On 16 October this year, the report 'Align, act, accelerate' was presented in Brussels. It was drafted by a group of experts chaired by Manuel Heitor and focuses on how to strengthen the role of the European Union's (EU) research and innovation programmes in addressing Europe's common challenges and boosting competitiveness. Agrita Kiopa, Vice-Rector for Science at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU), also contributed to the report, focusing on strengthening research organisations and enterprises from all EU Member States, including Latvia.

Are future generations in Latvia at risk of potentially preventable brain development disorders due to iodine deficiency? The answer to this question will be revealed during the defence of the doctoral thesis titled 'Iodine supply to pregnant women in Latvia' by Vija Veisa, a doctoral student at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) and an assistant in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The thesis defence will take place on 5 November at the Hippocrates Lecture Theatre (RSU, 16 Dzirciema iela) and online.