LSMU

Lithuanian University of Health Sciences

Lithuania

Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) is one of the best and largest institutions of higher education for biomedical sciences in Lithuania with 100 years of academic experience and great potential for development. LSMU is the largest institution of higher education and research of health specialist education in Lithuania. There are 7 faculties and 5 research institutes at the University, and 168 structural subdivisions operate to ensure the unity, social, cultural, and other needs of science, studies, and clinical and veterinary practice. Medical teaching and research are mainly based on cooperation with the largest health care institution in the Baltic States – the Hospital of LSMU “Kauno klinikos”. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is the only establishment in Lithuania to train veterinarians. A number of other health-related programmes (Pharmacy, Food Sciences, Public Health, Nursing, etc.) are offered to students here, within the modern and innovative environment. The University community consists of nearly 3,000 employees. The teaching staff of LSMU consists of 203 professors, 227 associate professors, 358 lecturers, and 440 assistant professors. At present, the University offers 125 study programmes and has more than 8,000 students, residents, and doctoral students.

Competence and main role(s) in the project

The main role and major contribution of LSMU during WP2 are to collect and preserve samples of rumen, lower GI tract (faeces), upper respiratory tract, inter-digital regions and blood of 100 calves from birth to 8 months (task 2.2) and dairy cows through to the first lactation (task 2.3). At the same time record health and production of animals.

Project staff

Rasa Zelvyte

Rasa Zelvyte is a professor in the Department of Anatomy and Physiology and senior researcher in the Research Centre of Digestive Physiology and Pathology, Veterinary Academy (VA) of LSMU. She received her PhD in 2000, which focused on regulation of fermentative processes in the rumen fluid of dairy cows. Research is focused on digestive physiology of ruminants, rumen fermentation, the physiological processes; published over 40 scientific articles. She is the head of the Council of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the head of the Department of Anatomy and Physiology since 2019. The role in the project: project coordination at LSMU.

Ingrida Monkeviciene

Ingrida Monkeviciene is a professor in the Department of Anatomy and Physiology (since 2010) and senior researcher in the Research Centre of Digestive Physiology and Pathology, Veterinary Academy (since 1997) of LSMU. Education: 1984-1989 – Lithuanian Veterinary Academy (now LSMU); Academic Appointments: 1997 – PhD VM. Field of research: Physiology and Pathology of digestion in ruminants. More than 50 scientific articles. The role in the project: administration work.

Ignas Silinskas

Ignas Silinskas is a junior scientist in the Research Centre of Digestive Physiology and Pathology, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Veterinary Academy (VA) of LSMU. He received his PhD in 2021, which focused on rumen microbiome and related fermentative processes, health and production of dairy cows. Also works as VMD - consultant in a private veterinary farmaceutical company UAB “VetMarket”. The main role is dairy and beef farm consulting. The role in the project is SOP implementation, samples collection and process tracking.

Sigitas Japertas

Sigitas Japertas is a director at LSMU Practical Training and Testing Centre. Received his PhD VM in 2000. Sigitas has vast scientific experience in infectious diseases of dairy cattle and ruminants nutrition. The role in the project: responsible for animal management.

The HoloRuminant project has received funding from European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 101000213. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and not the European Commission (EC). The EC is not liable for any use that may be made of them information contained herein.