Celebrating the highlights of RSU Research Week 2025: winners of the Best Paper Competition
With RSU Research Week 2025 successfully concluded, it's time to reflect on the standout moments and exceptional research presented during the event.
A tradition of Research Week, the Best Paper Competition serves as a platform for both emerging and established researchers, supporting their efforts to publish high-quality work in peer-reviewed journals. This year’s competition unfolded in two stages: the highest-rated abstracts during the review phase advanced to the live presentation round, where the top 10 winners were ultimately selected. We are proud to spotlight the seven oral and three poster presentations that received Best Paper Competition awards in 2025.
Maija Radziņa and her team of radiologists presented findings on “Predictors of Poor Long-Term Outcomes after Successful Thrombectomy in Large Vessel Acute Ischemic Stroke.” Their research revealed that poor outcomes were independently associated with patient age, longer time to needle, a greater number of thrombectomy passes, and higher NIH stroke scale scores at admission.
Sabīne Laktiņa showcased “Results of Newborn Screening for Biotinidase Deficiency Over a 5-Year Period: Genotype and Phenotype, Therapy, and Challenges.” Her work emphasised the critical importance of early screening for rare diseases in newborns to enable timely diagnosis and effective treatment.
From the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Edita Kuncevičienė presented “Studies of miRNAs in Patients with Demyelinating Pathologies: Insights and Challenges.” Her team concluded that their findings may aid future research into the use of specific miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for demyelinating neurological conditions.
Kristīne Oļeiņika shared results from her study, “GdIgA+ B Cell Differentiation in IgA Nephropathy,” carried out within a significant RSU-led research project. The findings suggest that B cells play a role in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy, breaking new ground for further investigation of this pathway to uncover biomarkers and develop therapeutic interventions.
The Society. Health. Welfare. public health conference featured a number of outstanding contributions. Among them was Linda Matisāne and the RSU Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health team’s study, “Work-Life Balance and Musculoskeletal Pain: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Study in Latvia.” Their work highlighted strong links between poor work-life balance and increased incidence of lower back and neck pain, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.
Continuing the focus on public health, Mārtiņš Zvackis explored a previously underexamined topic in his study, “Moderating Role of Gender in the Association between Heavy Episodic Drinking and Analgesic Use in the Latvian Population.” His research found a significant gender-based interaction, with women more likely to use medication for headaches and other pain types in conjunction with heavy episodic drinking.
Let’s not forget the social sciences! Dzintra Atstāja presented an award-winning poster at the PLACES conference: “Towards Sustainability: Factors Driving Green Business Transition of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Latvia.” The study revealed that external pressures often outweigh internal motivators, with many SMEs viewing the transition to greener practices as a burden due to high initial costs rather than a strategic opportunity.
The merger of RSU with the Latvian Academy of Sport Education (LASE) gave us a rich session of sports medicine. Dace Reihmane presented her award-winning study, “Ultra-Endurance Velo Race Induces 10-Fold Increase in Serum FGF-21 Levels.” The study examined how free fatty acids and glycerol predict the dramatic increase in the stress-inducible hormone FGF-21 during ultra-endurance events – supporting its proposed role in optimising energy substrate utilisation during intense exercise.
In the Innovative Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems session, Anete Upīte presented “Enhancing Nanoparticle Features through Ethylene-Bridged Cationic Moieties and Branched Ester Chains in the 1,4-Dihydropyridine Core.” Her team explored how molecular modifications can influence the self-assembling properties of compounds used in drug nanodelivery systems.
Finally, Kristaps Kļaviņš shared findings from an international study titled “Neonatal Urinary Metabolomics in Sepsis.” The research examined a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, showing that urinary metabolomics has strong potential for developing non-invasive biomarkers to improve early sepsis diagnosis in newborns.
These award-winning works exemplify innovation, scientific excellence, and the potential to reshape how we understand and address complex challenges in medicine, public health, and society. Congratulations to all the Best Paper Competition winners – we look forward to seeing your full studies published in Q1 journals!
