The Second Annual Conference and Management Committee Meeting with the Advisory Board of the project “Medical University–Varna: Enhancement of Translational Excellence Achievement in Medicine (MUVE-TEAM)" was held on 31st October and 1st November at the Faculty of Pharmacy of MU-Varna. The project is funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria under the procedure for the establishment of a network of research higher education institutions. Its total value is BGN 28 000 000, the implementation period is 42 months and the completion date is 30th June 2026.

The Rector of MU–Varna Prof. Dimitar Raykov opened the conference with the words, “This project is of utmost importance for the development of the Strategic Research and Innovation Programme of our University. With the united efforts of every one of us, the research potential of Medical University–Varna will unfold, and we will become a leading research and innovation centre in Southeast Europe."

The Vice–Rector for Science and Research Prof. Dr. Violeta Yotova highlighted that with the MUVE-TEAM project MU-Varna possessed all the financial and scientific resources to lay the foundations of the future. The aim is scientists to implement both new products and innovative translational solutions in a variety of fields. The achievements are expected to be patented and to become the Bulgarian contribution to global science. Prof.  Yotova explained that that was a completely new direction for the development of the Bulgarian medical science, and the challenge for the whole project team was to produce scientific outcomes by the middle of 2026.

The chairperson of the MUVE-TEAM Management Committee Prof. Diana Ivanova focused on the objectives of the project – to increase the research capacity of the scientists at MU–Varna; to expand international cooperation; to improve the visibility of the University; to provide young scientists with a chance to get involved in research work; to attract leading specialists from Bulgaria and abroad, working in the priority areas of MU–Varna: Food and Nutrition, Neurosciences, Oncology and Rare Diseases, Regenerative Medicine and Implantology; to provide support for the already established international collaborations; to create opportunities for new collaborations; to work for inclusion in research networks and alliances.

A total of 205 researchers, young scientists and administrative staff are involved at this stage of the project. Nine scientific groups are already in operation. In six of them the lead researchers are from MU–Varna. The other three involve scientists from other universities who are establishing their own research teams. There is active interaction with the business, working towards foreign cooperation, participation in international networks, agreements and partnerships. Activities towards expanding the international visibility of the research activities, performing mobility to leading research laboratories and institutions with a view to learning new scientific methodologies, exchanging data and preparing joint publications are being implemented.

Within the defined broad areas, researchers are also dealing with more specific objectives. These include rare diseases, nutritional diets, creation of new nutritional supplements, creation of implants, and stem cell cultivation. New approaches to early diagnosis of cancer, as well as innovations in the imaging diagnosis of these diseases, are another facet of the ongoing work.

The lead researchers from MU-Varna in the fields of Food and Nutrition, Neurosciences, Regenerative Medicine and Implantology, and Oncology and Rare Diseases are:  Prof. Biol. Yoana Kiselova-Kaneva from Scientific Group “Natural Products for Innovative Preventive Medicine and Health" (Natura4Health); Prof. Krastena Nikolova from Scientific Group “R&D Laboratory for Nutritional Supplements" (SMART); Prof. Dr. Ruzha Pancheva from Scientific Group “Nutrition and Neurosciences" (NutriLect); Prof. Eng. Tsanka Dikova from Scientific Group “Customised Implants for Bone Regenerative Therapy" (PersIm); Prof. Eng. Kristina Bliznakova from Scientific Group “Early Diagnosis and Prevention of Oncological Breast Diseases by Using New Technologies" (ELPIDA); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deyan Dzhenkov from Scientific Group “Application of New Advanced Technologies in Management of Cancer and Rare Diseases" (LiquidBio).

The lead foreign researchers who complement the work of the MU–Varna researchers in the fields of “Regenerative Medicine and Implantology", “Neurosciences" and “Vascular Biology", and will develop new and necessary for MU-Varna scientific competences are: Prof. Dr. Karl Hörmann from Scientific Group “Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Comorbidity" (GOSACD); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Physiol. Lyubomir Lyubomirov from Scientific Group “Renal Epithelia and Vascular Ageing – Varna" (RenEVA) and Prof. Biol. Iva Ugrinova from Scientific Group “Artificial Cornea – from the Bench to the Bedside and Back" (AC-3B).

During the conference, the lead researchers of the scientific groups presented the implementation of the objectives and the scientific outcomes achieved so far. The financial report on the funds expended so far, the acquisition of specialised equipment for the research and scientific laboratories, the development of the University in terms of intellectual property rights and technology transfer through the established Technology Transfer and Innovation Unit at the Research Institute of MU–Varna, etc. were also presented.

In the framework of MUVE-TEAM, 13 additional scientific and applied projects with innovation potential have been funded, involving young scientists. Thus, with the logistical and financial support of these developments, the translational potential of the research work at the University is expected to increase.

Reported achievements of the project include: the large number of researchers recruited to work in the priority research areas of MU–Varna; the significant growth of publication activity; the increased visibility of the research activities of the University through mobility and trainings; the increased research capacity as a result of the trainings, the improved material and technical facilities and the implemented collaborations; the enhanced level of awareness of the academic staff regarding the assessment of the innovation potential of their research, intellectual property rights and technology transfer; enhanced competitive capacity of MU–Varna. 

Challenges to be addressed in the future include: improvement of research planning and management skills; increase of the number of trained personnel in the field of intellectual property rights and technology transfer; creation of conditions in the country to bridge the deficit of technology companies in the field of Biomedicine, with which universities can work in partnership; the need to adapt the regulatory framework in Bulgaria to the nature of research work; to undertake activities to speed up slow procurement procedures; to regulate the allocation of working hours of university researchers who are additionally involved in teaching and clinical activities.

The conference concluded with a Management Committee meeting with the Advisory Board to discuss the interim report and ongoing progress of the MUVE-TEAM project.

 

GALLERY