CONFERENCE
Europe Supports Research
Numerous projects are often carried out owing to external financial support. The Project Coordinator of the UL Development and Planning Departmen, Lauma Muižniece informs that from 2007 until 2013 different projects have been carried out in the UL with the support of the European Union Structural Funds, and under the coordination of the UL Development and Planning Department.
Innovations are purposefully supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) activities; among them "Support for Science and Research" aims to "support practical research projects that promote the integration of science and production, and the implementation of research results according to state prioritized fields of science" Closely related to innovation, the European Social Fund’s (ESF) activities promote the attraction of human resources to science. In November 2012, the UL was a leading partner in 39 projects, and a collaboration partner - in many others. More than 90% of the projects’ costs are covered by the EU Structural Funds.
Besides the above mentioned projects, the UL implements the projects of the European Commission Seventh Framework Programme and the National Research Programme, coordinated by the UL Academic Department.
Development of New Products From Peat
Peat is an important Latvian natural resource, which we still use in our gardens and flower pots. Previously peat was widely used in livestock farming and power industry. However, since the late 1990s, the peat industry has been running down, says Inese Silamiķele, researcher of the ERDF project"The Innovation in peat research and the creation of new products, containing peat ". The aim of the project is to raise the intensity of peat research, and develop new and innovative ways for the use of peat as well as an extraction of peat modified products. For example, it is planned to develop peat filter elements to clean contaminated solutions and polluted air. There are identified different unique groups of compounds in peat with high biological activity, e.g., with features such as antibiotics, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effect. One of the most important component of peat is humus substance, which might be used in fertilization of soil, as sorbent in a process of environmental recultivation, dyestuff manufacturing, etc.
In cooperation with the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Center, a project is being carried out to digitize data on peat deposits, and analyse recultivation options of fields where peat had been extracted, says I. Silamiķele. An important benefit of the project is also improvement in moors and peat research methodology.
The project has been lasting for 36 months and has a budget of 395,073 Lats, of which the EU funds cover 364,700 Lats.
Saving the Trees
Latvian State Forestry Research Institute "Silava", in collaboration with the UL Faculty of Biology, works on the ERDF project "Development of a new biological preparation to restrict conifer root rot pathogen infection, caused by Heterobasidion spp.”. This project is to last 47 months and has a budget of 353,783 Lats, of which the EU funds cover 364,700 Lats. According to the UL Project Manager Vizma Nikolajeva, Heterobasidion is a fungus that causes serious damage to forestries in Latvia and elsewhere in Europe, infecting conifers - pine and spruce, which wither and die. "Forest owners do not want to treat their trees with chemicals, but prefer using organic methods. Currently there is available only one organic product in the world. It is not enough; a variety of products should be broadened”. Therefore, the project researchers are trying to find in Latvia fungus which can be used for the production of new medicines . "Silava", has extracted fungi Phlebiopsis gigantea isolates that demonstrate better efficiency than the existing Finnish preparation. The UL microbiologists are studying Trichoderma antagonistic fungi. Researchers are to find out how Trichoderma affects Heterobasidion and choose the best Trichoderma isolates to develop a new preparation. As soon as trees are cut down, stumps would be treated with the preparation. Through stems the disease enters roots of conifers and infects the surrounding healthy trees, explains V.Nikolajeva.
Plants and Mud for Young Skin
Currently two ERDF projects are taking place in the UL, their results will help to develop new hygiene and skincare products. The implementation period of the projects have been three years and they have a total cost of 492,631 Lats, the majority (455,681 Lats) is covered by the EU funds. One of these projects refers to studies of fungi cultivation in laboratory and industrial conditions, as well as to studies of Latvia’s plants, such as moss plants, sea buckthorn and rowan,their chemical composition and effect on human skin cells. The objective is to find efficient group of compounds in plants for creating anti-aging skin care cosmetic products, and hygiene products, whose effectiveness will be proved in laboratory tests. In the second project the exploratory object is curative sludge, studied in terms of its composition, the properties of components, and efficacy on skin regeneration.
"In Latvia curative sludge has been used for hundred years, but its efficacy is not still verified with serious research," says V. Nikolajeva. Curative mud samples are being collected from different sites. In laboratory, these samples are being compared, and their effects on microorganisms and skin cells are studied to define its component's affect on regenerative capacity in the skin. The project’s expected result is to obtain curative mud extracts with skin regenerating properties and create cosmetics containing new formula.
Project Researcher Anna Ramata-Stunda says: "Although there are a variety of anti-aging cosmetic products, the demand for natural products to eliminate the process of skin aging is constantly increasing." Since in the European Union cosmetics testing on animals is banned, it is necessary to develop and improve methods for analyzing the effectiveness of cosmetic ingredients. Thus, new testing systems can be as an innovative contribution, allowing "cosmetic products’ manufacturers to assess new cosmetic components,their safety and efficacy. Such testing systems are much more cost and time-efficient than testing new products on volunteers, and are in a full compliance with the EU legal requirements, "explains A. Ramata-Stunda.
Artificial Nose That Smells Cancer The project "Lung cancer diagnostic techniques and development of software prototype to analyse air in exhalation with artificial olfactory sensor" is also very significant. The project has been lasting for 36 months, and it will be finished in a year with total costs of 186,111 Lats, of which 167,894 Lats are covered by the EU Structural Funds. Project Manager Maris Bukovskis says that, although lung cancer is the most widespread oncological disease in terms of morbidity and mortality, a cheap, fast, convenient, non-invasive, and sufficiently accurate method does not still exist to diagnose the disease at early stages. "Everyone knows that an early diagnosis of oncologic diseases is extremely important. If it is possible to diagnose lung cancer in the first stage, 70% of patients will live five years with treatment, while after diagnosing cancer in its fourth stage - only 5% of patients.” In the 1980s, it was discovered that exhalation is full of organic compounds that vary depending on diseases. This finding was confirmed with studies, when specially trained dogs sniffed breath and urine samples of patients, and lung and urinary bladder cancers were identified. "Exploring the mammalian olfactory system, the idea arose to simulate the structure of olfactory system creating an artificial nose or artificial olfactory sensor," says the researcher. Within the project, new hardware and software products are being developed to detect lung cancer’s "odor print" in patient's breath, and to diagnose disease in its early stages. Exploring the Nanoworld The UL physicists, chemists and biologists together are working together on nanostructured sensor matrixes and their controlling systems. During the previous and the currently implemented project, supported by the ERDF, four Latvian patents were received, and one application filed for European patent application filed. "Developed methods and technologies are used for detecting various substances in the fields of solar energy and nanorobotics, thus, creating new opportunities in usage of nanomaterials," says research project leader Donāts Erts. Likewise in other studies, the outcome of the project is not only new products and technologies, but also new knowledge about the physical properties of modern materials. Several companies and foreign scientists show interest in these results. For example, SIA “AGL Technologies” is directly involved in the project, but Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and the University College Cork in Ireland are collaboration partners. The project has lasted four years. It has a budget of 458,415 Lats, of which the EU funds cover 415,325 Lats. New Challenges for Society The objectives of above mentioned projects are mainly to develop new products, as well as a scientific investigation. In the UL, other original projects offer different types of innovation, for example, to solve a variety of scientific management issues. One of such large projects, supported by ESF (European Social Fund), had run for three years and ended in December, 2012. During this project quite unusual interdisciplinary team, comprising natural and social scientists, biologists, doctors, anthropologists and sociologists, was formed. According to Aivita Putniņa, anthropologist and participant of the project "Capacity building for interdisciplinary research in biosafety", in Latvia, no comprehensive vision for biosafety assurance and control had been worked out so far; so it was necessary to investigate the safety-related aspects in laboratory and practical application of technologies as well as their scientific management. It was also important to observe what kind of social changes might be driven by the development of biotechnologies. "With the help of biotechnologies scientists change their roles from observers to active participants, who can convert life forms on Earth. This opens up new opportunities and benefits, but also creates new technological requirements and risks. This project goes beyond the boundaries of one laboratory or discipline," says the project’s brochure. There were four main areas of the project: new reproductive technologies, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), stem cell genomic stability, and bacterial genome changes due to influence of antimicrobial medication or so-called hospital-acquired infections. The primary mission of biologists and doctors is to investigate safety issues in laboratory, while sociologists and anthropologists observe how safety is ensured in public space. Thus, relevant rules and guidelines of conducting standardized research have been proposed, admitting the fact that different areas of biotechnologies, such as artificial insemination or genetically modified food, are considered to be ethically sensitive. In this regard social scientists can improve communication between scientists and the public. "Some of those things that people fantasize about are possible, and some are just science fiction, but if these things are clearly explained, the public will find it easier to perceive what scientists are doing. There are divisive issues, such as GMOs, which scientists have tried to explain, but not always have been adequately received, "says researcher Ilze Mileiko. Another major benefit of the project is researchers’ interdisciplinary collaboration. Both participant anthropologists admit that until now scientists communication with the public and also among themselves has been rather weak. "Every science has its own considerations, about what the society should be informed. Even in our University, each faculty is located rather far from each other, but it is interesting to meet colleagues with a different kind of knowledge, experience, and perspective on sciences; this kind of communication is essential, "say the researchers. The following results of the project have been achieved: firstly, an interdisciplinary group of experts is formed to propose different aspects of biosafety; secondly, ethical guidelines are offered for biological and biomedical research on humans. The project had a budget of 1,134,098 Lats, of which 957,774 Lats were covered by the EU funds. Note This article describes only a small part of the innovative projects, where the UL researchers are involved. You can learn more about these and many other studies on the UL web site under "Projects", where links to projects’ home pages and regular reports on the progress of projects and results are provided.
Translated by students of the professional study programme Translator of the University of Latvia.
Artificial Nose That Smells Cancer The project "Lung cancer diagnostic techniques and development of software prototype to analyse air in exhalation with artificial olfactory sensor" is also very significant. The project has been lasting for 36 months, and it will be finished in a year with total costs of 186,111 Lats, of which 167,894 Lats are covered by the EU Structural Funds. Project Manager Maris Bukovskis says that, although lung cancer is the most widespread oncological disease in terms of morbidity and mortality, a cheap, fast, convenient, non-invasive, and sufficiently accurate method does not still exist to diagnose the disease at early stages. "Everyone knows that an early diagnosis of oncologic diseases is extremely important. If it is possible to diagnose lung cancer in the first stage, 70% of patients will live five years with treatment, while after diagnosing cancer in its fourth stage - only 5% of patients.” In the 1980s, it was discovered that exhalation is full of organic compounds that vary depending on diseases. This finding was confirmed with studies, when specially trained dogs sniffed breath and urine samples of patients, and lung and urinary bladder cancers were identified. "Exploring the mammalian olfactory system, the idea arose to simulate the structure of olfactory system creating an artificial nose or artificial olfactory sensor," says the researcher. Within the project, new hardware and software products are being developed to detect lung cancer’s "odor print" in patient's breath, and to diagnose disease in its early stages. Exploring the Nanoworld The UL physicists, chemists and biologists together are working together on nanostructured sensor matrixes and their controlling systems. During the previous and the currently implemented project, supported by the ERDF, four Latvian patents were received, and one application filed for European patent application filed. "Developed methods and technologies are used for detecting various substances in the fields of solar energy and nanorobotics, thus, creating new opportunities in usage of nanomaterials," says research project leader Donāts Erts. Likewise in other studies, the outcome of the project is not only new products and technologies, but also new knowledge about the physical properties of modern materials. Several companies and foreign scientists show interest in these results. For example, SIA “AGL Technologies” is directly involved in the project, but Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and the University College Cork in Ireland are collaboration partners. The project has lasted four years. It has a budget of 458,415 Lats, of which the EU funds cover 415,325 Lats. New Challenges for Society The objectives of above mentioned projects are mainly to develop new products, as well as a scientific investigation. In the UL, other original projects offer different types of innovation, for example, to solve a variety of scientific management issues. One of such large projects, supported by ESF (European Social Fund), had run for three years and ended in December, 2012. During this project quite unusual interdisciplinary team, comprising natural and social scientists, biologists, doctors, anthropologists and sociologists, was formed. According to Aivita Putniņa, anthropologist and participant of the project "Capacity building for interdisciplinary research in biosafety", in Latvia, no comprehensive vision for biosafety assurance and control had been worked out so far; so it was necessary to investigate the safety-related aspects in laboratory and practical application of technologies as well as their scientific management. It was also important to observe what kind of social changes might be driven by the development of biotechnologies. "With the help of biotechnologies scientists change their roles from observers to active participants, who can convert life forms on Earth. This opens up new opportunities and benefits, but also creates new technological requirements and risks. This project goes beyond the boundaries of one laboratory or discipline," says the project’s brochure. There were four main areas of the project: new reproductive technologies, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), stem cell genomic stability, and bacterial genome changes due to influence of antimicrobial medication or so-called hospital-acquired infections. The primary mission of biologists and doctors is to investigate safety issues in laboratory, while sociologists and anthropologists observe how safety is ensured in public space. Thus, relevant rules and guidelines of conducting standardized research have been proposed, admitting the fact that different areas of biotechnologies, such as artificial insemination or genetically modified food, are considered to be ethically sensitive. In this regard social scientists can improve communication between scientists and the public. "Some of those things that people fantasize about are possible, and some are just science fiction, but if these things are clearly explained, the public will find it easier to perceive what scientists are doing. There are divisive issues, such as GMOs, which scientists have tried to explain, but not always have been adequately received, "says researcher Ilze Mileiko. Another major benefit of the project is researchers’ interdisciplinary collaboration. Both participant anthropologists admit that until now scientists communication with the public and also among themselves has been rather weak. "Every science has its own considerations, about what the society should be informed. Even in our University, each faculty is located rather far from each other, but it is interesting to meet colleagues with a different kind of knowledge, experience, and perspective on sciences; this kind of communication is essential, "say the researchers. The following results of the project have been achieved: firstly, an interdisciplinary group of experts is formed to propose different aspects of biosafety; secondly, ethical guidelines are offered for biological and biomedical research on humans. The project had a budget of 1,134,098 Lats, of which 957,774 Lats were covered by the EU funds. Note This article describes only a small part of the innovative projects, where the UL researchers are involved. You can learn more about these and many other studies on the UL web site under "Projects", where links to projects’ home pages and regular reports on the progress of projects and results are provided.
Translated by students of the professional study programme Translator of the University of Latvia.
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