University of Latvia

The University of Latvia (UoL), Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine, with its 17,000 students, 13 faculties and more than 20 research institutes is one of the largest comprehensive and leading research universities in the Baltic States. The integral and essential part of studies is exercises and practice for students of UoL in the affiliated university hospitals with the largest of them Riga East University Hospital containing several specialized clinical centers including Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Center. Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine of UoL is established to support medical research, translation of research into practice and promote evidence-based medicine and medical education. There is also a wide collaboration in the field of scientific work with several scientific institutions of Latvia, which gives an opportunity to strengthen the academic knowledge and motivates to focus upon the favoring the development of science and take part in the scientific research projects.

Main tasks attributed in the A-PATCH project:

UoL will be committed to the demonstration of the A-Patch, i.e. recruitment of patients with tuberculosis, verification of the disease state, obtaining clinical information in a structured way and obtaining samples for tuberculosis confirmation tests. The tasks assigned to UL within the project are:

Lead WP6
Participate and contribute to WP1, WP2, WP6, WP7, WP8
Legal approvals for the demonstration work, including approval by the ERB
Selection of the relevant group of tuberculosis patients and control group individuals, validation of the diagnosis and clinical information, referral for additional investigations
Investigating the feasibility and efficiency of A-Patch for detecting active tuberculosis and monitoring tuberculosis treatment efficiency.
Performance and applicability of A-Patch communication platform for disease progress and transmissibility evaluation.

UoL will be involved in the evaluation of the obtained results, with respect to the clinical issues.

Prof. Dr.med. Mārcis Leja

Leading researcher, Doctor – gastroenterologist, Expert in oncology and oncological screening

Mārcis has responsibility for medical research at the University of Latvia with. His educational and research activities are concentrated on the prevention of gastrointestinal malignancy, screening, and early diagnostics. He has been leading number of international and national projects in the research field and is an active member of several international organizations, member of several guideline development and expert groups (including for IARC – International Agency for Research on Cancer). Member of Editorial Board in 4 international journals and reviewer in approx. additional 15 journals.

Research interests: Use of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in the early detection of cancer and pre-cancerous conditions, screening diagnostics and prevention options; H.pylori infection and related diseases; new diagnostic methods, functional diagnostics.

Dr. Ģirts Šķenders

Researcher, Laboratory doctor

Ģirts has 15 years of experience of diagnosing tuberculosis and drug-resistant tuberculosis at National TB reference laboratory, has participated in two EU FP7 Collaborative Projects – TB PAN-NET and FAST-XDR- DETECT, has acted as temporary advisor for WHO and ECDC for assessment and optimization of TB laboratory services in several countries.

Research interests: Improvement of tuberculosis diagnostics, tuberculosis epidemiology, TB diagnostics and new TB drug clinical trials.

Dr. Andra Cīrule

Head Doctor of Centre of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases.

Research interests: Tuberculosis and MDR tuberculosis management, tuberculosis epidemiology, infection control measures.

Dr. Ilze Morozova

Head of Department of Primary Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Research interests: Pulmonary tuberculosis diagnostics and differential diagnosis, case management, tuberculosis transmission, TB/HIV.

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