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Children’s Hospital opens new Center of Excellence

Jan 31

On 29 January, the Children’s Hospital celebrated the grand opening of the Center of Excellence for Precision Medicine (PMPC), marking a significant step forward in the development of healthcare in Latvia. The mission of this newly established center is to advance precision medicine approaches in diagnosing and applying targeted therapies for pediatric illnesses, thus improving the quality and outcomes of children’s healthcare.

Research infrastructure will be established at the center, including a biobank, genomics, and data analysis unit, as well as a clinical trial unit. This will enable a deeper understanding of the genetic foundations of pediatric diseases and foster the development and implementation of new therapies that can substantially improve treatment outcomes in the future. The PMPC project will also focus on knowledge transfer and research in areas such as rapid molecular diagnostics and cell-based immunotherapies (CAR-T).

The center's operations for the first six years will be funded by a €14.4 million grant from the Horizon Europe WIDERA program. Specialists from the Princess Máxima Centrum – the largest center for childhood cancer in Europe – closely cooperate with Children's Clinical University Hospital (CCUH) Riga in the establishment and initiation of PMPC.

The Health Advancement Center (HAC) will be constructed thanks to a €19.6 million donation from John Tully. The new facility will house the Pediatric Precision Medicine Center, a state-of-the-art laboratory, and spaces for training, simulations, and innovation. This represents the largest private donation since Latvia regained independence.

According to John, “Children's health is the cornerstone of our society's future. It is a great honor and privilege for me to continue supporting the Children's Hospital by participating in this significant project and promoting its goal of becoming a center of excellence in pediatric healthcare and research in Europe. The establishment of the Precision Medicine in Pediatric Care (PMPC) and the Healthcare Advancement Center (HAC) is a testament to the vision, courage, and determination of the Children's Hospital experts and professionals, as well as international partners, focused on improving the quality of life for children. I am confident that these collective efforts will provide life-saving treatments to children who would otherwise not survive”.

Precision medicine focuses on tailored approaches to the study and treatment of diseases, considering each patient’s unique genetic profile, lifestyle, and other factors. The establishment of the Center of Excellence for Precision Medicine at the Children’s Hospital creates an unparalleled opportunity to develop a modern scientific foundation and research infrastructure, enabling more accurate disease research and a deeper understanding of rare and complex pediatric illnesses, such as oncological and genetic disorders. The PMPC will allow for significant advancements in treating children with the most complex conditions by utilizing the latest technologies and scientific methods.

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