This week, NIRI is hosting the international training course "Modern NMR for Biomolecular Interactions: From Solution and Solid-State to Hyperpolarisation and AI". Organized by NIRI in collaboration with Instruct-ERIC and the MR LATVIA consortium, this training is designed for doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career scientists.

Throughout the course, participants gain in-depth knowledge of modern solution and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods for studying biomolecular interactions, hyperpolarization approaches, and artificial intelligence solutions for data analysis. The program features both lectures and practical hands-on sessions focused on investigating protein–ligand interactions and interpreting experimental data.

As part of the course, NIRI had the honor of welcoming Professor Harald Schwalbe from Goethe University Frankfurt, one of Europe’s leading researchers in biomolecular NMR and RNA structural biology. Professor Schwalbe currently serves as the Director of Instruct-ERIC — the European Research Infrastructure Consortium for Structural Biology.

During his visit, Professor Schwalbe met with the institute's leadership and researchers, familiarized himself with NIRI's scientific activities and infrastructure, and discussed future collaboration opportunities within international research networks. He also delivered a lecture titled "Development of antiviral inhibitors targeting RNAs from SARS-CoV-2 – An example for work in Instruct-ERIC", showcasing the latest research in developing antiviral compounds using structural biology methods and the opportunities provided by international research infrastructures.

Professor Schwalbe's visit and the hosting of this international training course in Riga demonstrate the active engagement of Latvian science within the European Research Area and foster new collaborations in the field of biomolecular research and structural biology.

The National Institute of Research and Innovation is implementing project No. 1.1.1.5/3/24/I/006 “Development of Latvia’s research potential by strengthening the integration of the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre into European infrastructures and scientific networks”, within which the Latvian National Partnership Plan of the Integrated Structural Biology Infrastructure (Instruct-ERIC) is being implemented.

https://niri.lv/niri-viesojas-instruct-eric-direktors-profesors-haralds-svalbe/