What is BBMRI-ERIC?
BBMRI-ERIC - Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure is European Research Infrastructure, that aims to unite all current and future European biobanks (repositories of biological materials and associated data), to concentrate and coordinate research resource availability for health research and improvement. BBMRI-ERIC Latvian National Node - BBMRI.LV is BBMRI-ERIC infrastructure national coordinator in Latvia, that is developed according to statutes of organization with task to create national biobank network in Latvia and to ensure interaction with BBMRI-ERIC. Ministry of Education and Science has nominated Latvian Biomedical Research and Study centre as national node of BBMRI.LV and Dr. Vita Rovīte as national node director. It is planned that Latvian national biobank network will be created by the institution that maintain biological material collections for research purposes. The Latvian national network input in BBMRI-ERIC will be biological samples and associated data with corresponding quality, as well as resources for data obtainment, processing and storage in form of various services.
BBMRI-ERIC has created interational biobank catalogue Directory with aim to facilitate exchange of biological materials and promote scientific collaboration.
BBMRI-ERIC Directory catalogue is available here.
Latvian national node activities
Latvia has participated in development of BBMRI-ERIC structure, statutes and work principles. Latvian Biomedical Research and Study centre has participated in 7th framework project BBMRI-Large Prospective Cohorts (BBMRI-LPC) implementation (2013-2017). During this project the information about largest biobanking institutions in Latvia have been gathered, that could further develop Latvian Biobank network. Several informative seminars organized about development and maintenance of biobanks, therefore introducing stakeholders about BBMRI-ERIC activities and importance of bioresource availability for research. BBMRI.LV has been involved in several important BBMRI-ERIC-related projects, such as ADOPT (Adoption and Use of BBMRI-ERIC for Health Improvement), ISIDORE (Infectious Disease Pandemic Research), CAN.HEAL (Unified Breeder Genomics Platform in Europe) and is currently participating in BBMRI-Evolve project.
Courses organized by BBMRI.LV
- Lecture course "Development, maintenance and practical application of biosample collections", April 23th, 2014. National courses.
- Practical course “Application of biobanks: Next Generation Sequencing data analysis”, from March 31st, 2015 to April 2nd, 2015. National courses.
- Practical courses “From blood to sequence”, from November 28th, 2016 to December 2nd, 2016. International courses.
Seminars organized by BBMRI.LV
- National seminar "BBMRI-LV – road to national biobank network", November 11th, 2016.
- National seminar "Latvian national biobank network – BBMRI.LV", March 16th, 2018.
- National seminar "Use of medical data for research in Latvia: experience and future challenges", November 16th, 2018.
- National seminar "Biobanks - sustainable resource for improvement of the public health", November 11th, 2019.
- National seminar "Development of biobanks for next generation science and discoveries", April 22nd, 2022.
- National seminar "The role of biobanks in modern biomedicine", June 7th, 2023.
Contacts
BBMRI-ERIC Latvian National Node
Institute of Research and Innovation
Mailing address: Ratsupites Str. 1 k1., Riga, LV-1067, Latvia
Telephone: (371) 20279873
E-mail: bbmri.lv@biomed.lu.lv
