RSU scientific conference – opportunity to expand research

The annual Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) scientific conference was held from 22 – 23 March 2018 with 796 researchers from the fields of social sciences and healthcare presenting 351 papers on global and domestic issues in 15 different thematic panels. The 17th Annual Scientific Conference held by RSU brought together academics, researchers, undergraduates, residents and doctoral students eager to share their findings and research outcomes.

The conference was ceremonially opened on 22 March in the RSU Great Hall. In his opening speech, RSU rector Prof. Aigars Pētersons highlighted the outstanding achievements of RSU researchers in 2017 and advocated RSU research growth and development to be stepped up in the coming years, suggesting a ten-step programme for a leap in RSU research on an international scale.

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As Prof. Aigars Pētersons noted, the leap in research will help RSU to achieve research goals set in the long-term development strategy. The rector encouraged the improvement of cooperation at all levels of research, e.g. between researchers, academics, administration and industry, by creating new innovative and commercialisable products. We should also foster more extensive involvement of young researchers and accelerate research internationalisation.

RSU is intending to take future measures in attracting additional funding for research, e.g. Specific Aid Objective projects, grants by the Latvian Council of Science and EU funds. There will be an incentive system introduced for researchers and academic staff. A major step in the leap in RSU research will be the transformation of the RSU publication Zinātniskie raksti (Scientific Papers) into an internationally-recognised publication.

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RSU has defined its goal of becoming a contemporary, prestigious, university open to cooperation, recognised in Europe and worldwide and for this reason it is looking forward to expanding cooperation with domestic, Baltic and European universities in the area of studies and also research.

In the conference opening speech RSU Rector Aigars Pētersons congratulated everyone in attendance with this two-day opportunity to celebrate research, wishing everyone creative discussions and new ideas for further research, emphasising that, "RSU is paving the road to excellence in research and therefore I declare 2019 as the year of RSU research support!”

After the welcoming words by the RSU rector, the floor was given to President of the Latvian Medical Association Pēteris Apinis who congratulated the previous RSU rector and outstanding Professor of Surgery Jānis Gardovskis and presented to him the highest award of the Latvian Medical Association – 1st class honorary award Tempus Hominis: "On behalf of the Latvian Medical Association I would like to express our sincere appreciation to Jānis Gardovskis for devoting ten years to the university, medicine, education and science.”

Prof. Jānis Gardovskis expressed his gratitude for the award, recognising that after 10 years of administrative work in the capacity of RSU rector, he has returned to work with patients which gives him huge satisfaction, as the smile of a patient who is happy and has recovered is invaluable.

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The Director of the Research Department Assoc. Prof. Uldis Berķis reported on RSU research activity in 2017.

The total research funding attracted by RSU in 2017 was 3.5 million EUR, 12 new projects have been approved, 13 theses defended, 57 doctoral students admitted, patent applications have been filed for six new patents, two patents have been registered and several RSU researchers and academics have received recognition letters and awards for achievements in research etc.

Two new structural units in research (Institute of Public Health and Radiology Scientific Laboratory) have been set up and another one has been renewed (Military Medicine Research and Study Centre).

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The official opening ceremony was followed by a presentation by Head of A. Kirhenšteins Institute of Microbiology and Virology Assoc. Prof. Modra Muravska “The role of viral infections in the development of non-infectious diseases”.

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Assistant Professor Reinis Balmaks gave a presentation “Simulation as medical education and research environment”. The opening session of the conference was closed by a presentation by Assoc. Prof. Jānis Grasis “Problems in the prevention of money laundering in Latvia: historical heritage and the future.”

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The conference was organised in 15 thematic panels. In the RSU lobby it was possible to peruse numerous poster presentations and meet the authors of the research.