Prof. Maija Dambrova Receives Cabinet of Ministers Award

On 22 November, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš and ministers from various sectors presented six Cabinet of Ministers awards to prominent Latvian personalities and charitable organisations on behalf of the government. These were awarded to the recipients for the significant achievements they have made in developing the Latvian state in science, culture, and the public sphere.

‘Today's Cabinet of Ministers Award laureates serve to remind society that we are outstanding, and that everyone has the potential to achieve this,’

Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš said at the opening of the award ceremony.

The Cabinet of Ministers Award for outstanding achievements in science was presented to Maija Dambrova, Professor at the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, and academician at the Latvian Academy of Sciences, for her collection of works "Oriģinālu zāļvielu darbības mehānismu noskaidrošana un jaunu pielietojumu izstrāde” (Elucidation of mechanisms of action of original medicinal substances and development of new applications).

RSU Prof. Maija Dambrova receives the Cabinet of Ministers Award. Photo from the Cabinet of Ministers archive

She has developed and patented drugs for treating cardiovascular, central nervous system, and other diseases. Prof. Dambrova has made Latvia known world-wide, as her publications are included in the top-level scientific journals.

Pārējie šā gada laureāti 

• Andrejs Rauhvargers, Doctor of Chemistry
• Conductor Aleksandrs Viļumanis
• The refugee aid association Gribu palīdzēt bēgļiem
• The non-profit SOS Children's Villages Latvia
• Sanita Zute, Head of the Research Department at the Stende Research Centre, the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics, Lead Researcher of the Crop Breeding and Agroecology Department, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences

Photo from the Cabinet of Ministers archive

The award of the Cabinet of Ministers is the highest award of the Latvian government – the next highest after the Order of the Three Stars. At the ceremony, the laureates received the Cabinet of Ministers Diploma of Honour and badge, as well as a cash prize of 7,115 EUR. These laureates are outstanding examples of professionalism, perseverance, and dedication.