The objective of this Twinning project is to significantly strengthen the research in Riga Stradins University (RSU; Latvia) in the smart specialization area of Latvia “bio-medicine, medical technologies, and biotechnologies” with application to immunotherapy of cancer through building an up-rising connections with two internationally leading research institutions, Institute of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) and the Department of General Biophysics, University of Lodz (Poland). Both represent centers of excellence in the design, testing and clinical applications of a wide class of immunotherapeuticals, with focus on technologies exploiting naked nucleic acids.

This project aims to stimulate intersectoral and international collaboration within Europe and with an ICPC country, Kazakhstan, in the area of novel nanoporous and nanostructured adsorbents for the treatment of very serious health conditions associated with acute and chronic exposure to external radiation and uptake of heavy metals and radiation as a consequence of accidental, occupational or deliberate activities and events. This can dramatically lower the quality of life of the people affected and at present the treatment available is costly and inefficient. Radioactive contamination is a particularly serious problem in two of the countries participating in this project, namely, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, on large territories of the Chernobyl zone and around Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, respectively. A large number of people are affected by living in the areas with elevated level of radioactivity with uncertain long-term consequences to their health and the health of future generations. The expected impact of the project results is development of efficient and cost-effective methods of protection of first responders, population and cancer patients treated with radiotherapy from elevated doses of external and incorporated radiation and for occupational health protection of personnel working and the population living in areas contaminated with heavy metals.