History

Development of Two Institutes – One Shared Future

The Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (OSI) and the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (BMC) have evolved under different historical circumstances, developing their own scientific specializations, research cultures, and international collaboration networks. Throughout their existence, both institutions have become internationally recognized leaders in their respective fields and important pillars of Latvian science.

Today, the experience and expertise accumulated by these institutes are being brought together within NIRI, creating a new integrated research platform in the fields of health, technology, and environmental sciences.

Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (OSI)

The Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis was founded on January 1, 1957. Its founder and first director was Academician Solomons Hillers, an outstanding specialist in heterocyclic chemistry and a distinguished science organizer, under whose leadership the institute developed into a full-cycle drug discovery and development center.

Since its establishment, the core mission of OSI has been the discovery and development of new pharmaceutical compounds, encompassing chemical synthesis, biological testing, patenting, process development for manufacturing, and collaboration with medical centers in conducting clinical studies. The institute has created 18 original drug substances and more than 100 technologies for the production of generic medicines, securing OSI a stable position within the international pharmaceutical research landscape.

Following the restoration of Latvia’s independence in 1991, OSI became an independent institute and successfully adapted to a project-based research funding system, significantly expanding its international collaborations with pharmaceutical companies and research organizations across Europe, the United States, and Asia.

Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (BMC)

The Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre was founded in 1993 under the leadership of Professor Elmārs Grēns, bringing together research groups in molecular biology, biomedicine, and related disciplines. Since 2006, BMC has operated as an independent state research institute.

BMC’s research focuses on molecular and precision medicine, biotechnology, structural biology, as well as molecular ecology and biosystems research. The institute maintains several nationally significant research infrastructures and databases, including the National Genome Database of the Latvian Population.

Latvia’s accession to the European Union opened new opportunities for infrastructure development, and in 2016 the Biomedical Technology Complex was inaugurated—a modern platform for the development of novel diagnostic methods, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines.