RSU Data Steward Participates in EP PerMed Training on Data Management in Personalised Medicine

From 5 to 6 February 2026, Paris, France, hosted the international training EP PerMed Training in Data Management in Personalised Medicine, organised by the European Partnership for Personalised Medicine (EP PerMed) in collaboration with the Portuguese and Norwegian ELIXIR nodes. The event brought together researchers, doctoral students, and data management specialists from across Europe to strengthen capacity in managing sensitive health and omics data. The Baltic States were represented by Viola Daniela Kiseļova, a data steward from the Latvian Data Stewards Network and Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU).

Photo from private archive

The training aimed to promote responsible and effective data use by equipping researchers, clinicians, and data professionals with the knowledge, skills, and best practice examples necessary for managing, sharing, and utilising biomedical data in the development of personalised healthcare solutions.

During the two-day intensive course, participants explored key challenges at each stage of the data lifecycle. Practical sessions introduced a range of data management tools: Beacon and the European Genome-phenome Archive (EGA) for locating and depositing omics data, Galaxy for demonstrating reproducible data processing and analysis workflows, Data Stewardship Wizard for developing data management plans and modelling storage costs, and Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) as an example of high-quality data collection and documentation. This approach enabled participants to connect theoretical principles with practical, everyday solutions.

One of the main takeaways from the training was the increasing value of data in modern science, which in many cases can surpass the importance of scientific publications. Consequently, reproducibility, thorough documentation, adherence to FAIR principles, and thoughtful data management have become the minimum standard of quality, especially when working with sensitive health data.

The event provided valuable knowledge, hands-on experience, and professional contacts for future collaboration, contributing to the strengthening and development of the competencies of the Latvian Data Stewards Network.