The First Lady visited the European Molecular Biology Laboratory’s Bioinformatics Institute together with Lithuanian scientists

Lithuania's First Lady, Diana Nausėdienė, visited the European Molecular Biology Laboratory's Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) in the United Kingdom on Wednesday.

EMBL is a network of Europe's leading molecular biology and biotechnology institutes, bringing together 29 member states, including Lithuania. The EMBL Council - the organization's principal governing body - is currently chaired by Professor Virginijus Šikšnys of Vilnius University.

Diana Nausėdienė emphasized that the databases and bioinformatics resources collected and maintained by EMBL-EBI researchers transform the achievements of modern life sciences into powerful tools that help create a better, wiser, and more innovative world. Scientists from around the globe are united in working toward a brighter, healthier, and safer future for humanity.

Accompanying the First Lady was a delegation of scientists from four Lithuanian universities - Vilnius University, Vytautas Magnus University, the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, and Klaipėda University-who reviewed opportunities for future cooperation with the institute.

Mrs. Nausėdienė presented the institute' leadership with a unique gift: the Lithuanian national anthem, Tautiška giesmė, by Vincas Kudirka, encoded into a DNA molecule by young Lithuanian scientists who founded the company Genomika. According to the First Lady, embedding Lithuania's national anthem in an artificial DNA molecule symbolizes the role of future technologies not only in storing and preserving data but also in safeguarding historical memory and the cultural identity of nations and individuals.

EMBL-EBI manages the world's most comprehensive collection of freely accessible data resources and tools. These are essential for research, scientific discovery, and the development of innovative solutions to global challenges such as human health, food shortages, and biodiversity loss.

Lithuania has been a full member of EMBL since 2019. In 2020, the EMBL Partnership Institute, led by Professor Virginijus Šikšnys, was established at the Life Sciences Center of Vilnius University, specializing in gene editing technologies.