At the beginning of April, a group from the Faculty of Dental Medicine, headed by the Dean Prof. Dr. Stefan Peev, paid a working visit to Tokai University, Shonan Campus in Kanagawa District, Japan. The visit took place upon the invitation of Prof. Satoru Iwamori, Director of the Research Institute of Science and Technology (RIST) at the same university. The event was held under project BG-RRP-2.004-0009-C02 Enhancement of Translational Excellence Achievement in Medicine (MUVE-TEAM), funded by the European Union–NextGenerationEU. All participants in the working group are members of Scientific Group 3.1.4. PersIm: Prof. Tsanka Dikova – Head, Chief Assist. Prof. Dr. Ralitsa Yotsova – post-doctoral fellow and Assist. Prof. Dr. Varvara-Velika Rogova – young scientist. The visit was targeted at discussing opportunities for joint research through exchange of researchers, post-doctoral fellows and PhD students within the framework of the international programmes implemented by the two universities: the MUVE-TEAM project of MU-Varna and the Quantum Leap Program (Q-Leap) of Tokai University.
The visit started with a working meeting with the Vice–Rector for Science and Technology at Tokai University – Prof. Akira Tonegawa and the Deans of the four Faculties providing training in the fields of Engineering Sciences and Technology from Shonan Campus, the Director of RIST – Prof. Satoru Iwamori and the Head of the Laser Laboratory – Prof. Masaki Hashida.
During the seminar organised after that, Prof. Shigeru Yamaguchi, Head of the International Department of Tokai University, introduced the audience to the mission, objectives and organisation of the academic and research work at the university. On the other hand, Prof. Stefan Peev presented Medical University-Varna, the mode of education at the Faculty of Dental Medicine and the objectives of Scientific Group 3.1.4. PersIm within the framework of the MUVE-TEAM project. Prof. Tsanka Dikova spoke about the development of Dental Medicine from ancient times to the present day, and the introduction of new materials and advanced CAD/CAM technologies in the manufacture of dental structures. In a few slides, she gave a very emotional presentation of the collaboration with the Japanese colleagues from the same university during her previous visits there. Dr. Yotsova and Dr. Rogova had prepared and made a presentation on the application of lasers and laser technologies in Dental Medicine. Prof. Sergei Kulinich from the Research Institute of Tokaj University presented his team's latest research into the synthesis of different types of nanoparticles using laser ablation and their medical application.
The Bulgarian scientists visited the laboratory of Prof. Masaki Hashida and got acquainted with different types of lasers designed for scientific research. They can be used to change the topography, roughness and other surface properties of metallic and non-metallic materials in order to improve the biocompatibility of implants.
Finally, the team paid a visit to the laboratory complexes where the research of materials is performed with TEM, AFM, NMR, XRD and latest generation equipment for chemical analysis.
The involvement of Bulgarian scientists in plenty of joint developments of the research institute made a great impression on everyone. Tokaj University has established a very successful relationship with Bulgaria and the Ministry of Education and Science. Until quite recently, grants were annually provided to Bulgarian scientists to do joint research with their colleagues from Tokaj University. Prof. Ts. Dikova has already worked under these programmes twice and has several joint publications with Japanese scientists.
Both universities would benefit from continuing this tradition. During the meetings, opportunities for exchange of scientists and doing joint research and publications within the framework of the programmes and projects of both universities, were on the agenda. There were discussions on the feasibility and consequently, steps have already been taken to sign a Memorandum of Bilateral Cooperation between Medical University–Varna and Tokai University (Japan).