Previous research studies

Projects in 2020.

"Investigation of the origin and dynamics of human blood microbiome, and its role in chronic disease". The main aim of this project is to understand the origin and dynamics of human blood microbiome and its association with intestinal inflammation in order to identify reliable omics-based biomarkers for early detection and monitoring of chronic conditions using type 2 diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease models. Principal investigator: Dr. biol. Jānis Kloviņš. Funded by Grant from Latvian Council of Science No: lzp-2019/1-0116.

"Multidisciplinary study of community-acquired sepsis survivors in Latvia". The primary objective of the study is to obtain in-depth understanding on the sepsis survivors, including clinical, molecular aspects of the recovery from illness. Principal investigator: Dr. med. Uga Dumpis, principal investigator from Latvian Biomedical centre Dr. biol. Jānis Kloviņš. Funded by Grant from Latvian Council of Science No: lzp-2019/1-0225.

"Establishing an algorithm for the early diagnosis and follow-up of patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors - NEXT". The present proposal aim to identify PNET-specific biomarkers urgently needed to design a next generation nanotechnology based microfluidic device and integrate the technology of minimally invasive liquid biopsy in the early detection of PNETs by building up a tissue bank of genetically characterized tumours, development of patient-derived rare tumour xenografts (PDXs) and organoids. Principal investigator: Dr. biol. Vita Rovīte. Research is funded by Joint Transnational Call for Proposals 2017.

„The determination of rare inherited diseases' causative mechanisms using whole genome sequencing approach”. The aim of the project is to identify novel causative genetic elements in rare inherited disease patients in whom pathogenic variants have not been identified so far by conventional genetic analysis approaches. Principal investigator: Dr. biol. Inna Iņaškina. Research is funded by the ERDF project No. 1.1.1.1/18/A/096.

“RNA molecular determinants in development of pituitary adenoma”. The objective of the project is to study the spectrum of various ribonucleic acid (RNA) markers (mRNA, non-coding) in development of pituitary adenoma to discover determinants that influence therapy response and disease outcome. Principal investigator: Dr. biol. Vita Rovīte. Research is funded by the ERDF project No. 1.1.1.1/18/A/089.

„Functional and genetic research of rare unidentitied neuromuscular disorders”. The aim of the project focuses on two topics: 1) to better understand and characterize the recently identified mutant MYBPC1 protein, its interactions with other cellular partners, and the molecular mechanisms underlying newly described disease phenotype; 2) using the newest molecular biology methods, namely whole genome sequencing, to identify novel causative genetic elements (genes, inter-gene regions or chromosomal rearrangements) for rare and/or unidentified neuromuscular disorders. Principal investigator: Dr. biol. Inna Iņaškina. Research is funded by the ERDF project No. 1.1.1.1/18/A/097.

„Role of miRNAs in the host-gut microbiome communication during metformin treatment in the context of metabolic disorders”. The aim of the project is to investigate the contribution of the host miRNAs in metformin-mediated changes in gut microbiome composition and functions in the context of type 2 diabetes and to identify miRNAs which could be directed to potential clinical studies. Principal investigator: Prof. Jānis Klovins. Research is funded by the ERDF project No. 1.1.1.1/18/A/092.

“Ethically and socially responsible governance of research biobanks in Latvia: analysis of opinions of public, donors and researchers”. The aim will be obtained by the study of the publics’, donors’ and researchers’ attitudes, concerns and trust in biobanking and analysis will be performed how the concerns and needs raised by the public, donors and researchers can be adequately dealt by the normative framework to finally improve research biobank governance and drive public policy decisions by developing written recommendations based on the results of the study. Principal investigator: Assoc. prof. Signe Mežinska. Research is funded by the Latvian Council of Science project No. lzp-2018/2-0171.

"Interplay of Environmental and Genetic Factors in the Immunologic Mechanisms of Thyroid Autoimmune Diseases". Aim of the project is to analyze susceptibility genetic variants for Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases (AITD) in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) and Graves’ disease (GD) according to precision medicine concept and to investigate the interaction between them and particular environmental factors including selenium intake and status, stress, lifestyle habits and other triggers in the occurrence of different T helper pathways and cytokine patterns. Principal investigator: Assoc. prof., Dr. med. Ilze Konrāde. Research is funded by the Latvian Council of Science project No. lzp-2018/2-0059.

„Development of rare disease infrastructure for diagnostics and research”. The main aim of the project is to develop biological material and associated data collection from rare disease patients and their relatives, to improve diagnostics of these diseases in Latvia and ensure resources for rare disease research in the world. It is planned to involve rare disease patients and their blood relatives in Genome Database of Latvian population. The collected biological materials and data will be used for diagnosticsor if such diagnostics is not available in research projects as well to ensure diagnostics for these patients within the famework of research project. Principal investigator: Prof. Jānis Kloviņš. Patient recruitment is supported by Genome Database of Latvian population. Approval by Central Medical Ethics Committee No: 1/18-06-19.

“Exploitation of extracellular vesicles for precision diagnostics of prostate cancer”. The overall aim is to establish technically and clinically validated non- invasive tool for PCa diagnosis ang prognosis based on the analysis of EV counts and molecular cargo in patients` biofluids. Principal investigator: Dr. Biol. Aija Linē. Research is funded by ERA-NET TRANSCAN-2 Joint Transnational Call for Proposals 2016 (JTC 2016) project application “Exploitation of extracellular vesicles for precision diagnostics of prostate cancer”, patient recruitment is supported by Genome Database of Latvian population.

"Investigation of interaction of smoked dietary products with gut microbiome”. The main objective of the project is multidimensional investigation of the impact smoked food especially fish consumption exerts on human gut microbiome to gain insight in the responding functional pathways and metabolic consequences. Principal investigator: Dr. biol. Ineta Kalniņa. Research is funded by the ERDF No.1.1.1.2/VIAA/1/16/128 project with the same title. Approval by Central Medical Ethics Committee No: 1/18-06-07.

„Molecular markers of pituitary tumor development, progression and therapy response”. The main objective of this project is to investigate molecular determinants of pituitary adenoma development and progression and to identify the crucial factors linked to variability in clinical outcome that could further be applied as biomarkers for improvement of pituitary tumor treatment therapies. Principal investigator: Prof. Jānis Kloviņš. Research is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Measure 1.1.1.1 “Industry-Driven Research”, Project No: 1.1.1.1/16/A/066 project. Approval by Central Medical Ethics Committee No: 2/18-02-21.

„Investigation of interplay between multiple determinants influencing response to metformin: search for reliable predictors for efficacy of type 2 diabetes therapy”. The objective of the project is to explore underinvestigated factors characterizing response to metformin with the aim to identify reliable biomarkers of efficacy and tolerability of metformin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Principal investigator: Prof. Jānis Kloviņš. Research is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Measure 1.1.1.1 “Industry‑Driven Research”, Project No: 1.1.1.1/16/A/091 project. Approval by Central Medical Ethics Committee No: 1/16-05-12.

„Development of unified drug monitoring model for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases using imunologic, molecular, biological and morphological methods". The main aim is to study individual thiopurine metabolism and therapeutic drug govenance, using imunological, clinical, molecular and mophological methods, impact on disease progression in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. Principal investigator: Dr. Polīna Zaļizko. Approval by Central Medical Ethics Committee No: 3/18-02-21

“Walk healthy”. The aim is to improve physical abilities, diabetes control and lower complication risks with regular physical activities programm and interval training method in type two diabetes patients. Project will also help to evaluate use of mobile devices and efectivity in training monitoring in comparison with physiotherapist guided training. Principal investigator: Dr. med. JeļizaApproval by Central Medical Ethics Committee No:veta Sokolovska. Funding: LLC “Mikrotīkls” donation in framework of Fund of University of Latvia project. Ethical approval from University of Latvia Cardiology and Regenerative Medicine Insistute, Ethics committee of clinical-physiological, drug and pharmaceuticals research, approval No: 28.06.17 - Prot. 6

Projects in 2019.

„Development of unified therapeutic observance model for patients with inflammatory bowel disease using immunologic, molecular biology and morphological methods". Aim of the project is to study individual differences in tiopurine metabolism and terapeutic survilance using immunological, clinical, molecular and morphological methods, in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Support from University of Latvia "Microtiks" grant funds. Approval by Central Medical Ethics Committee No: 3/18-02-21.

"Investigation of interaction of smoked dietary products with gut microbiome”. Aim of the project is multidimensional investigation of the impact smoked food especially fish consumption exerts on human gut microbiome to gain insight in the responding functional pathways and metabolic consequences. Research is funded by the ERDF No.1.1.1.2/VIAA/1/16/128 project. Approval by Central Medical Ethics Committee No: 1/18-06-07.

„Molecular design of new luminescent compounds for diagnostic purposes”, Funding: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Measure 1.1.1.1 “Industry-Driven Research”, Project Nr.: 1.1.1.1/16/A/211, Period: 1st March 2017 – 29 st February 2020. The project is aimed to the synthesis of new luminescent substances for the development of diagnostics methods in medicine and veterinary medicine.

„Molecular markers of pituitary tumor development, progression and therapy response”, Funding: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Measure 1.1.1.1 “Industry-Driven Research”, Project No: 1.1.1.1/16/A/066, Period: 1st January 2017 – 31 st December 2019. The main objective of this project is to investigate molecular determinants of pituitary adenoma development and progression and to identify the crucial factors linked to variability in clinical outcome that could further be applied as biomarkers for improvement of pituitary tumor treatment therapies.

„Investigation of interplay between multiple determinants influencing response to metformin: search for reliable predictors for efficacy of type 2 diabetes therapy”, Funding: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Measure 1.1.1.1 “Industry‑Driven Research”, Project No: 1.1.1.1/16/A/091, Period: 1st January 2017 – 31st December 2019. The objective of the project is to explore underinvestigated factors characterizing response to metformin with the aim to identify reliable biomarkers of efficacy and tolerability of metformin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

„RNA molecular determinants in development of pituitary adenoma”, ERDF No. 1.1.1.1/18/A/089. The scientific objective of the project is to study the spectrum of various ribonucleic acid (RNA) markers (mRNA, non-coding) in development of pituitary adenoma (PA) to discover determinants that influence therapy response and disease outcome.

„The determination of rare inherited diseases' causative mechanisms using whole genome sequencing approach”, ERDF No. 1.1.1.1/18/A/096. The general aim of the project is to improve public health through the expansion of our knowledge about rare inherited diseases and diagnostics of patients with such disorders.

„Functional and genetic research of rare unidentitied neuromuscular disorders”, ERDF No. 1.1.1.1/18/A/097. The general aim of the project is to improve public health through the expansion of our knowledge about rare neuromuscular diseases and diagnostics of patients with such disorders.

Projects in 2018.

„Etiology of severe influenza infection in Northern Europe (NorthernFlu)”. The main goal of the project is to decipher etiology of severe influenza virus (IV) infections in Northern Europe. Research is funded by the project “MOBTT39: Towards better diagnostics and treatment of severe influenza infections” (NorthernFlu), funder: European Regional Development Fund, Research Council of Estonia under Mobilitas+ programme” resources, study subject recruitment is partly supported by Genome Database of Latvian popualtion. Approval by Central Medical Ethics Committee No: 1/18-01-24.

“Study of DNS integrity of Latvian population in relation to age, gender, life style and pathologies". The aim is to study DNA integrity sage in population of Latvia depending on various factors (gender, age, life style and health condition), to investigate association between DNS integrity and DNS reparation gene polymorphisms. Principal investigator: Prof. Nikolajs Sjakste. Approval by Central Medical Ethics Committee No: 1/17-10-10

"Identification of genetic markers involved in development of metastases and second cancers in melanoma (GENMEL)", Funding: ERA-NET on Translational Cancer Research (TRANSCAN) Joint Transnational Call for Proposals 2013 (JTC 2013) on: "Translational research on tertiary prevention in cancer patients", Project No.: GENMEL Z/15/1285 - PRL15/15, Period: 36 months (1st May 2015 – 30st April 2018). The aim is to identify genetic alterations having a prognostic value in development of metastases and second melanomas in asymptomatic patients that have undergone surgical treatment for primary cutaneous melanoma.

The National Research programme „Biomedicine for Public Health” (BIOMEDICINE), Project: No 2 „Molecular Mechanisms, Pharmacogenetics and New Medicines for Treatment of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Complications”, Programme implementation period: 2014-2017. Targets of the project: To gain scientific competence in public health by clinical, biomedical and health habit studies along with development of new diagnostic tools and medicines to reach enhancement in treatment and prophylaxis of diabetic complications aiming general improvement of public health.

„Molecular markers of pituitary tumor development, progression and therapy response”, Funding: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Measure 1.1.1.1 “Industry-Driven Research”, Project No: 1.1.1.1/16/A/066, Period: 1st January 2017 – 31 st December 2019. The main objective of this project is to investigate molecular determinants of pituitary adenoma development and progression and to identify the crucial factors linked to variability in clinical outcome that could further be applied as biomarkers for improvement of pituitary tumor treatment therapies.

„Investigation of interplay between multiple determinants influencing response to metformin: search for reliable predictors for efficacy of type 2 diabetes therapy”, Funding: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Measure 1.1.1.1 “Industry‑Driven Research”, Project No: 1.1.1.1/16/A/091, Period: 1st January 2017 – 31st December 2019. The objective of the project is to explore underinvestigated factors characterizing response to metformin with the aim to identify reliable biomarkers of efficacy and tolerability of metformin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

"LatDiane: Latvian Diabetic Nephropaty study", Funded by Basic funding form University of Latvia. Aim determine nitric oxide in type one diabetes patients serum and urine.

“Determination of genetic, epigenetic and clinical proteosomal markers of multiple sclerosis”, Funding: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 1.1.1.1/16/A/016. The aim of the project is to obtain novel findings about the role of proteosomal genetic, genomics and clinical importance in pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and to obtain knowledge and skills for medical and pharmacogenomical application.

Projects in 2017.

„Investigation of interplay between multiple determinants influencing response to metformin: search for reliable predictors for efficacy of type 2 diabetes therapy”, Funding: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Measure 1.1.1.1 “Industry‑Driven Research”, Project No: 1.1.1.1/16/A/091, Period: 1st January 2017 – 31st December 2019. The objective of the project is to explore underinvestigated factors characterizing response to metformin with the aim to identify reliable biomarkers of efficacy and tolerability of metformin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

"LatDiane: Latvian Diabetic Nephropaty study", Funded by Basic funding form University of Latvia. Aim determine nitric oxide in type one diabetes patients serum and urine.

Information about studies, that have been carried out before 2017 are stored in LGDB archive.

For the preparation of these research articles recources of Genome Database of Latvian population was used:

Year 2020.

García-Calzón, S., Perfilyev, A., Martinell, M., Ustinova, M., Kalamajski, S., Franks, P. W., Bacos, K., Elbere, I., Pihlajamäki, J., Volkov, P., Vaag, A., Groop, L., Maziarz, M., Klovins, J., Ahlqvist, E., & Ling, C. (2020). Epigenetic markers associated with metformin response and intolerance in drug-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes. Science translational medicine, 12(561), eaaz1803. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.aaz1803

Elbere I, Silamikelis I, Dindune I.I, Kalnina I, Ustinova M, Zaharenko L, Silamikele L, Rovite V, Gudra D, Konrade I, Sokolovska J, Pirags V, Klovins J. (2020) Baseline gut microbiome composition predicts metformin therapy short-term efficacy in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients. PLoS ONE 15(10): e0241338. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0241338

Ustinova, M., Ansone, L., Silamikelis, I., Rovite, V., Elbere, I., Silamikele, L., Kalnina, I., Fridmanis, D., Sokolovska, J., Konrade, I., Pirags, V., & Klovins, J. (2020). Whole-blood transcriptome profiling reveals signatures of metformin and its therapeutic response. PloS one, 15(8), e0237400. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237400

Alm E, Broberg EK, Connor T, Hodcroft EB, Komissarov AB, Maurer-Stroh S, Melidou A, Neher RA, O'Toole Á, Pereyaslov D; WHO European Region sequencing laboratories and GISAID EpiCoV group; WHO European Region sequencing laboratories and GISAID EpiCoV group*. Geographical and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 clades in the WHO European Region, January to June 2020. Euro Surveill. 2020 Aug;25(32):2001410. PMID: 32794443.

Peculis R, Balcere I, Radovica-Spalvina I, Konrade I, Caune O, Megnis K, Rovite V, Stukens J, Nazarovs J, Breiksa A, Kiecis A, Silamikelis I, Pirags V, Klovins J. Case report: recurrent pituitary adenoma has increased load of somatic variants. BMC Endocr Disord. 2020 Jan 29;20(1):17. PMID: 31996211

Peculis R, Mandrika I, Petrovska R, Dortane R, Megnis K, Nazarovs J, Balcere I, Stukens J, Konrade I, Pirags V, Klovins J, Rovite V. Pituispheres Contain Genetic Variants Characteristic to Pituitary Adenoma Tumor Tissue. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2020 May 22;11:313. PMID: 32528411

Eggermann T, Elbracht M, Kurth I, Juul A, Johannsen TH, Netchine I, Mastorakos G, Johannsson G, Musholt TJ, Zenker M, Prawitt D, Pereira AM, Hiort O; European Reference Network on Rare Endocrine Conditions (ENDO-ERN). Genetic testing in inherited endocrine disorders: joint position paper of the European reference network on rare endocrine conditions (Endo-ERN). Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2020 Jun 8;15(1):144. PMID: 32513286

Vedmedovska N, Bokucava D, Kivite-Urtane A, Rovite V, Zake-Nikitina L, Klovins J, Fodina V, Donders GGG. The Correlation Between Abnormal Uterine Artery Flow in the First Trimester and Genetic Thrombophilic Alteration: A Prospective Case-Controlled Pilot Study. Diagnostics (Basel). 2020 Aug 31;10(9):E654. PMID: 32878173

Sokolovska J, Stefanovics J, Gersone G, Pahirko L, Valeinis J, Kalva-Vaivode S, Rovite V, Blumfelds L, Pirags V, Tretjakovs P. Angiopoietin 2 and Neuropeptide Y are Associated with Diabetic Kidney Disease in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2020 Jan 20. PMID: 31958847

Zalizko P, Stefanovics J, Sokolovska J, Paramonova N, Klavina E, Erts R, Rovite V, Klovins J, Pukitis A. Thiopurine S-methyltransferase genetic polymorphisms in adult patients with inflammatory bowel diseases in the Latvian population. Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2020 Jul 14;13:1756284820937426. PMID: 32704308

Kamitaki N, Sekar A, Handsaker RE, de Rivera H, Tooley K, Morris DL, Taylor KE, Whelan CW, Tombleson P, Loohuis LMO, Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium; Boehnke M, Kimberly RP, Kaufman KM, Harley JB, Langefeld CD, Seidman CE, Pato MT, Pato CN, Ophoff RA, Graham RG, Criswell LA, Vyse TJ, McCarroll Complement genes contribute sex-biased vulnerability in diverse disorders. Nature. 2020 Jun;582(7813):577-581. PMID: 32499649

Mezinska S, Kaleja J, Mileiko I, Santare D, Rovite V, Tzivian L. Public awareness of and attitudes towards research biobanks in Latvia. BMC Med Ethics. 2020 Jul 31;21(1):65. PMID: 32736554

Nagle E., Luksa N., Moisejevs G., Gailite L. Risk factor analysis for gout in the Latvian population. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sceinces. Sect.B. Vol74(2020) No1 (724, pp.7-11).

Year 2019.

Taylor NJ, Mitra N, Qian L, Avril MF, Bishop DT, Paillerets BB, Bruno W, Calista D, Cuellar F, Cust AE, Demenais F, Elder DE, Gerdes AM, Ghiorzo P, Goldstein AM, Grazziotin TC, Gruis NA, Hansson J, Harland M, Hayward NK, Hocevar M, Höiom V, Holland EA, Ingvar C, Landi MT, Landman G, Larre-Borges A, Mann GJ, Nagore E, Olsson H, Palmer JM, Perić B, Pjanova D, Pritchard AL, Puig S, Schmid H, van der Stoep N, Tucker MA, Wadt KAW, Yang XR, Newton-Bishop JA, Kanetsky PA; GenoMEL Study Group. Estimating CDKN2A mutation carrier probability among global familial melanoma cases using GenoMELPREDICT. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019 Feb 4. pii: S0190-9622(19)30190-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.01.079.

Ozola A, Ruklisa D, Pjanova D. The complementary effect of rs1042522 in TP53 and rs1805007 in MC1R is associated with an elevated risk of cutaneous melanoma in Latvian population. Oncol Lett. 2019 Nov;18(5):5225-5234. doi: 10.3892/ol.2019.10906.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Diabetic Kidney Disease Highlights Biology Involved in Glomerular Basement Membrane Collagen. Salem RM, Todd JN, Sandholm N, Cole JB, Chen WM, Andrews D, Pezzolesi MG, McKeigue PM, Hiraki LT, Qiu C, Nair V, Di Liao C, Cao JJ, Valo E, Onengut-Gumuscu S, Smiles AM, McGurnaghan SJ, Haukka JK, Harjutsalo V, Brennan EP, van Zuydam N, Ahlqvist E, Doyle R, Ahluwalia TS, Lajer M, Hughes MF, Park J, Skupien J, Spiliopoulou A, Liu A, Menon R, Boustany-Kari CM, Kang HM, Nelson RG, Klein R, Klein BE, Lee KE, Gao X, Mauer M, Maestroni S, Caramori ML, de Boer IH, Miller RG, Guo J, Boright AP, Tregouet D, Gyorgy B, Snell-Bergeon JK, Maahs DM, Bull SB, Canty AJ, Palmer CNA, Stechemesser L, Paulweber B, Weitgasser R, Sokolovska J, Rovīte V, Pīrāgs V, Prakapiene E, Radzeviciene L, Verkauskiene R, Panduru NM, Groop LC, McCarthy MI, Gu HF, Möllsten A, Falhammar H, Brismar K, Martin F, Rossing P, Costacou T, Zerbini G, Marre M, Hadjadj S, McKnight AJ, Forsblom C, McKay G, Godson C, Maxwell AP, Kretzler M, Susztak K, Colhoun HM, Krolewski A, Paterson AD, Groop PH, Rich SS, Hirschhorn JN, Florez JC; SUMMIT Consortium, DCCT/EDIC Research Group, GENIE Consortium. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2019 Oct;30(10):2000-2016. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2019030218. Epub 2019 Sep 19.

Zalizko P, Stefanovics J, Sokolovska J, Paramonova N, Klavina E, Erts R, Rovite V, Klovins J, Pukitis A, Thiopurine S-methyltransferase genetic polymorphisms in adult patients with inflammatory bowel diseases in the Latvian population. Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology. (submitted for publication).

Stavusis J, Lace B, Schäfer J, Geist J, Inashkina I, Kidere D, Pajusalu S, Wright NT, Saak A, Weinhold M, Haubenberger D, Jackson S, Kontrogianni-Konstantopoulos A, Bönnemann CG. Novel mutations in MYBPC1 are associated with myogenic tremor and mild myopathy. (2019) Ann Neurol. 86 (1), pp. 129-142. PMID: 31025394.

Ustinova M, Silamikelis I, Kalnina I, Ansone L, Rovite V, Elbere I, Radovica-Spalvina I, Fridmanis D, Aladyeva J, Konrade I, Pirags V, Klovins J. Metformin strongly affects transcriptome of peripheral blood cells in healthy individuals. PLoS One. 2019 Nov 8;14(11):e0224835. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224835. PMID: 31703101; PMCID: PMC6839856.

Megnis K, Peculis R, Rovite V, Laksa P, Niedra H, Balcere I, Caune O, Breiksa A, Nazarovs J, Stukens J, Konrade I, Pirags V, Klovins J. Evaluation of the Possibility to Detect Circulating Tumor DNA From Pituitary Adenoma. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019 Sep 18;10:615. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00615. PMID: 31620080; PMCID: PMC6759656.

Hess JL, Tylee DS, Mattheisen M; Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium; Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research (iPSYCH), Børglum AD, Als TD, Grove J, Werge T, Mortensen PB, Mors O, Nordentoft M, Hougaard DM, Byberg-Grauholm J, Bækvad-Hansen M, Greenwood TA, Tsuang MT, Curtis D, Steinberg S, Sigurdsson E, Stefánsson H, Stefánsson K, Edenberg HJ, Holmans P, Faraone SV, Glatt SJ.. A polygenic resilience score moderates the genetic risk for schizophrenia. Mol Psychiatry (2019) doi:10.1038/s41380-019-0463-8.

Huckins LM, Dobbyn A, Ruderfer DM, Hoffman G, Wang W, Pardiñas AF, Rajagopal VM, Als TD, T Nguyen H, Girdhar K, Boocock J, Roussos P, Fromer M, Kramer R, Domenici E, Gamazon ER, Purcell S; CommonMind Consortium; Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium; iPSYCH-GEMS Schizophrenia Working Group, Demontis D, Børglum AD, Walters JTR, O'Donovan MC, Sullivan P, Owen MJ, Devlin B, Sieberts SK, Cox NJ, Im HK, Sklar P, Stahl EA. Gene expression imputation across multiple brain regions provides insights into schizophrenia risk. Nat Genet 51, 659–674 (2019) doi:10.1038/s41588-019-0364-4.

Harold D, Connolly S, Riley BP, Kendler KS, McCarthy SE, McCombie WR, Richards A, Owen MJ, O'Donovan MC, Walters J; Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium 2; Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Donohoe G, Gill M, Corvin A, Morris DW. Population-based identity-by-descent mapping combined with exome sequencing to detect rare risk variants for schizophrenia. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet. 2019 Apr;180(3):223-231. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32716. Epub 2019 Feb 23. PMID: 30801977.

Year 2018.

Ozola A., Ruklisa D., Pjanova D. Association of the 16q24.3 region gene variants rs1805007 and rs4785763 with heightened risk of melanoma in Latvian population. Meta Gene (2018) 18:87-92.

Grasmane A., Rots D., Vitina Z, Magomedova V, Gailite L. The association of FMR1 gene (CGG)n variation with idiopathic female infertility.Archives of Medical Sciences (pieņemts publikācijai 2018,gadā, publicēšana 2019/2020 gadā).

Gailite, L., Rots, D., Pukite, I., Cernevska, G., Kreile, M. Case report: multiple UGT1A1 gene variants in a patient with Crigler-Najjar syndrome. BMC Pediatrics, Volume 18, Issue 1, 3 October 2018, 317. doi: 10.1186/s12887-018-1285-6.

Moisejevs G., Gailite L., Isajevs S., Nikitina Zake L., Kempa I., Janciauskis D., Kikuste I., Sivins A., Ancans G., Leja M. Lack of association between rs2067474 in the histamine receptor H2 gene and gastric cancer in Latvian population. Latvian Science Proceedings (pieņemts publicēšanai)

Elbere I, Silamikelis I, Ustinova M, Kalnina I, Zaharenko L, Peculis R, Konrade I, Ciuculete DM, Zhukovsky C, Gudra D, Radovica-Spalvina I, Fridmanis D, Pirags V, Schiöth HB, Klovins J 2018. Significantly altered peripheral blood cell DNA methylation profile as a result of immediate effect of metformin use in healthy individuals. Clinical Epigenetics DOI: 10.1186/s13148-018-0593-xiT scalled.

Ustinova M, Silamikelis I, Elbere I, Kalnina I, Ansone L, Rovite V, Radovica-Spalvina I, Fridmanis D, Aladyeva J, Konrade I, Pirags V, Klovins J. Metformin Strongly Affects Transcriptome of Peripheral Blood Cells in Healthy Individuals” (Iesniegta publicēšanai Scientific Reports)

Elbere I, Kalnina I, Silamikelis I, Konrade I, Zaharenko L, Sekace K, Radovica-Spalvina I, Fridmanis D, Gudra D, Pirags V, Klovins J. (2018) Association of metformin administration with gut microbiome dysbiosis in healthy volunteers. PLoS ONE 13(9): e0204317.

Tambets K, Yunusbayev B, Hudjashov G, Ilumäe AM, Rootsi S, Honkola T, Vesakoski O, Atkinson Q, Skoglund P, Kushniarevich A, Litvinov S, Reidla M, Metspalu E, Saag L, Rantanen T, Karmin M, Parik J, Zhadanov SI, Gubina M, Damba LD, Bermisheva M, Reisberg T, Dibirova K, Evseeva I, Nelis M, Klovins J, Metspalu A, Esko T, Balanovsky O, Balanovska E, Khusnutdinova EK, Osipova LP, Voevoda M, Villems R, Kivisild T, Metspalu M. Genes reveal traces of common recent demographic history for most of the Uralic-speaking populations. Genome Biol. 2018 Sep 21;19(1):139.

Ni G, Gratten J, Wray NR, Lee SH; Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. Age at first birth in women is genetically associated with increased risk of schizophrenia. Sci Rep. 2018 Jul 5;8(1):10168.

Brainstorm Consortium; Analysis of shared heritability in common disorders of the brain. Science. 2018 Jun 22;360(6395).

Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. Genomic Dissection of Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia, Including 28 Subphenotypes. Cell. 2018 Jun 14;173(7):1705-1715

Ni G, Moser G; Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Wray NR, Lee SH. Estimation of Genetic Correlation via Linkage Disequilibrium Score Regression and Genomic Restricted Maximum Likelihood. Am J Hum Genet. 2018 Jun 7;102(6):1185-1194

Year 2017.

McLaughlin RL, Schijven D, van Rheenen W, van Eijk KR, O'Brien M, Kahn RS, Ophoff RA, Goris A, Bradley DG, Al-Chalabi A, van den Berg LH, Luykx JJ, Hardiman O, Veldink JH; Project MinE GWAS Consortium; Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. Genetic correlation between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and schizophrenia. Nat Commun. 2017 Mar 21;8:14774.

Sviklāne L, Olmane E, Dzērve Z, Kupčs K, Pīrāgs V V, Sokolovska J. Fatty liver index and hepatic steatosis index predict non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in type 1 diabetes. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017 May 2.

A New Baltic Population-Specific Human Genetic Marker in the PMCA4 Gene. Stavusis J, Inashkina I, Lace B, Pelnena D, Limborska S, Khrunin A, Kucinskas V, Krumina A, Piekuse L, Zorn B, Fodina V, Punab M, Erenpreiss J. Hum Hered. 2016;82(3-4):140-146. doi: 10.1159/000481434. Epub 2017 Nov 2.

Rovite V, Wolff-Sagi Y, Zaharenko L, Nikitina-Zake L, Grens E, Klovins J. Genome Database of the Latvian Population (LGDB): design, goals, and primary results. Journal of Epidemiology. Accepted August 6th, 2017, in press.

Ilze Elbere, Ineta Kalnina, Ivars Silamikelis, Ilze Konrade, Linda Zaharenko, Ilze Radovica-Spalvina, Davids Fridmanis, Dita Gudra, Valdis Pirags, Janis Klovins. Association of metformin administration with gut microbiome dysbiosis in healthy volunteers. The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.

Year 2016.

Dujic, T., Zhou, K., Yee, S.W., van Leeuwen N., de Keyser, C.E., Javorský, M., Goswami, S., Zaharenko. L., Marie, M., Christensen, H., Out, M., Tavendale, R., Kubo, M., Hedderson, M.M., van der Heijden, A.A., Klimčáková, L., Pirags, V., Kooy, A., Brøsen, K., Klovins, J., Semiz, S., Tkáč, I., Stricker, B.H., Palmer, C.N., 't Hart, L.M., Giacomini, K.M., Pearson, E.R. Variants in Pharmacokinetic Transporters and Glycaemic Response to Metformin: A MetGen Meta-Analysis. 2016. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Epub ahead of print. PMID: 27859023

Zaharenko, L., Kalnina, I., Geldnere, K., Konrade, I., Grinberga, S., Židzik ,J., Javorský, M., Lejnieks, A., Nikitina-Zake, L., Fridmanis, D., Peculis, R., Radovica-Spalvina, I., Hartmane, D., Pugovics, O., Tkáč, I., Klimčáková, L., Pirags, V., Klovins, J. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the intergenic region between metformin transporter OCT2 and OCT3 genes are associated with short-term response to metformin monotherapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. 2016. European Journal of Endocrinology, Epub ahead of print. PMID: 27609360

Peculis, R., Balcere, I., Rovite, V., Megnis, K., Valtere, A., Stukens, J., Arnicane, L., Nikitina-Zake, L., Lejnieks, A., Pirags, V., Klovins, J. Polymorphisms in MEN1 and DRD2 genes are associated with the occurrence and characteristics of pituitary adenomas (2016) European Journal of Endocrinology, 175 (2), pp. 145-153. PMID: 27185868

Franke, B., Stein, J.L., Ripke, S., Anttila, V., Hibar, D.P., van Hulzen, K.J., Arias-Vasquez, A., Smoller, J.W., Nichols, T.E., Neale, M.C., McIntosh, A.M., Lee, P., McMahon, F.J., Meyer-Lindenberg, A., Mattheisen, M., Andreassen, O.A., Gruber, O., Sachdev, P.S., Roiz-Santiañez, R., Saykin, A.J., Ehrlich, S., Mather, K.A., Turner, J.A., Schwarz, E., Thalamuthu, A., Yao, Y., Ho, Y.Y., Martin, N.G., Wright, M.J., Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Psychosis Endophenotypes International Consortium, Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium 2, Enigma Consortium, O'Donovan, M.C., Thompson, P.M., Neale, B.M., Medland, S.E., Sullivan, P.F. Genetic influences on schizophrenia and subcortical brain volumes: large-scale proof of concept (2016) Nature Neuroscience, 19(3):420-31. PMID: 26854805

Sekar, A., Bialas, A.R., de Rivera, H., Davis, A., Hammond, T.R., Kamitaki, N., Tooley, K., Presumey, J., Baum, M., Van Doren, V., Genovese, G., Rose, S.A., Handsaker, R.E., Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Daly, M.J., Carroll, M.C., Stevens, B., McCarroll, S.A. Schizophrenia risk from complex variation of complement component 4 (2016). Nature, 530(7589):177-83. PMID: 26814963

Bigdeli, T.B., Ripke, S., Bacanu, S.A., Lee, S.H., Wray, N.R., Gejman, P.V., Rietschel, M., Cichon, S., St Clair, D., Corvin, A., Kirov, G., McQuillin, A., Gurling, H., Rujescu, D., Andreassen, O.A., Werge, T., Blackwood, D.H., Pato, C.N., Pato, M.T., Malhotra, A.K., O'Donovan, M.C., Kendler, K.S., Fanous, A.H., Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. Genome-wide association study reveals greater polygenic loading for schizophrenia in cases with a family history of illness (2016) American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics, 171B(2):276-89. PMID: 26663532

Hamdi, Y., .... Tihomirova, L., ..... Simard, J. Association of breast cancer risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers with genetic variants showing differential allelic expression: identification of a modifier of breast cancer risk at locus 11q22.3 (2016) Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, pp. 1-18. PMID: 27796716

Lawrenson, K., … Tihimirova, L., ... Price, M. Functional mechanisms underlying pleiotropic risk alleles at the 19p13.1 breast-ovarian cancer susceptibility locus (2016) Nature Communications, 7, art. no. 12675. PMID: 27601076

Hollestelle, A.,…. Tihomirova, L., … Goode, E.L., Breast Cancer Family Register, EMBRACE, GENICA Network, HEBON, SWE-BRCA No clinical utility of KRAS variant rs61764370 for ovarian or breast cancer (2016) Gynecologic Oncology, 141 (2), pp. 386-401. PMID: 25940428

Couch, F.J.,…, Tihomirova, L., …. Antoniou, A.C. Identification of four novel susceptibility loci for oestrogen receptor negative breast cancer (2016) Nature Communications, 7, art. no. 11375. PMID: 27117709

Dunning, A.M.,… Tihomirova, L., … Edwards, S.L. Breast cancer risk variants at 6q25 display different phenotype associations and regulate ESR1, RMND1 and CCDC170 (2016) Nature Genetics, 48 (4), pp. 374-386. PMID: 26928228

Meeks, H.D., …. Tihomirova, L., … Goldgar, D.E. BRCA2 Polymorphic Stop Codon K3326X and the Risk of Breast, Prostate, and Ovarian Cancers (2016) Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 108 (2), art. no. Djv315. PMID: 26586665

Inashkina, I., Jankevics, E., Stavusis, J., Vasiljeva, I., Viksne, K., Micule, I., Strautmanis, J., Naudina, M.S., Cimbalistiene, L., Kucinskas, V., Krumina, A., Utkus, A., Burnyte, B., Matuleviciene, A., Lace, B.

Robust genotyping tool for autosomal recessive type of limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (2016) BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 17 (1), art. no. 1058. PMID: 27142102

Igumnova, V., Capligina, V., Krams, A., Cirule, A., Elferts, D., Pole, I., Jansone, I., Bandere, D., Ranka, R. Genotype and allele frequencies of isoniazid-metabolizing enzymes NAT2 and GSTM1 in Latvian tuberculosis patients (2016) Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy, 22 (7), pp. 472-477. PMID: 27236516

Information about publications, that have been published before 2016 are stored in LGDB archive

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