On October 9–10, the international Precision Medicine Networking Forum “PMNET Forum 2025” took place in Riga, gathering in person more than 500 participants – scientists, doctors, entrepreneurs, patients, and policymakers from Europe, the USA, and Asia. The forum was held for the fourth time, advancing initiatives and projects that position Riga as an important Northern European center for precision medicine innovation and collaboration.
In her address, Ieva Jāgere, Director of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, emphasized that precision medicine is the foundation of future healthcare: “Precision medicine is based on an individualized approach, where genetic and molecular data help ensure that each patient receives the most appropriate treatment. It is not just science – it is an opportunity to create a healthier society and a stronger economy.”
Experts from the USA, Western Europe, Scandinavia, and the Baltic States participated in the forum, including Dr. Lu Wang (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, USA), who shared insights on personalized approaches in pediatric oncology. Collaboration was also launched with the International Asian Cancer and Chronic Disease Screening Network.
A structured health data environment – a prerequisite for progress
As reported, this year’s Precision Medicine Networking Forum also marks an expansion of cooperation with leading European scientific centers. To implement these projects, it is essential to establish an organized health data environment. The Biobank Law, currently under consideration in the Saeima, is traditionally one of PMNET’s priority issues.
During the panel discussion “The Role of Biobanks in Precision Medicine,” participants discussed key issues related to the benefits of adopting the Biobank Law in Latvia, its importance for innovation and research development, possibilities for integrating data into e-health, necessary funding solutions and support mechanisms, and how biobank regulation could benefit medicine, prevention, and screening. It was noted that developing biobanks and their associated data collections will not bring instant acceleration, but it will lay an essential foundation for the future development of science and medicine – benefiting society as a whole, especially future generations.
Participants agreed that there are neither significant objections nor opponents to the upcoming biobank regulation – its adoption is likely in the near future. One of the most essential steps for further development was identified as public engagement, as well as measures and funding to support it.
Cooperation memoranda for advancing research and treatment
Traditionally, several important cooperation memoranda are signed within the framework of the Precision Medicine Networking Forum, aiming to make the latest therapies more accessible to patients and to improve the use of health data.
The Riga Technical University (RTU), SIA “Mikrotīkls,” and the Artificial Intelligence Center signed a memorandum of cooperation to establish an AI Data Center for early cancer diagnostics and biomedical research.
With the support of a donation from SIA “Mikrotīkls,” an AI data server will be set up at the RTU High-Performance Computing Center by the end of this year. It will be available to RTU and other research centers, providing powerful infrastructure for data analysis and AI solutions.
The Biobanks and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure – European Research Infrastructure Consortium (BBMRI-ERIC) partnership charter between the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (BMC) and the Children’s Hospital was also signed, ensuring the hospital’s full participation in the Latvian National Biobank Network.
Collaboration was also launched between the Children’s Hospital and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (USA) – a memorandum was signed to cooperate in pediatric oncology and rare diseases. During her visit, Dr. Lu Wang met with specialists from the Children’s Hospital, gave a lecture on molecular pathology methods, and participated in pediatric panel discussions.
The ELIXIR National Agreement confirms the commitment of partners – RSU, LU, BMC, and BKUS – to strengthen collaboration in life sciences, bioinformatics, and systems biology, developing the ELIXIR-LV infrastructure. The agreement aims to promote open, reproducible, and high-quality science, and responsible research data and software management in line with FAIR principles, while maintaining high ethical, legal, and technical standards in accordance with ELIXIR’s mission and strategy.
The Latvian National Agreement on participation in the EATRIS European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) confirms the partners’ commitment to developing translational medicine in Latvia, strengthening EATRIS-LV infrastructure, promoting scientific excellence, and introducing new diagnostic and therapeutic solutions into practice, in line with ethical and regulatory standards.
The BBMRI-ERIC Partnership Charter confirms the organization’s intent to participate in BBMRI-ERIC and its readiness to follow the organization’s best practice guidelines. Until now, the charter has been signed between the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, University of Latvia, and Rīga Stradiņš University. During the PMNET Forum, it was also signed by the Children’s Clinical University Hospital, thereby becoming a partner organization of the Latvian Biobank Network.
Innovations for the future of healthcare
On October 10, the healthcare innovation hackathon i-Days 2025 concluded, where the RSU student team “VitaEase” won first place with a solution – a microneedle sensor that, when connected to a patient’s smart device, monitors heart activity and key health indicators after surgery. The team will represent Latvia at the European finals in Paris in November. The hackathon was organized by RSU in cooperation with EIT Health.
During the partners’ session, the long-term research platform BioPhoT was presented, aiming to develop at least 35 new technologies by 2032, more than half of which will reach validation and four will reach commercialization. Platform coordinator Osvalds Pugovičs emphasized: “BioPhoT is a new innovation development format that will strengthen Latvia’s competitiveness in high technology.”
“The patient’s voice must be louder”
Special attention during the forum was devoted to patient organization involvement. Representatives of the Rare Disease Alliance strengthened patient network collaboration, discussing effective networking strategies and event formats. As moderator Marta Augucēviča noted after the panel discussion “How to strengthen patient organizations and encourage their involvement in research and innovation projects?”: “Open and regular communication between patients, doctors, and researchers is the key to everything – only through dialogue can we build truly meaningful cooperation and sustainable solutions, including in science.” Meanwhile, Sanita Siņica emphasized that “the voice of rare disease patients in precision medicine must be louder,” noting that she has been part of the organizing team for three years. The role of donors in the development of biobanks was also discussed.
“If my DNA or a drop of blood can help me, my relatives, and many others better understand the causes and development of diseases, I choose to give – because science alone cannot move forward,” said Juris Beikmanis, Chairman of the Rare Disease Alliance.
About the Forum
The PMNET Forum confirms that Latvia is becoming a regional hub for precision medicine collaboration, bringing together science, healthcare, and business. The next PMNET Forum will take place in Riga on October 8–9, 2026.
The forum is organized by the Children’s Hospital Foundation, Children’s Clinical University Hospital, Rīga Stradiņš University, Latvian Children’s Oncology Foundation, the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Health, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, and several patient organizations, in cooperation with the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, the American Chamber of Commerce in Latvia, the University of Latvia, Riga Technical University, Riga East Clinical University Hospital, and Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital.
More information about the forum’s program and speakers is available at www.pmnetforum.com.
The event is supported by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA). The project “Development and Continuous Operation of a Comprehensive Innovation System Management Model” is financed by the European Union Recovery Fund. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission is responsible for them.
