RSU opens Laboratory of Sports and Nutrition Research

Photos: Courtesy of RSU

On Tuesday, 2 December, the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Laboratory of Sports and Nutrition Research was officially opened on the 6th floor of Block A in the RSU main building (16 Dzirciema iela). The event was attended by Agrita Kiopa, RSU Vice-Rector for Science; RSU Chancellor Toms Baumanis; Klāvs Indriksons, Acting Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Acting Vice-Rector for Health Studies; as well as cooperation partners from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium), the Ministry of Education and Science, Riga Technical University, the Latvian Olympic Committee, and other invited guests.

Opening the event, Assoc. Prof. Dace Reihmane, Expert at the Laboratory of Sports and Nutrition Research, emphasised: 

‘This is the first research laboratory in Latvia equipped with devices for detailed testing of body composition and performance.

We have a strong team of researchers representing various fields – sports scientists, pharmacists, biochemists, nutrition scientists, and others. It is an important platform for researchers, students, and the industry. Several interdisciplinary projects are already being carried out in the laboratory in cooperation with local and international partners, such as the MFYS research group from Belgium and the Xlab research group from Denmark. We are truly delighted that

the results of our research make a significant contribution to the study of oncology, ageing and the functional abilities of athletes, and other issues important to society.’

The laboratory was established to study the impact of physical activity, acute exercise load, and nutrition on health, promoting the development of scientific excellence at RSU and the university’s international recognition. Its task is to identify mechanisms that improve physical fitness and support recovery, as well as to analyse biochemical and physiological processes at both the human and cellular levels. The laboratory integrates sports science into its research and works closely with the RSU Latvian Academy of Sport Education (RSU LASE).

The laboratory operates as a core facility for researchers and industry partners, as well as supports the study and continuing education processes. It uses modern research equipment, including metabolic analysers (Cosmed Q-NRG Max), body composition measurement technology (DEXA scan), and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (Cosmed Quark CPET), which enable high-precision examinations and research in various projects.

In recent months, the laboratory has undergone extensive infrastructure modernisation – changing rooms and showers have been built, office space has been created and equipped, and all the necessary facilities have been adapted for full-scale work.

 Currently, four projects are being implemented in the laboratory: 

• National research project Innovations, methodologies and recommendations for the development and management of the sports sector in Latvia. The aim of the project is to develop innovations to enhance sports performance, methods for monitoring athletes’ health and functional capacities, improve the effectiveness of training methodology outcomes, and develop a methodology for mapping sports infrastructure and compiling statistical indicators.
• Systemic and muscle tissue-specific metabolic adaptations to exercise and polyphenol supplementation in aging: modulatory effects of sestrins. The aim of the study is to understand the biological mechanisms underlying the loss of muscle mass and function in older adults and to develop interventions to increase healthy life expectancy. 
• Tumour cell response to acute aerobic exercise in breast cancer survivors: modulatory effects of exercise type and intensity. The project studies the impact of physical activity on the growth of breast cancer cells by analysing biomarkers that characterise inflammatory processes. It has already been discovered that the intensity of physical exercise affects the growth rate of breast cancer cells. Further, the research will focus on identifying the factors responsible for the beneficial effects of physical activity.
• Physical activity for prevention of breast cancer recurrence: a longitudinal study of molecular mechanisms. The project studies the beneficial effects of physical activity on the physical health and quality of life of breast cancer patients. The research results indicate that physical exercise performed during therapy has a positive impact on the treatment process and on patients’ well-being 1.5 years after completing therapy.