prof. Maurizio Scarpa, IT (online)9:50–10:20 Development and implementation of PKU care pathway in Lithuania
Prof. Birutė Tumienė, LT10:30–11:00 Coffee break Part V 11:00–12:30 Workshop from Gestaltmatcher
Prof. Peter Krawitz, DE12:30–13:30 Lunch Part VI 13:30–13:50 The recent updates on mitochondrial diseases studies in adults in Latvia
Inna Inaškina, LV13:55–14:10 Resolved Case of Suspected Mitochondrial Disease Following a Prolonged Diagnostic Odyssey
Dr. Gita Tauriņa, LV14:15–14:30 MT-ATP6 related mitochondrial disease with polyneuropathy and basal ganglia lesion
Dr. Sabīne Laktiņa, LV14:35–14:50 From Symptoms to Sequencing: Exploring TMEM70-Associated Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Two Patients
Dr. Eglė Narmontienė, Dr. Aušra Matulevičienė, LT14:55–15:10 Clinical case of Kearns–Sayre syndrome
Dr. Ieva Grīnfelde, LV15:10–15:30 Coffee break Part VII 15:30–15:45 Clinical case of porphyria
Dr. Lauma Jaunozola, LV15:50–16:05 Overview of Latvian GA1 patients
Dr. Marija Rozevska, LV16:10–16:25 Two Rare Inborn Errors of Metabolism, One Patient: A Case Report
Dr. Gabrielė Cibulskaitė, Dr. Evelina Vaitėnienė, LT16:30–16:45 Case presentation
TBA16:50–17:00 Closing remarks, future plans
Registration
Registration is mandatory.
Register (deadline: 2 April 2026)
Participation Fees
- Baltic Metabolic Group members – free of charge
- On-site participants:
- 30 EUR – non-member physicians / specialists onsite
- 15 EUR – non-member physicians / specialists online
- 5 EUR – non-member students onsite
- 0 EUR – non-member students online
Practical Information
Venue
The meeting will take place at the Hotel Monika in central Rīga, offering modern conference facilities and convenient access for international and regional participants.
Accommodation
Participants are welcome to stay at Hotel Monika, the official conference venue.
A special accommodation rate is available for registered participants.
After completing the conference registration, participants will receive an individual promotional booking code by email. The promotional rate is subject to availability. Participants are encouraged to book early.
Organising Committee
Dr Madara Auzenbaha is Chief Physician in the field of Rare Diseases at the Clinic of Medical Genetics and Prenatal Diagnostics, Children’s Clinical University Hospital, Rīga. She is Associate Professor and Leading Researcher at the Institute of Oncology and Molecular Genetics, Rīga Stradiņš University.
She serves as a Leading Specialist in Rare Diseases at the Ministry of Health of Latvia, is the National Coordinator of Orphanet in Latvia, and a Board Member of the European Reference Network (ERN).
Dr Gita Tauriņa is Head of the Clinic of Medical Genetics and Prenatal Medicine at Children’s Clinical University Hospital, Rīga, Latvia. Her clinical work focuses on medical genetics and prenatal diagnostics.
Dr Zita Krūmiņa is a clinical geneticist in an outpatient clinic and assistant professor at Rīga Stradiņš University, with extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of inherited genetic disorders.
Professor Zanda Daneberga is a researcher at the Institute of Oncology and Molecular Genetics, Rīga Stradiņš University, and a certified laboratory geneticist at Children’s Clinical University Hospital. Her expertise includes advanced biochemical investigations and molecular diagnostic methods in rare and inherited disorders.
Dr Ieva Mičule is a medical geneticist at Children’s Clinical University Hospital, Rīga, specialising in clinical genetics and rare disease diagnostics.
Dr Marija Rozevska is a medical geneticist at Children’s Clinical University Hospital and a researcher at the Institute of Oncology and Molecular Genetics, Rīga Stradiņš University. Her work focuses on inherited genetic and metabolic disorders.
Dr Linda Gailīte is Head of the Latvian Society of Human Genetics. She is a Leading Researcher and certified laboratory geneticist at the Institute of Oncology and Molecular Genetics, Rīga Stradiņš University, with expertise in molecular diagnostics and rare genetic diseases.
Supporters
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Contacts
Linda[pnkts]Gailite
rsu[pnkts]lv
Madara[pnkts]Auzenbahabkus[pnkts]lv
