During a trade mission organised by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) in San Diego, Illumina signed a memorandum of understanding with six Latvian research, medical and higher education institutions. The agreement aims to expand cooperation in genomics, advance precision medicine and promote the use of the latest biomedical technologies in patient care.
“Through its cooperation with Illumina, Latvia can contribute the expertise of its researchers, the Latvian National Biobank, sequencing infrastructure and the involvement of university hospitals. This agreement will help connect research more closely with healthcare and accelerate the introduction of precision medicine. Latvia also has an interest in seeing this cooperation lead to new diagnostic methods, intellectual property and exportable medical technology services,” said Raivis Bremšmits, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economics.
The Latvian delegation met Illumina CEO Jacob Thaysen in San Diego. They discussed opportunities to expand existing cooperation, accelerate innovation in genomics and develop precision medicine in Latvia.
The memorandum was signed by Illumina and the National Research and Innovation Institute, Riga East University Hospital, Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital, the Children’s Clinical University Hospital, Rīga Stradiņš University and the University of Latvia.
The agreement confirms the parties’ intention to advance genomics and lays the groundwork for wider use of precision medicine and modern biomedical technologies. The cooperation aims to improve disease diagnosis and treatment selection, leading to better patient outcomes.
“Through our cooperation with Illumina, we want to bring the possibilities of modern genetics closer to patients: detect diseases earlier, assess individual risks more accurately and choose treatments better suited to each patient,” said Dr Vita Rovīte, Head of the Molecular and Functional Genomics Group and Leading Researcher at the National Research and Innovation Institute.
Illumina is one of the world’s leading companies in DNA sequencing and microarray technologies. Its technologies are used in human genome research, oncology, research into genetic and infectious diseases, reproductive health, molecular diagnostics and drug development.
Following the signing, the Latvian institutions and Illumina will continue working together on genomics, precision medicine and the use of biomedical technologies in Latvian healthcare.
“Latvia should be more than a user of ready-made technologies in genomics. We have researchers, a biobank, sequencing infrastructure and university hospitals that enable us to help develop and test new solutions. Cooperation with Illumina expands Latvia’s opportunities to participate in international research, introduce new technologies into medicine more quickly, and build new services and businesses on that research. The benefits extend beyond a single project: they strengthen Latvian science, healthcare and a high-value economy. LIAA will support the memorandum’s signatories in turning the agreement into concrete research and technology development projects,” said Ieva Jāgere, Director of LIAA.
LIAA organises participation in overseas trade missions under the EU co-financed Innovative Business Development Programme for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), supported by the European Regional Development Fund and national funding. Companies may participate in a trade mission either by paying the participation costs themselves or by receiving support for eligible expenses.
