Today, 21 November, the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS) has bestowed its most prestigious award – the Grand Medal – on Dr. Pharm. Maija Dambrova, a leading researcher at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS). She is also the founder and head of the Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology. This award, the highest honour in Latvian science, recognises extraordinary contributions to scientific progress by both local and international researchers.
First awarded in 1993, the Grand Medal has been conferred on only a select few individuals. Remarkably, Dr. Dambrova is one of just nine women to have received this distinction. Among the past laureates are renowned figures such as Jānis Stradiņš, Elmārs Grēns, Imants Lancmanis, Mārcis Auziņš, and Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga.
An Impressive Career of Firsts
After earning her doctorate in pharmaceutical sciences at Uppsala University in Sweden, Dr. Dambrova acquired cutting-edge expertise in studying drug action mechanisms and gained experience in translating scientific discoveries into practical applications. Recognising her talent, LIOS’s then-director, Ivars Kalviņš, invited her more than 20 years ago to establish a new research unit – the Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology.
Under her leadership, the laboratory has become a robust platform for innovative research. It has played a significant role in uncovering the mechanisms behind meldonium, Latvia’s most prominent pharmaceutical export, and has facilitated the discovery of new drug candidates. The laboratory now serves as a vibrant hub of creativity and scientific collaboration, supporting doctoral research and a diverse range of studies.
Its focus areas include molecular pharmacology research related to cardiovascular, metabolic, and central nervous system diseases, as well as cancer.
A Passion for Discovery
“I am deeply connected to medicine, but from a molecular perspective. I study what happens at the cellular level during illness and seek treatment solutions for conditions where no drugs are available or where existing ones are insufficiently effective. It is thrilling to be the first in the world to conceive and understand new concepts – and this process of discovery continues,” says Dr. Dambrova.
A Multifaceted Contributor to Science
In addition to her research at LIOS, Dr. Dambrova is a member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, a professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Rīga Stradiņš University’s Faculty of Pharmacy, and a prolific contributor to leading international scientific journals. Her research results have also been patented, further cementing her impact on global science.
