Dace Pjanova

Professor Dace Pjanova is a Research Professor (Tenured Professor) at the Institute of Microbiology and Virology, University of Latvia, where she leads the Prof. Dace Pjanova Group focused on Immunology & Cancer. Her research spans cancer biology, immunology, and virology with a particular emphasis on melanoma and related immunotherapies.

Her research interests encompass cancer, cancer genetics, immunomodulators, immunotherapy, antivirals, cell biology, melanoma, hereditary melanoma, double-stranded RNA, tumour microenvironment, and oncogenic viruses. Dr. Pjanova's work bridges fundamental studies with clinical applications, focusing on the complexities of the tumour microenvironment and the immune system's role in cancer biology. She investigates mononuclear phagocytes within tumours, immune signaling molecules like cytokines and chemokines, innate immunity's contribution to cancer immunotherapies, and immunomodulators' impact on tumour-immune cell interactions.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on double-stranded RNA (particularly Larifan), its immunomodulatory properties, and applications in both cancer immunotherapy and antiviral treatments. Her research spans multiple cancer types with particular emphasis on melanoma, while also exploring connections to other diseases like IgA nephropathy. Her work integrates molecular biology, immunology, and translational medicine approaches.

• Kristapa Morberga stipendija (2003)
• National Scholarship For Women in Science (2014)
• Latvian Annual Science Calendar (2020)
• Latvijas Zinātņu akadēmijas prezidenta atzinības raksts (2022)

Dr. Pjanova actively supervises research students, with documented supervision of doctoral work in melanoma research. She leads multiple significant research projects including 'Ex Vivo Drug Screening Platform for Personalized Therapy of Metastatic Melanoma' and 'Whole exome sequencing to advance melanoma early detection.' Her group implements in vitro models, mouse models, and develops tools for individualized assessment of antitumor immune response with the goal of facilitating participation in clinical trials. The group's downstream analytic capabilities include flow cytometry, cell sorting, advanced microscopy, and cutting-edge sequencing techniques.