INNOVABALT KICK-OFF MEETING September 4, 2013

WP1 Exchange of experience and know-how

Exchange of know-how and experience via international two-way secondments of experienced scientists and young scientists between the LIOS and leading scientific institutions in the ERA– to explore the opportunities for building of lasting

networks – to gain the access to complementary equipment, data

observations and ideas.

WP1 leader: Dr. chem. Arkadij SobolevTask leaders: Dr.chem. Kristaps Jaudzems, Dr. pharm. Edgars Liepiņš, Dr. chem. Aiva Plotniece, Dr. pharm. Maija Dambrova

WP1 Exchange of experience and know-how

Objectives:• To promote the exchange of

experience and to know-how• to build the capacity of LIOS

researchers by obtaining the necessary knowledge and skills

• to strengthen the networking with partner organizations to ensure the long lasting further cooperation

WP1 Goals for the program of the two-way secondments:

1. Improving expertise in biophysical chemistry, in silico drug discovery and protein production for structural studies

2. improving expertise in modern process chemistry, green chemistry and organic synthesis methods development for drug discovery

3. improving of test systems for pharmacological characterization of drugs and advanced drug delivery forms

4. exchange of experience in research & innovation management and technology transfer

WP1 Training and networking organizations

WP1 Training and networking organizations

WP1 Training and networking organizations

WP1 Training and networking organizations

WP-2 Strengthening of the research

potential of human resources

Objectives:

• To increase the LIOS research capacity and experience in new directions of drug discovery by recruitment of experienced researchers

• To increase the international-level transfer process of accumulated knowledge and technologies through the reintegration of experienced researchers from abroad

• To increase the research potential of existing laboratories by recruitment of post-doctoral researchers

The project foresees the recruitment of 8 experienced researchers and 6 post-doctoral researchers.

WP2 leader Dr.hab.chem. Lubova Ignatovich

WP-2 Professor Edwin Vedejs Michigan University, Ann Arbor, USA

Modern innovative research in drug design and development is characterized with the highest qualities of knowledge transfer and interconnections between academic research, process development and patent and academic publications. Success in the sector of knowledge transfer is based on deepest understanding of these subjects and ability to implement them.

Prof. Edwin Vedejs professional activities resulted in >230 highly cited research papers published in the leading ACS journals and prestigious awards received. His wide knowledge about innovations and innovative research is gained being more than 30 years (1971-2005) as a consultant for famous pharmaceutical companies (UpJohn, Pharmacia and Pfizer). Recruitment of Prof. E. Vedejs will strengthen LIOS capacities in drug discovery (>30 new molecular entities) and innovative research in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies

WP-2 Inese Smukste, Ph.D. Staff Scientist, Study Director, Corning Life Sciences,

Discovery Labware, Woburn, MA With over 10 years of research experience, Dr. Inese Smukste’s expertise spans the areas of medicinal chemistry and pre-clinical development. In her current role as a Study Director, Inese directs ADME studies and leads the bioanalytical group and drug transporter and metabolism group. Previously, Inese worked in a department of Preclinical Development and Clinical Pharmacology of a biotechnology company focused on oncology drug development. She also was part of a development team leading medicinal chemistry and preclinical development efforts of a biotechnology company focused on anti-inflammatory drug development. Inese was a research scientist and lecturer at University of Columbia, New York, NY and a postdoctoral associate at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA. She studied molecular pathways involved in oncogene induced cancer drug resistance and served as medicinal chemistry expert in Professor Brent Stockwell group supporting multiple research projects. She has started his scientific career in LIOS (under the supervision of Dr. L. Ignatovitch), and then she moved to USA, where she earned PhD in organic chemistry from University of Cincinnati, OH, where she studied host-guest chemistry and functional groups involved in molecular recognition of proteins. Inese Smukste has authored and co-authored 9 peer-reviewed articles (J.Org.Chem., Tetrahedron, Cancer Cell, Nature) and book chapters one patent application and eight provisional patent applications.

The recruitment of Dr. I. Smukste will strengthen the multidisciplinary research capacities in LIOS, especially related to preclinical drug development. In addition, her experience will be very valuable for the establishment of Biopharmaceutical Research Centre as a local centre of competence in collaboration with Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, University of Latvia and Riga Technical University. Recruitment of I. Smukste is expected to strengthen ADME-related research capacities in LIOS.

WP-2 Dmitrijs Cernyaks, Ph.D. Northwestern University, Evanston, IL

Dr. Dmitrijs Chernyak has a 13 year experience of research in the field of organic

synthesis; metalloorganic chemistry and process chemistry, the last is being the most

important, but under-developed direction in LIOS and Baltic region. He has started

his scientific career in LIOS (under the supervision of Dr. P. Trapencieris), and then he

moved to USA, where he earned PhD in organic chemistry and synthesis at University

of Chicago, IL with Professor Vladimir Gevorgyan. After that he moved to MI North-

western University (Evanston, IL, USA; with Professor Karl A. Scheidt) to deepen

experience in the modern organic and bioorganic chemistry. His expertise is related to

the development of a route towards the total synthesis of glycoside natural product

secaloside A. Dr. Chernyak is an author of 10 articles in peer reviewed journals (J. Am.

Chem. Soc., Adv. Synth. Catal., Org. Letters).

The recruitment of Dr. D. Chernyak will strengthen the ties between all aspects of synthetic chemistry and process chemistry research capacities in LIOS, especially related to modern drug development. In addition, his experience will be very valuable for the modern impact to the Department of Technology Development in LIOS and Biopharmaceutical Research Centre as a local centre of competence in collaboration with Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, University of Latvia and Riga Technical University. Recruitment of D. Chernyak will strengthen modern process research capacities in LIOS.

WP-2 Aleksandrs Gutcaits, Ph.D

With over 25 years of research experience, Dr. Aleksandrs Gutcait’s expertise spans the areas of medicinal chemistry and Computer-aided drug discovery and development, proteins modulators de-novo design, molecular modeling and MD simulations, directed protein degradation, Botulinum toxin structure, function, design, GPCR modeling. Most of the projects after year 2001 were conducted for and together with Merz Pharma (Frankfurt, Germany). He has started his scientific career in RTU on design and synthesis of new luminophores for technical and medicinal usage, active polymeric light conductors for medicine and nuclear physics research, new luminescence labels for oligonucleotide synthesis and luminescent probes for biological membranes investigation. Then he did his posdoctoral research at National Taiwan University, College of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, working on asymmetric synthesis, up-scaling development of new effective a1-adrenoreceptors antagoniststs with molecular modeling study. His further postdoctoral research at Uppsalla University, Department of Pharmacology included study and development of new chemometrics methods for drug discovery and protein design

The recruitment of Dr. A. Gutcait will strengthen the multidisciplinary research capacities in LIOS, especially related to molecular modeling and drug design.

WP-2 Laura Bekere, Ph.D CNRS, CINaM, Departament de Chemie, ANR, NEM

With over 10 years of research experience, Dr. Laura Beķere’s expertise spansthe areas of medicinal chemistry and applied science. Dr. Laura Bekere gained her basic education and elaborated her PhD thesis(under the supervision of Dr. A. Krauze) in the LIOS and University of Latvia onchemical and enzymatic synthesis of biologically active compounds – partiallyhydrogenated heterocycles. Afterwards she went to the CNRS, Université de laMéditerranée – Centre Interdisciplinaire des Nanoscience de Marseille, Franceand gained advanced experience, new skills and new techniques (femto- andnanosecond lasers, fluorescence and two-photon absorption spectroscopy) indesign and synthesis of nanohybrids, their physical chemical and biochemicalstudies. Laura has authored and co-authored 4 peer-reviewed articles (Tetrahedron, Beilstein Journal Org. Chem., Appl. Surface Science) and 4 patentapplications.

The recruitment of Dr. L. Beķere will strengthen the multidisciplinary research capacities in LIOS, especially related to the nanotechnology, hybrid materials and theragnostics (novel therapy combined with diagnostics), including novel types of vital fluorescent probes with Forster resonance energy transfer. Her experience will be very valuable for the characterisation of the new products in a collaboration with Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, University of Latvia and Riga Technical University.

WP-2 Aleksandrs Versilovskis, Ph.D

Institute of Reference Materials and Measurements, Belgium

It is foreseen to update the complicated process of discovery and development of novel medicines. This process involves studies of metabolism, including separation, purification, identification of metabolites in minor quantities, synthesis of eventual metabolites. It is necessary to recruit such specialist, especially in the fields of complicated compounds, natural products and their analogues.

With over 9 years of research experience, Dr. A.Versilovskis’s expertise spans the areas of food chemistry, analytical chemistry, synthesis of xenobiotics metabolites and development and certification of reference materials of some xenobiotics. In his current role as a Scientific/Technical Project Officer in Institute of Reference Materials and Measurements (Joint Research Centre of European Commission), Aleksandrs directs development of reference materials of mycotoxins in food matrices. Previously, Aleksandrs worked in a Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre Unit of Natural Toxins (Belgium) where he was focused on chemical and biochemical (enzyme assisted) synthesis of plant and animal metabolites of mycotoxins, animal metabolism of mycotoxins, as well as on development and validation of analytical methods for determination of mycotoxins in food, feed and animal organs and body fluids. He also was part of a team which is deeply involved in mycotoxin research at Ghent University Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Belgium) where he studied pharmacy. Aleksandrs was also leading scientist, head of HPLC division and head of mycotoxins investigation division at Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment - "BIOR“. He has started his scientific career in LIOS (under the supervision of Prof. Duburs and Dr. Krauze) where he was involved in synthesis of some new substances which are potential candidates for heart diseases treatment, then he moved to Belgium where he is still working as a Scientific/Technical Project Officer. Dr. Versilovskis is an author of 7 articles in peer reviewed journals (Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, World Mycotoxin Journal, Journal of Chromat., J.of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology).

WP-2 Recruitment of experts in structure-based drug discovery

• To increase the research capacity in the field of structure-based drug discovery 3 experienced researchers and 4 post-docs in biomolecular NMR, protein X-ray crystallography and molecular modeling and drug design will be recruited. They will join other LIOS experts in medicinal chemistry and pharmacology to form an interdisciplinary research team that focuses on rational drug design.

• The recruited researchers will use state-of-the-art research equipment – 800 MHz NMR spectrometer, crystallization robot and molecular modeling computer cluster acquired through this project or through the State Research Centre Program.

• The candidates are expected to have PhD, extensive experience in their research field, as well as at least 5 publications in well respected journals of the research field or patents and appropriate management skills.

smart delivery systems

in silico simulations

design of new tools for pharmacology

in-vivo imagingin-vivo imagingin-vivo imaging

design of new tools for pharmacology

receptor – ligand binding studies

new tools for pharmacology

WP3 leader: Dr.chem. Osvalds PugovičsTask leaders: Dr.chem. Kristaps Jaudzems, Dr. pharm. Edgars

Liepiņš, Dr. chem. Aiva PlotnieceObjectives :1. Acquisition of modern equipment and tools necessary for

innovative drug development2. Upgrading the research equipment

WP 3 – Renewal of research equipment

Users:• members of the newly established protein crystallography group

detailed in WP2;• researchers of Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre

Field of application:structure-based drug design - ligand binding studies,hit-to-lead optimization process, optimization of core structures

WP3 Acquisition of a crystallization robot and a light microscope for protein crystallography

Field of application:structure-based drug design - ligand binding studies,hit-to-lead optimization process, optimization of core structures

Users:• members of the newly established protein crystallography group

detailed in WP2;• researchers of Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre

Equipment to be acquired:• crystallization robot for protein

crystallization screening;• light microscope for crystals

assessment

Field of application:structure-based drug design - ligand binding studies,hit-to-lead optimization process, optimization of core structures

WP3 Acquiring of Fluorescence Molecular Tomography (in-vivo imaging)

Users:• researchers from Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology and

Chemotherapy group;• several researcher groups from Latvian University;• synergy with emerging Baltic positron emission tomography (PET) centre

Field of application:monitoring and quantification of biological targets and pathways in living animals in real time

Field of application:monitoring and quantification of biological targets and pathways in living animals in real time

Users:• researchers from Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology and

Chemotherapy group;• several researcher groups from Latvian University;• synergy with emerging Baltic positron emission tomography (PET) centre

Equipment to be acquired:• in vivo imaging system;• software and accessories

Field of application:monitoring and quantification of biological targets and pathways in living animals in real time

WP3 Acquiring of a system for light scattering measurement of hydrodynamic size, zeta potential and

molecular weight of proteins and nanoparticles

Users:• IOS researchers;• several researcher groups from Latvian University;• researchers from Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre;• researchers from Palacký University in Olomouc

Equipment to be acquired:• system for measurement

of hydrodynamic size, zeta potential and molecular weight of proteins and nanoparticles

Field of application:studies of synthetic liposomes and other nanoaggregates;development of new drug delivery systems based on these particles

Equipment to be acquired:• system for measurement

of hydrodynamic size, zeta potential and molecular weight of proteins and nanoparticles

Field of application:studies of synthetic liposomes and other nanoaggregates;development of new drug delivery systems based on these particles

WP3 Acquisition of a computer cluster for molecular modeling purposes

Users:• IOS researchers;• several researcher groups from Latvian University;• protein crystallography experts from Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre;• organic chemists from Riga Technical University

Equipment to be acquired:• integrated CPU-GPU

computer cluster comprising 14 servers, each containing 2 CPU’s with 6 cores per CPU and 2 GPU’s, 10 Gb ethernet and a 42 U rack

Field of application:quantum mechanics calculations of hit-compounds and reaction intermediates, virtual screening of large compound libraries, pharmacophore and QSAR modeling as well as molecular dynamics simulations of proteins, lipid systems and drug delivery agents

WP 4 Organization of conferences, seminars, trainings

WP leader Dr. Chem. Pēteris TrapencierisTask leaders: Dr. Aiva Plotniece, Dr. Maija Dambrova, Dr. Arkādijs

Soboļevs, Dr. Kristaps Jaudzems, Dr. Raivis Žalubovskis, Dr. Osvalds Pugovičs, Ieva Jaunzeme

Objectives: • To facilitate the knowledge transfer at the national, regional and

international levels

• To increase the visibility of LIOS by dissemination of the results of Latvian scientists in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry of heterocycles, structure-activity relationships, experimental chemotherapy and pharmacology to the international scientific community.

• To strengthen the long-lasting scientific collaboration between LIOS and partnering organisations in ERA.

WP 4 New Events• Workshop “Ready for Horizon 2020” (Winter 2013/2014)• Seminar “Advanced antiinfective drug design” (Spring 2014)• Workshop on publication writing for scientific journals and on

popular science (Autumn 2013)• Seminar „Biophysical methods in drug discovery” (Spring 2014)• Seminar „Protein production techniques” (Spring 2014)• BOS-2014 pre-conference roundtable (June 2014)• Workshop „Competitive proposal preparation for Horizon 2020”

(Autumn 2014)• Gustavs Vanags memorial conference ( Autumn 2014)• Conference “BaltDrug” (May 2015)• Conference “Paul Walden 9th Symposium” ( Autumn 2015)• BOS-2016 pre-conference roundtable (June 2016)• BOS-2016 conference (June 2016)• Participation of LIOS researchers in transnational events

WP 4 Tradicional Events• Workshop “Ready for Horizon 2020” (Winter 2013/2014)• Seminar “Advanced antiinfective drug design” (Spring 2014)• Workshop on publication writing for scientific journals and on

popular science (Autumn 2013)• Seminar „Biophysical methods in drug discovery” (Spring 2014)• Seminar „Protein production techniques” (Spring 2014)• BOS-2014 pre-conference roundtable (June 2014)• Workshop „Competitive proposal preparation for Horizon 2020”

(Autumn 2014)• Gustavs Vanags memorial conference ( Autumn 2014)• Conference “BaltDrug” (May 2015)• Conference “Paul Walden 9th Symposium” ( Autumn 2015)• BOS-2016 pre-conference roundtable (June 2016)• BOS-2016 conference (June 2016)• Participation of LIOS researchers in transnational events

WP 4 Gustavs Vanags memorial conference

( Autumn 2014)

Photos from G.Vanags Conference in 2006Photos from G.Vanags Conference in 2006

WP 4 Paul Walden 8th Symposium, Riga, May 13-14, 2013

                                             

Paul WaldenPaul Walden was a Latvian and his first scientific results were obtained in Riga under the supervision of Nobel prize winner Professor Wilhelm Ostwald. In 1896 he discovered his famous rule, later called the “Walden inversion”. 150th anniversary of the birth of Paul Walden is included in the UNESCO Celebrations Day Calendar for Year 2013. Every three years, starting in 1988, a Paul Walden medal has been awarded in Chemistry and Science History (both beloved Walden’s scientific disciplines) by the Riga Technical University. In 1997 Prof. Edwin VedejsEdwin Vedejs (Michigan State University, USA) was awarded this medal, which was a starting point for traditional Paul Walden Symposiums. Paul Walden Paul Walden 1st1st Symposium Symposium was held in Riga on April 1998 was held in Riga on April 1998.

Planned Conference “Paul Walden 9th Symposium” ( Autumn 2015)Symposium home page: www.walden.lv

WP 4 BOS pre-conference roundtables• BOS-2014 pre-conference roundtable (Bauska, July 4-5, 2014)

• BOS-2014 Conference in Vilnius (July 6-9, 2014)

• Medicinal chemistry – quo vadis?

• Participants – BOS-2014 lecturers + 50-70 Latvian chemists, biologists etc.)

• BOS-2016 pre-conference roundtable (Jūrmala, June 24-25, 2016 or July 1-2)

• BOS-2016 Conference in Riga (June 26-29, 2016 or July 3-6, 2016)

Symposium home page: www.boschem.eu

Balticum Organicum Syntheticum (BOS-2016)

• Balticum Organicum SyntheticumBalticum Organicum Syntheticum, a meeting which continues the tradition of the previous conferences starting in 2000, held in the capitals of all three Baltic States: Vilnius, Riga Vilnius, Riga and TallinnTallinn, for the following aims:– To highlight activities in organic chemistry– To provide a window on Baltic chemistry – To offer opportunities for interactions between chemists of the Baltic

and Western world countries in order to create links and collaborations in both academic and industrial settings

– To showcase Riga and Latvia and through it to also give a full appreciation of the history, culture, language, and social framework of the other two Baltic States, Estonia and Lithuania

• The original dream of the organizers had been to share the venue of BOS among the three Baltic States and this dream was fulfilled by BOS 2006, which completed the first cycle. Being in the middle of the third cycle, we can say with enthusiasm that there are no plans to end these cycles.

Symposium home page: www.boschem.eu

Victor SniečkusVictor SniečkusBOS initiator

WP5 Improving the management of Intellectual Property and enhancement of innovation potential

WP leader Prof.I.KalvinsThe strategy of this WP is based on 3 principles:• development – by providing the strategic Intellectual Property

development plan for the effective management of IPR and efficient technology transfer process

• collaboration –with governmental institutions, research, academia, industry, technology transfer centres and other stakeholders on the issues of innovation and IPR; by networking with partnering organizations

• awareness – by training and education of experienced and early stage researchers as well as entrepreneurs on the IPR and technology transfer issues

Protected Inventions of IOS scientists

• USA patents 39• USA patent applications 43• EPO patents 29• EP patent applications 43• WIPO patent applications 85• Eiroasian patents 19• Japanese patents and applications 38• Ukraine patents 11• Russia patents un author sertificates 45• Latvian patents 57• Patents and applications in total 406• Not published patents 34• Non-identical patents in total (01.02.2013) 440 • Patent families consists of 1000 patents un patent applications

Pro

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High

Scientific Discovery

Commercialization Progression

High

Low

Technology Development

Phase

Business Building Phase

Lab Model

Prototype

Manufacturing Model

Market Assessment

Business Models

Create Business Mgt Team

A Round

B Round

IPO

First Customers

Research Commercialization: public finance leverages private

Pro

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Marketed product

Marketed product

IP protectionIP protection

WP 6 Dissemination and promotional activities

WP leader Dr. Biol.Dace TirzīteTeam: Edīte Mētere, Dr. Antons Ļebedevs, Dr. Aigars

Jirgensons, Dr. Raivis Žalubovskis, Dr. Ronalds Zemribo

Objectives: • Promotion of InnovaBalt within the scientific community

of Europe

• Dissemination of information on advanced innovative medicine development to the industry sector and other stakeholders

• Providing the information for society on topicalities in innovative drug development and results of InnovaBalt

WP6 Tools of dissemination: • website• relevant websites (CORDIS and other corresponding

websites)• public media (journals, newspapers, radio, TV), scientific journals• newsletters of project• leaflets, brochures, CDs, other promotional materials,• booth of InnovaBalt• conferences, exhibitions and fairs • seminars, workshops, discussions• networking• Café Scientific

WP6 Deliverables time of delivery

• Reports on issued promotional materials (flyers, brochures, booth etc.) M5, M14, M 23• Summarised materials from media (press releases, TV plots, articles etc.) M12, M24, M36• Specialised issues of Journal M23, M35 “Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds” M12, M24• Reports on dissemination activities M36, M42

• Milestone: Research, technology and innovation

dissemination strategy (M4) and its updating (M28)

WP7 Management of projectWP leader Dr.pharm Maija Dambrova

Management board: financial director of LIOS Dace Karkle

Dr. Edgars Suna, Dr. A. Jirgensons, Dr. Edgars Liepinsh

Objectives:• Setting up the appropriate monitoring, coordination and

communication procedures in order to ensure that project is implemented in a timely and cost effective manner in accordance with applicable EC guidelines and national legislation rules

• Ensuring that EC financial and administrative procedures are respected and reports and cost statements are provided in time

WP8 Assessment of research and innovative potential of LIOS

WP leader Dr.chem Grigorijs VeinbergThe evaluation of LIOS’ overall research quality and

capability by high-level independent experts, nominated by European Commission.

The evaluation will give essential contribution in the definition of the further Strategic plan to strengthen LIOS research and innovation capacities essential for the regional economical and social development as well as promoting the integration of LIOS in the ERA activities.