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Work experience

2014 - Present

Leading Researcher (Research)

RSU Institute of Oncology, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics

2014 - Present

Acting Assistant Professor

Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biology and Microbiology

2014 - 2019

Head of the Embryology laboratory

SIA "Novella Medical"

2008 - 2016

Biotechnologist Cell Transplantation Centre, Pauls Stradins Clinical University hospital

Cell Transplantation Centre, Pauls Stradins Clinical University hospital

2005 - 2013

Researcher

Laboratory of Bioanalytical methods and Biodosimetry, University of Latvia

2005 - 2013

Researcher

division of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia

2002 - 2005

Visiting scholar

Retinoid research laboratory, Department of Food Sciences and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University

2000 - 2001

Research assistant/technician

Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Genetics, University of Regensburg

1997 - 2000

Technician

Laboratory of microorganism and plant genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia

Education and training

2005 - 2011

Dr.biol.

University of Latvia

Title: "Effect of retinoid acid on THF-beta2 protein and mRNA synthesis during early cardiovascular development in vivo and in vitro"

 

Supervisors:

Ph.D.biochem., prof. Maija H.Zile

Dr.habil.biol., prof. Indrikis Muiznieks

 

Opponents:

Dr.habil.biol., prof. Pauls Pumpens (Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia)

Dr.habil.med., prof. Vija Zaiga Klusa (Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia)

Ph.D.biochem., prof. Margus Pooga (Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Estonia)

1999 - 2000

Master’s degree of Life Sciences in Biology

University of Latvia

Title: "DNA-methyltransferase gene analysis in Volvox carteri"

 

Supervisors:

Porf. Rudiger Schmidt

Prof., Indrikis Muiznieks

 

Opponent:

Prof.Elmars Grens

1995 - 1999

Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences in Biology

The University of Latvia

Title: "Factors involved in formation of deletions caused by CpG-rich promoter regions of ret-protooncogene"

 

Supervisor:

Prof. Indrikis Muiznieks

Achievements

Apbalvojumi

 

L'Oreal and UNESCO award "For Women in Science", in collaboration with Latvian Science council in year 2010. ​

 

Kursi

 

  • 2015. june - ERASMUS mobility programme at Cancer research UK institute Cambridge, UK.

    2013. august - IBRO (Interantional Brain Research Organisation) course (80 hours) "Neuroscience" Riga, Latvia

    2012. october - at the University hospital of Ulme, (Universitatesklinikum Ulm, Klinik fur Herz-, Thorax and Gefachirurgie), Ulm, Germany

    2012. february - Flow cytometry course IFCC/ESCCA Beckman Coulter Flow Cytometry course for advanced users, Leipzig, Germany

    20122. december - qPCR biostatistics course about qPCR analysis and gene expression profiling, TATAA Biocenter, Prague, Chezh Republic

    2009. december - practical studies on work with human embryonic stem cells, INSERM laboratory (prof., M.Puceat), Evry, France

    2009. march - Flow cytometry in oncohematology course in St.Petersburg University Diagnostics laboratory, St Petersburg, Russia

    2007.june, 2008. june - Transplatation laboratory at ERASMUS Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands

    2007.may - Beta cell differentiation courses, University of Bath, Bath, UK and Strasbourg, France

    2006.june - practical methods on Langerhans island isolation and preparation for transplantation in type 1 diabetes patients, and learning on GMP facilities in the University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden

    2006.august - Baltic summer school for PhD students "Stem Cell Biology", University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany

    2000.february - course in electronmicroscopy at University of Regenburg, Regensburg, Germany

     

 

Supervised study course

Horizontal Gene Transfer

Head of study course

 

Horizontal Gene Transfer

 

Lectured study course

Human Molecular Biology

Molecular Biology and Genetics

Topical Issues and Research Trends in Biomedicine

Supervised and reviewed student research papers

 

 

Supervised:

Master's theses: 7

Bachelor projects: 6

qualification papers: 8

 

Reviewed:

doctoral theses: 2

Master's theses: 9

Bachelor projects: 15

qualification papers: 12

 

Projekti

 

Riga Strains University project "Recapitulation of transcriptomic and phenotypic features of primary tumours in 3D organoid and spheroid cultures in vitro as potential model system for personalised medicine", Nr. 5.1./127/2019 principal investigator.

National research programm "Biomedicine for public health", 2014 – 2017, senior researcher. Main aim is to identify chemotherapy-resistant breast cancer cells. Identification of different cell types in patient material and comparison to existing breast cancer cell lines.

Riga Stradinš University project "Reconstruction of breast cancer genetic evolution based on proteomics in cancer cell cultures", 2014 – 2016, senior researcher. Analysis of the cells on protein level from breast cancer patients before and after therapy.

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) project "Development of prophylactic skin regenerating polysaccharide and glycoprotein containing products of plant and fungal origin, use of them to elaborate compositions for hygiene and cosmetic products", 2012-2014, researcher. Testing products containing polysaccharides and glycoproteins on dermal fibroblasts and reference cell cultures, also using co-cultures of dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes.

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) project "Extraction and characterization of medical peat and its stabilization for use for hygiene and cosmetic products", 2012-2014, researcher. Medical peat extract testing on dermal fibroblasts and reference cell cultures.

A collaboration project (Riga Stradinš University, Riga Technical University and University of Latvia) supported by National Research program's activity 4.5 "New materials and technologies for biological tissue examination and replacement" 2010-2012, researcher. Isolation of rabbit mesenchymal cells from the subcutaneous abdominal fat and prepration of the cells for testing in vivo together with biomaterials for bone regeneration.

 

Dalība biedrībās, organizācijās u.tml.

 

since 2011, an expert of Science Council of Latvia

since 2006, a member of Association of Latvian Young Scientists​

 

Awards and recognitions

Annual award of University of Latvia for "PhD thesis of the year", year 2011.

​Scolarship for PhD studies supported from project "Supprot for PhD studies at University of Latvia" ESF (Nr. 2009/0138/1DP/1.1.2.1.2/09/IPIA/VIAA/004), 2009-2010.

 

 

 

Publikācijas

 

Alterations of the stem-like properties in the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 induced by single pulsed doxorubicin treatment

Pirsko, V., Čakstiņa, I., Nitiša, D., Samoviča, M., Daneberga, Z., Miklaševičs, E.

Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Section B: Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences, 2019, 73(2), pp. 89-99.

 

An effect of culture media on epithelial differentiation markers in breast cancer cell lines MCF7, MDA-MB-436 and SkBr3

Pirsko, V., Cakstina, I., Priedite, M., Dortane, R., Feldmane, L., Nakazawa-Miklasevica, M., Daneberga, Z., Gardovskis, J., Miklasevics, E.

Medicina (Lithuania), 2018, 54(2),11

 

Electrically active and 3D porous TiO2-x ceramic scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration

Narkevica, I., Stipniece, L., Jakobsons, E., Cakstina, I., Ozolins, J.

Journal of the European Ceramic Society 2017, 37(2), pp. 833-840

 

Cartilage-derived extracellular matrix extract promotes chondrocytic phenotype in three-dimensional tissue culture.

Youngstrom DW, Cakstina I, Jakobsons E.

Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol. 2016 May;44(3):1040-7. doi: 10.3109/21691401.2015.1014091. Epub 2015 Feb 24.

 

Role of genetic factors on the effect of additional loading doses and two maintenance doses used to overcome clopidogrel hyporesponsiveness.

Latkovskis G, Urtane I, Knipse A, Peculis R, Cakstina I, Klovins J, Erglis A.

Medicina (Kaunas). 2014;50(1):19-27. doi: 10.1016/j.medici.2014.05.004. Epub 2014 Jun 6.

 

Primary culture of avian embryonic heart forming region cells to study the regulation of vertebrate early heart morphogenesis by vitamin A.

Cakstina I, Riekstina U, Boroduskis M, Nakurte I, Ancans J, Zile MH, Muiznieks I.

BMC Dev Biol. 2014 Feb 19;14:10. doi: 10.1186/1471-213X-14-10.

 

Transforming growth factor beta2 is negatively regulated by endogenous retinoic acid during early heart morphogenesis.

Ghatpande SK, Zhou HR, Cakstina I, Carlson C, Rondini EA, Romeih M, Zile MH.

Dev Growth Differ. 2010 Jun;52(5):433-55. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-169X.2010.01183.x.

 

Contacts

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Colleagues

Ilze Grope
Dean, Academic Staff
Jana Pavāre
Dean, Academic Staff
Ludmila Vīksna
Head of the Department, Academic Staff, Chair, Convent of Councillors
Jānis Gardovskis
Head of the Unit, Academic Staff, Chair of the Senate
Sandra Lejniece
Dean, Director of Study Programme
Ivars Vanadziņš
Academic Staff, Director
Dace Gardovska
Head of the Department, Academic Staff, Director of Strategic Relations, Member of RSU Council
Andris Jumtiņš
Head of the Department, Academic Staff, Member of RSU Council
Guntis Bahs
Vice-Rector for Health Studies, Academic Staff
Ilze Konrāde
Academic Staff, Director of Study Programme
Maija Eglīte
Head of the Department, Academic Staff
Ilona Hartmane
Academic Staff
Regīna Kleina
Academic Staff
Juta Kroiča
Head of the Department, Academic Staff
Gaida Krūmiņa
Academic Staff