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On October 10 and 11, the 3rd international PMNET Forum, a Precision Medicine Networking Forum, will take place at the National Library of Latvia in Riga. This forum is one of the leading precision medicine platforms in Northern Europe, bringing together over 50 speakers and 400 participants from more than 20 countries to discuss pressing issues affecting the development of precision medicine in Latvia and globally.
This year, the focus is on precision medicine and related fields such as genetics, functional methods, and sharing experiences from different countries. The forum will convene those responsible for shaping the future of patient care and medical development in Latvia. Additionally, discussions will address increasing patient engagement and resolving challenges related to human resource availability in the healthcare sector.
Precision medicine is a new approach to disease treatment and prevention that takes into account each individual’s genetic diversity, environment, and lifestyle. The forum aims to improve patient care and outcomes by promoting the development and implementation of precision medicine in clinical practice, making it more accessible in Latvia.
Speakers from the USA, Western Europe, Scandinavia, Israel, Lithuania, and Estonia will attend the PMNET Forum. Thanks to the scale of the forum, Latvia and Riga are emerging as one of Europe’s centers for precision medicine, research, and innovation.
“Precision medicine is a vital part of the biotechnology and biomedical sectors, which are crucial to our economic development. We are working on using genetic data to create personalized treatment plans and many other projects. This positions Latvia internationally as a leader in precision medicine in the region and attracts foreign investments in this field,” highlighted Raivis Bremšmits, Director of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA).
The PMNET Forum's keynote speakers include Olli Kallioniemi, a leading expert in precision medicine, technology, data, and artificial intelligence, who has made significant contributions to precision medicine research. Stefan Pfister, a specialist in pediatric brain tumors and head of the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Department at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg University Hospital, will discuss improving access to next-generation molecular diagnostics for tumors globally.
For the first time, the PMNET Forum will also feature the health hackathon “Riga iDays,” organized in collaboration with Riga Stradiņš University and the European Institute of Innovation & Technology Health (EIT Health). This hackathon will give students from across Latvia the chance to develop their ideas in healthcare, collaborate with industry experts, and create innovative solutions that could address pressing healthcare issues in Latvia and abroad.
During the forum, the first national roundtable discussion of the Precision Medicine Ecosystem Coordination Group will take place, and national or international initiatives and partnerships will be launched. For example, a memorandum of understanding will be signed with EATRIS, involving major scientific centers and universities such as Riga Stradiņš University (RSU), the University of Latvia (LU), the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (BMC), and the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (OSI). EATRIS is a European infrastructure for translational medicine, combining resources and services to help research communities translate scientific discoveries into patient benefits.
The PMNET Forum aims to provide patients with more effective, evidence-based treatment methods and ensure access to healthcare services, including through the latest medical technologies. To achieve this, collaboration among doctors, scientists, hospital administrations, patient organizations, healthcare institutions, policymakers, global corporations, and leading hospitals is essential.
The PMNET Forum has become a significant event due to contributions from both local and international experts. It is organized by the Children's Clinical University Hospital, Riga Stradiņš University, the Children's Hospital Foundation, the Latvian Childhood Oncology Foundation, the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Health, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), and several patient organizations, in cooperation with the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, the American Chamber of Commerce in Latvia, the University of Latvia, Riga Technical University, Riga East University Hospital, and Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital.
More information about the forum program and speakers is available on www.pmnetforum.com. Follow the forum's updates and activities on social media platforms such as Facebook and LinkedIn, using hashtags #MissionLatvia, #ESfondi, #investEU, #PMNETforum2024, and #PrecisionMedicineNetwork.
The PMNET Forum is funded by the European Regional Development Fund project "Support for Innovative Business Development of SMEs" No. 1.2.3.1/1/23/I/001 through LIAA. The forum is also organized with financial support from the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation.